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It is a task, privilege and or opportunity for me to use this essay to inform you on multiracial societies in the Caribbean and help you the reader to understand why we have multiracial societies in the Caribbean. In this essay I will be highlighting or placing emphasis on a few key terms. It is also my duty or task to explain and define to the following phrases or terms to you; on what a multiracial society is, how the Caribbean became so multiracial and to highlight the advantages and the disadvantages of this type of society. A multiracial society or multiracialism is a concept or ideology that promotes a society composed of various races, while accepting and respecting different cultural backgrounds. It is a society that consists of a diverse mix of people, whether it be relative to their ethnicity, language, culture, religion, or traditions. Nowadays 99% of the modern world countries have become a multiracial society, whether it is relative to their language, religion , culture, or traditions . Also universities , schools and other societies have become multiracial, it is not necessary for the whole country . And today with all aspects of economical, social and other types of growth , it is distinguishably linked to the globalization and the immigration of people to other countries, which has become more and more common . But can a multiracial community exist with no problems attached ? A multiracial society is very rich in culture heritage, where you get the opportunity to learn about other cultures. A multi-racial society is also a multi-linguist society so people living in such societies benefit from the richness of languages and are thus able to speak different languages , there is also a wide variety of traditions, customs and festivals that are being carried out in such countries. In addition with the fusion of cultures food becomes national, people are able to eat a wider variety of food, learning to prepare them in different ways, even celebrations of festivals become national. In addition a multi-racial society teaches people how to respect and understand the religion and cultures of others. Therefore this leads to tolerance. Moreover multi nationality makes the country more dynamic because there are people who come from different places and this can help to develop new ideas about how to make our lives better. In these multi-racial societies very often there are misunderstandings, which lead to conflict . Fanaticism is another factor, which creates conflicts in a multi-racial society. These conflicts and divisions between people is further increased by politicians who practice racial and ethnic politics, only to obtain votes. Fanaticism also encourages people in becoming racist which then influences criticism of his or her race. The population of the Caribbean is estimated to have been around 750,000 immediately before European contact, although lower and higher figures are given. After contact, social disruption and epidemic diseases such as smallpox and measles (to which they had no natural immunity) led to a decline in the Amerindian population. From 1500 to 1800 the population rose as slaves arrived from West Africa such as the Kongo, Igbo, Akan, Fon andYoruba as well as military prisoners and captured slaves from Ireland, who were deported during the Cromwellian reign in England. Immigrants from Britain, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark also arrived, although the mortality rate was high for both groups. The population is estimated to have reached 2. 2 million by 1800. Immigrants from India, China, and other countries arrived in the 19th century. After the ending of the Atlantic slave trade, the population increased naturally. The total regional population was estimated at 37. 5 million by 2000. The majority of the Caribbean has populations of mainly Africans in the French Caribbean, Anglophone Caribbean and Dutch Caribbean, there are minorities of mixed-race and European peoples of Dutch, English, French, Italian and Portuguese ancestry. Asians, especially those of Chinese andIndian descent, form a significant minority in the region and also contribute to multiracial communities. All of their ancestors arrived in the 19th century as indentured laborers. The Spanish-speaking Caribbean have primarily mixed race, African, or European majorities. Puerto Rico has a European majority with a mixture of European-African (mulatto), and a large West African minority. One third of Cubas (largest Caribbean island) population is of African descent, with a sizable Mulatto (mixed African–European) population, and European majority. The Dominican Republic has mixed majority, primarily descended fromWest Africans, Spaniards, and Amerindians. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago Larger islands such as Jamaica, have a very large African majority, in addition to a significant mixed race, Chinese, Europeans, Indian, Lebanese, Latin American, and Syrian populations. This is a result of years of importation of slaves and indentured labourers, and migration. Most multi-racial Jamaicans refer to themselves as either mixed race or simply Black. The situation is similar for the Caricom states of Belize, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago has a multi-racial cosmopolitan society due to the arrival of the Africans, Indians, Chinese, Syrians, Lebanese, Native Amerindians and Europeans. This multi-racial mix has created sub-ethnicities that often straddle the boundaries of major ethnicities and include Chindian, Mulattos and Dougla. Disadvantages of a multiracial background There are some multiracial families that are against the idea of racial labeling because it downgrades them to a lower status. They classify the members in their families solely as â€Å"human† instead of labeling the multiple components of their heritage. Although, it is also common to explain the mixed heritage of this human. Also, some individuals consider themselves multiracial but have a hard time identifying themselves by every constituent of their heritage. Some may not feel close to some parts of their heritage or even all parts of their heritage. â€Å"Concern has been raised that this approach to multiracialism cannot provide individuals with a sustained sense of community because the group’s only commonality is the â€Å"ambiguous status† of its members, and such a tenuous connection is not enough to provide the emotional support that multiracial people need. † A multiracial person can also face complexities such as deciding whether to identify themselves with their fathers or mothers racial group or both. This can be problematic when society does not support them with their decision. Furthermore, societal racism and discomfort with interracial marriage exists as well. There are people who have a strong prejudice for intermarriage and people marrying outside their race. They believe that those who cross ethnic lines are rejecting their heritage and the distinction and certain values that their heritage has. Advantages of a multiracial background The majority of families seek to help their children to identify themselves as multiracial. Based on their heritage and background, they believe that their different heritages should be maintained equally. These families aim to provide their children with a more cultural education about their heritage because this gives them a broader sense of the world. They are also more accepting of different cultures and embrace their language. Moreover, â€Å"They often are able to identify multiple aspects of a situation where other people see only one, and to see both sides of a conflict. A multiracial background [sic] also promotes genetic biological diversity as well, thereby producing children with a higher percentage of desirable traits and a lower percentage of detrimental traits, a phenomenon regarded as Hybrid Vigor.