African American Immigrants In Soucouyant

The chosen characters to discuss their immigration experience from David Chariandy’s novel Soucouyant, are Adele and Roger and other characters from their generation. The reason for the choice of this generation includes their involvement in the African Caribbean immigration to Canada, and the shown after effects of living there. The effects of immigration of African Caribbean include the oppression, discrimination and misidentification of their ethnicity. Based on the fact of the hierarchy of skin color imposed on the society of the New World; people of dark colored skin are considered the lowest among the population among the immigrants. Beknownst the immigrants of Canada the notation of color hierarchy was set with the notation of
legal status such as Black being at the bottom of the list (Brown 375). Throughout the past experiences of the characters in the novel we are shown that people of color are put through tasks deemed unsafe or rather considered lower to other humans. A great example of this would be Roger, who is put through newspaper work even though he has the ability and experience to do construction (Chariandy 72). Later he is subjected to very unsafe work conditions which leads to the damage to his hands, and even the internal damage from breathing in possibly asbestos ridden paint (Chariandy, 74, 75). The subjection of harsh work environments did not differ for those who were of color, and different color as Roger was a South Asian. As for the living conditions this generation faces, they are subjected to discrimination to even to finding a place to rent. This is seen through when Adele and Roger attempt to rent a place, as soon as the owner hears such an accent they are put off and told that the place has already been rented out to other tenants (75). However they are at a point successful in finding a place when a landowner had to rent out some room due to the need of money, but this did not mean it was an overall okay situation. As for the couple as when they returned from their personal trip they find that their living place has been ravaged due to the landowners themselves and not some burglar. The proof being that none of the windows or door were broken into, and the only person who knew that the couple were going on a trip. The landowner when questioned about the activity, and even offensively responds that it is their fault for their status for insisting to staying there (78). Through day to day activities which don't even have to do with working or living conditions, people of color are generally faced with racism (Kamboureli 240) and prejudice. Which would also resonate throughout the novel seen through the eyes of Adele who wishes to obtain a pie from a restaurant. Even before even entering the restaurant itself the moments she walks down the street, people without the use of words give cold glances and grins of disgust whilst looking at her. But as soon as she enters the eatery the discrimination reaches its peak as people within the resteraunt begin to use offensive terms against her to the point when the waiter approaches her, is told that this is a “family restaurant”. Implying that she isn't modest and is not considered a normal being in society. She is then told off and seen as a prostitute and told to leave (Chariandy 50). Even though there are these underlining moments of racism, there are moments we see that the experience of being in the New World (Canada).
The characters who have immigrated are very thankful of this, and view it as a lucky experience and a chance to have a better life. This is seen throughout many times in the novel when Adele is playing with the tap water as in her early days of her life, she is to use a pump to retrieve water (82). As for Roger, even though he is put through very harsh working conditions as mentioned before he finds that the salary is not bad and still persists to work. In terms of racism itself he doesn't notice when he is wearing his cowboy suit and people laughing at him, while he has a good time smiling at others when he was dancing at the country music tavern
(73). A large part of the novel is dedicated to telling the developing amnesia of Adele who even through a medical condition, she is still subjected to immense amounts of discrimination and racism. This is seen through the part of the novel about the wandering lady (who Adele is, during her time with amnesia), where many children perceive her as something close to being a sub human like creature and make fun of her. The events she is to endure through this amnesia by other included prank calls to telling her that her family had died and telling her lies (159). From these experiences explained it would seem like all people of color who are African Caribbeans did not come from good families. However this is incorrect there have been a number who were able to come from pseudo good families. An example of this is given from a character of the same generation named Antoinette who was actually from a good family and sent to London to obtain a MBA from economics. But there is a backstory which was not told in the public’s eyes which was that in order for her to obtain such a great education, her family had to make great sacrifices for her to go to school such as the family’s hardware shop(155).
However even with such a status in life such as having a degree or some sort of education.
It did not matter what you had, your skin color would determine your status in society. In addition institutions of Canada and large organizations would group ethnic groups based on physical appearance, through this there would be negative stereotypes or stereotypes in general linked to the classification. In the case of what is discussed here, it would be the African Caribbeans, and they would be linked to Jamaicans in general when there were different types of cultures within the Caribbean. It is also noted that the classification of Jamaicans is that they are “violent, irrational, or involved in some way with illicit activities in Canada” (Dwaine 242). When compared to other ethnic groups however they are seen as even less favored as the classification for Asians, whom seen as having the characteristics of being “hardworking, family-oriented, and non-threatening” (244). The formation of status of skin color is also set in place by Enlightenment scholars Hegel and Kant, from highest to lowest: white, yellow, brown, black. (Brown 375) Which then in turn with the grouping of African Caribbeans to the black, due to the physical attributes they were identified as rather than actual cultural and regional origin. Thereby the African Caribbeans were subjected to the worst of discrimination, as being lumped with the lowest tier in
society. From the observations of what these people were subjected to, you would wonder if it was their choice really to move to the Canada or the New World. It is explained through the novel that during the time of the immigration, there had been a war and the people of Trinidad were involved in one way with another. We see realize that through the eyes of Adele where soldiers would harass the women such as her mother. It starts off when the soldiers give her gifts and it moves on to a point where Adele’s mother becomes a prostitute and to a point where she is abused by soldiers to do very humiliating tasks and even burned alive (Chariandy 193). After these harsh events Adele moves to Canada, it is also exclaimed how parents would use a large amount of money to send their children to have a better life in the New World. Observing the information on the generation of African Caribbean immigrants who have endured the suffering of discrimination, misidentification and oppression in the New World. We see that the reason for their movement their movement includes the war in Trinidad and the chance for success in life in Canada. However they are misidentified and thrown into the ranking scheme of the New World where African Caribbeans are seen as the lowest in society and considered violent and untrustworthy. Immigrants who have seemed like they have a form of success also in most cases must have sacrificed a lot to have a greater experience in otherwise an oppressed society. Of this generation a number of immigrants are still thankful to be able come to the New World to experience privileges otherwise would have not been available from their origin land.