Stories of Immigrants’ Past: Examining the Role of Life Narratives in the Socialization Practices of Afro-Caribbean Immigrant Parents

• In Event: Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Critical Race Theory Autoethnography: Narratives Related to Race and Qualitative Research

Abstract

As the number of Afro-Caribbean immigrants to the U.S. continues to rise, the extent to which this group attains upward mobility has gained increasing attention. Some scholars argue that Black immigrants excel in areas of education and employment compared to their native-born counterparts (Massey, Mooney, Torres, & Charles, 2007) and others argue that this group faces a “triple disadvantage”(Rong & Brown, 2002). However, racial and ethnic identities are essential in determining the extent to which Black immigrants experience educational success (Waters, 1999). Parents play a critical role in shaping the racial and ethnic identities of their children. This paper explores the socialization messages Caribbean immigrants shared with their children to provide a blueprint for social, moral, and educational success.

Author

• Chonika Coleman King, The University of Tennessee - Knoxville