This paper analyzes the way African/Caribbean traditional practitioners integrate holistic techniques and methods into psychotherapy and general health care settings.
Abstract This paper explains that, while traditional medicine is used by an overwhelming majority of the people of the world today, traditional medicine practitioners are increasingly recognizing the efficacy of Western health care modalities and many are incorporating these techniques into their practices. The author points out that traditional medicine is a particularly favored approach for some mental health issues in Africa and the Caribbean where sufferers steadfastly believe that such mental health maladies can only be resolved with such techniques. The paper relates that the integration of costly Western medicine into traditional medicine practices ultimately may make these techniques too expensive for many consumers, leaving these patients to be treated by traditional medicine practitioners armed with a pantheon of evil spirits and herbal remedies for virtually any ailment including HIV/AIDS . Table.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Traditional Medicine in the African/Caribbean Context
Integration of Traditional Medicine Methods in Mental Health Care Settings
Conclusion
From the Paper "There are dramatically different levels of funding provided by the different countries for health care purposes in these regions of the world; for example, in Kenya, individual private-sector payments represent 41 percent of total outlays for health and such expenditures account for 75-80 percent of total health care costs in Sudan. This author reports that private-sector payments in many African nations are used for traditional medicine treatments even if alternative methods are available. In Guinea, for example, private expenditures on health have already exceeded official government expenditures on health care. Likewise, private health care spending in Benin is already reportedly higher than the ministry of health recurrent budget, and in Ethiopia, private expenditures represent 66 percent of the total financing for modern health care."
Abstract The paper critically examines the adaptive flexibility model and argues that while this model possesses strengths, the model is flawed to the extent that it diminishes the radical impact of slavery upon the social and cultural development of the African-Caribbean family. The paper contends that a more balanced analysis would recognize both the reality of the impact of slavery upon later generations of African-Caribbeans, as well as the capacity of these families to define their own lives, often in resistance to this oppression.
Outline:
Introduction
Revisionism and the Adaptive Flexibility Model
From the Paper "It is significant that even today scholarly research on the African Caribbean family focuses to an extraordinary degree upon the impact of slavery on this population. Much of the early history of the Caribbean is defined by its economic role as the largest English, and for a brief period the largest world, producer of sugar (Floyd 1981, p.38). To harvest the sugar cane, the English planters found that they needed far more field workers than could be obtained from the deported criminal classes of Britain and Ireland."
Abstract This paper discusses the history and culture of the recent immigrants to the United States from Africa and the Caribbean. It details how these immigrants are labeled as "African Americans" and lumped into the same sub-culture as the veteran African American population of the United States since the slave-trade. These two population groups are compared for their manners, cultures and social norms. A history of African immigration to America is provided.
From the Paper "The African Americans, or Black Americans as they are called, are the largest minority group in the United States, after the Hispanic Americans. This is a racial group whose ancestry is believed to be from the sub-Saharan Africa. However, there are some African Americans who claim to have their roots from the European immigrants, Native American or the Asians. In general the African American populations is usually referred to as Negroes, blacks and Afro-Americans. "
Abstract This paper discusses Pan-Africanism, a movement based on the 19th century desire to end slavery not only in the United States but also in South American and the Caribbean. It was from this era that Black people throughout the world decided that the way to address many of the issues they experienced as a race was to work together as a team. The paper describes the international meetings held to discuss this issue and also highlights the leadership of the Pan-African movement. The author concludes that the Pan-Africanism movement was and still is a positive team-oriented effort to introduce the African-American culture to the world and to share the common bond among people worldwide who share an African ancestral background.
Outline:
Introduction
In a Nutshell
Harlem Renaissance
The Arts
Conclusion
From the Paper "When one studies the topic of Pan-Africanism one is not studying a single element in history but instead is studying a wide range of events and cultural preferences that go along with African American history and culture. Experts agree that there is not a single definition for the term Pan-Africanism but the term itself does define it as an independent idea. The concept of Pan-Africanism is based in the 19th century desire to end slavery. At that time slavery was not only an issue in the United States but was also an issue in several other nations including South American and the Caribbean(Definition of Pan-Africanism? http://geography.about.com/b/a/012445.htm). It was from this era that Black people throughout the world decided that the way to solve many of the problems that the race was experiencing was work together as a team."
Abstract Although Haitian culture is a unique mix that blends many other cultures to form its own, many of the roots of this cultural representation can be traced to African culture, especially West African. This paper shows that, because most of the inhabitants of Haiti are of African descent, African culture plays a key role in the culture of the island and manifests itself in many ways in a reflection of present and emerged patterns in Haitian cultural history. In family structures, gender, religion, and other areas of culture, it is clear that African culture has had a great deal of influence over Haitian culture before and since the existence of Haiti as an independent country.
From the Paper "According to tradition, the spirits of Vodou followed the slaves from Africa to the Caribbean, where Vodou was set up as an inseparable part of Haitian history and culture, and therefore African culture in its
relation to Haitian culture as a continuance and point of influence. Since Vodou was frowned upon by the French during their time ruling the island before the revolution, it had to take on some trappings of Catholicism as a way to disguise the religion. Thus, Vodou continues to have elements that would be familiar to students of Catholicism."
The paper discusses the drug problems of the people of the Caribbean and the drug trafficking that goes on there. It also deals with the dangers that drug trafficking causes to other countries and their people.
3,650 words (approx. 14.6 pages), 5 sources, 2001, $ 101.95
Abstract This paper is about the drug trafficking problems of the Caribbean. The author examines the Caribbean region as a long standing area where illegal substances have been grown and sold. The people are poverty stricken and sell drugs as a means to make money. The author looks into the Caribbean's climate and location which make it an ideal place to grow and sell drugs. The people are able to transport drugs to other countries through the use of planes, boats, etc. The paper goes on to discuss how this poses as a threat to all countries because it makes drugs available which leads to drug problems for their citizens.
From the paper:
"The Caribbean is known for its agriculturally equipped weather conditions, which makes for most islands to be very fertile. Many farmers in the Caribbean grow drugs as part of their produce to earn more money. They can then sell the illegal substances to islanders, tourists, and then ship the rest off to be sold to other countries? citizens. This poses as a threat to the health of all people who are able to buy drugs as a result of drug trafficking in the Caribbean. It also poses a threat to governments because they have to use their funding on programs to educate citizens about the dangers of drugs as well as rehabilitate those citizens that are addicted to drugs and suffer from drug abuse."
This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts
2,650 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 97.95
Abstract This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts. Referring to the post-colonial and feminist theory, the author of this paper analyzes women's writing as a reflection of traditions with story-telling, women's "voice," and histories that are particular to women and Caribbean culture.
Abstract This paper attempts to show the errors made in generalizations of Caribbean families. The paper talks about how one Caribbean family is discussed using North American or European models that may not suit Caribbean societies. The paper also points to generalizations that emphasize the lower-class Afro-Caribbean family as somehow typical.
From the Paper "Models of male marginality and female domesticity have to do with ideas of power, sexuality and gender, in different kinds of Caribbean families. The result of different ideals for men and women has been assumed to create a big gender gap in Caribbean cultures. These are said to have shaped the nature of the family quite strongly. In the past, errors have been made in comparing Caribbean families to those in North America or Europe, or by assuming only one or two models of how the Caribbean family might be different. "
Abstract This essay is a study of the island of Jamaica. It gives an historical overview of its discovery. It details Jamaica's social, political, and economic situation and describes the main factors that effect its situation. This paper also examines the adjacent Caribbean islands and their present day situations. It gives an historical overview of the discovery of the Caribbean and the part the British and Japanese have played in the Caribbean's history.
From the Paper "Early in the sixteenth century, Spaniards landed on, and claimed, the island of Jamaica. Previously inhabited only by Arawak Indians, the island, located along the ocean route connecting the Old World to the New World, soon became a way station for Spanish galleons and a marketplace for slaves and goods from many countries. Along with the Spaniards, it was home to British citizens as well as multinational buccaneers and entrepreneurs.
"According to Daniel J. Seyler, in his contribution to Countries of the World, "Jamaica's story is one of independence that began in the seventeenth century with the Maroons, runaway slaves who resisted the British colonizers by carrying out hit-and run attacks from the interior. Their 7,000 descendants in the Cockpit Country have symbolized the fervent, sometimes belligerent, love of freedom that is ingrained in the Jamaican people as a result of both their British tutelage and their history of slavery. Independence came quietly, however, without a revolutionary struggle, apparently reflecting the lasting imprint of the British parliamentary legacy on Jamaican society" (Seyler 1991)."
Abstract The paper looks at two points about Indo-Caribbean people and the Indo-Caribbean culture. The first question discusses the historical, racial, social and cultural implications of the field-song "Oh Maninga." The second looks at two contributions to the study of Indo-Caribbean culture by women, specifically writing and cultural transmission.
From the Paper "The song "Oh Maninga" illustrates a small part of the world of the Indo-Caribbean indentured laborer. The song shows a part of the world that was not frequently seen or discussed in historical literature until recently. Patterns of race and class, gender and culture can be seen in this song. Until the last few decades, people have not been interested in the people who worked in the Caribbean as indentured servants in horrible conditions for little compensation. Part of this is due to the racism inherent in the dominant western culture where those writing the history were not interested in the stories of the poor, especially not the women or otherwise powerless."
Abstract This paper discusses a Caribbean family structure and women's power vis-a-vis men. The paper also discusses matrifocal emphasis observed in many Caribbean families, but also the sway of stereotypes, and as these are constantly disproved in a varied and international Caribbean population.
From the Paper "Historical Challenges to Patriarchy in Caribbean Families. Introduction Patriarchy has been plain the many Caribbean families but historical factors also produce different presentations of masculinity, and a profound matrifocality as varied forces. This paper refers to a variety of sources to introduce the Caribbean family as often different from the so-called nuclear family that once prevailed in North America, or elsewhere in the West, as discussed by Luxton. (1995). One finds great variety in Caribbean families, and also, patterns alluded to that indicate a distinctive Caribbean history."
Abstract In this paper, the cultural contributions given by women in Indo-Caribbean history relate directly to the resistance movements that were part of the slavery and indentured servitude they labored beneath. The writer discusses that the identity of Indian women that worked on the plantations, a remarkably small minority to men in the Caribbean, were not the dainty females that modern historiography might impart, but women able to fight alongside men in times of revolt.
From the Paper "The basis of indentured servitude of the capitalist agenda of the ruling European parties in the Caribbean reflect the general aspects of slave labor that made places, such as Guyana, a racially divided place. The basis of race and historiography can determine why sugar cane cutters in Guyana suffered, as we hear within the song "Oh Maninga", as sung by Neisha Benjamin. These relate the historiographical commonalities that represent the capitalist agenda to conduct low wages and tyrannical ruling by the sugar cane managers."
Abstract This paper explores how the institution of slavery affects the present day outlook of many Caribbean citizens. The experience of colonization and enslavement is considered in terms of Caribbean identity, attitudes, culture and behavior. A review of literature in this field is presented.
From the Paper "The importance of the institution of slavery in the history of the Caribbean region needs little introduction. However, in the present, one finds vestiges of the enslaved, as opposed to the descendants of slaves, in a region where history has a strong influence over identity, attitudes, culture and behaviour. Matters of how colonial societies stamped metropolitan cultures on their members have been fully discussed by Frantz Fanon in the French case. (Black Skins, 1967) Arnold Itwaru has written on how colonial hangovers do continue, encountered by people of Caribbean origin, yet again, in the Canadian setting. (1994) The influence of imperialism is very long."
Abstract This research paper discusses poverty in the Caribbean. It discusses causes and cures. It explains the origins of poverty, income inequality, government intervention and future prospects for curing this problem.
From the Paper "The Caribbean Islands include; Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, The British Virgin Islands, The Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyanan, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saba, St. Barthelemy, St. Eustatius, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, and the U.S Virgin Islands. Some of these islands are playgrounds for the ultra-wealthy and yet poverty exists on almost every one of these island nations."
Tags: poverty, caribbean, causes, effects, changes, government policy, UN role, redistribution of income, unemployment, underemployment, social and cultural change, income inequality
Abstract This paper focuses on the 'physical arts' found in the popular culture of the Caribbean. Specifically, this paper argues that pop culture was and is a form of transgression against external control - specifically European control. Of especial interest, the paper looks at Haiti, for in Haiti - thanks to Aime Cesaire - an appreciation developed for how culture could used as a means of breaking the shackles of European control.
From the Paper "When one assesses popular culture in a Caribbean nation such as Haiti, what becomes apparent is that popular culture is far more than a means of cultural expression; it is, in a very real sense, a tool of defiance - a mode of transgression. This paper will focus upon the use of popular culture throughout the Caribbean as a way of breaking the shackles of European, colonial oppression. In particular, special emphasis will be placed upon Haiti, for this small nation is an especially good example of how a vigorous popular culture can work to ensure freedom and the perpetuation of racial and cultural distinctness."
