Talk:West Indian Americans

Guyanese Americans
Someone added the following: The Census Bureau Estimates that there are 162,425 Guyanese Americans living within the United States.
 * Guyanese Americans

I think that the Guyanese Americans are perhaps not generally included in this group. The Census Bureau has a separate ancestry category for them, for example. SamEV (talk) 02:54, 5 May 2010 (UTC)


 * In general, Guyanese Americans are, from a cultural perspective, considered to be West Indians by people from the English Speaking Caribbean. In contrast, people from French-speaking islands are not generally considered West Indians. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.184.33.105 (talk) 20:20, 28 June 2010 (UTC)


 * People from French-speaking islands aren't considered West Indians? Since when?  I think you're confusing them with Spanish-speaking people from the islands, who are often considered Hispanic. 98.209.116.7 (talk) 05:32, 13 April 2011 (UTC)


 * English speaking West Indians do not consider Haitians or Spanish-speaking people to be West Indian, but do usually consider all people from the lesser Antilles (including former Dutch & French colonies) to be West Indian, as well as Guyanese, Surinamese, French Guianese, and Belizean people.   — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.116.224.177 (talk) 17:56, 18 December 2020 (UTC)


 * Maybe you're right. But we have to use reliable sources, such as the Census Bureau. Click here. SamEV (talk) 00:36, 29 June 2010 (UTC)

The Census bureau isn't necessarily a reliable source regarding the definition and self-identification of ethnic groups with origins outside of the United States. Grouping people together who don't consider themselves as West Indian is inaccurate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.184.33.105 (talk) 14:02, 15 September 2010 (UTC)

Haitians
The census considers them West Indian as well, they should have their own section being the second largest group of such Americans after Jamaicans. — Preceding unsigned comment added by FamAD123 (talk • contribs) 19:45, 12 January 2013 (UTC)

West Indian term
The term seems to be used for anyone in the Caribbean today. Until very recently the term WEST INDIAN In popular everyday term meant ONLY someone from a British Caribbean colony or now independent country/ or current overseas territory. It had very specific usage and was used by theses people as it was used by the UK to Identify them and their territories in the Caribbean region. You had to be a one time colony of the UK to be a West Indian.

So until recently...

A Guyanese is a West Indian while a Haitian was not. If you are a West Indian you know it sounds weird to call a Haitian West Indian

A Belizian and a Jamaican would be West Indians (I dont think they use the term a lot though)...while a someone from Martinique and Guadeloupe were definitely not since they are still overseas territory of France

People who tend to call themselves West Indians tend to be from the Eastern Caribbean, with countries with similar strong British History - Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana, St. Vincent, St. Kitts Nevis etc.

West Indians if they want to call themselves that... Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Jamaica Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago

Anguilla	British overseas territory Bermuda	British overseas territory British Virgin Islands	 British overseas territory Cayman Islands		British overseas territory Turks and Caicos Islands  British overseas territoryStarbwoy (talk) 03:52, 10 December 2013 (UTC)

Starbwoy, I agree. I don't know when Americans from the French speaking Caribbean islands became West Indian American. To be technical the entire Western hemisphere is the "West Indies", but since then has been reduced just to the Caribbean and the north of non-hispanic south American countries like Guyana. The French speaking countries and France call it the French Antilles while English speakers usually refer it to as the "French West Indies." So perhaps this is the reason for its inclusion, but I think this is a technicality and very subjective. Savvyjack23 (talk) 05:59, 2 September 2014 (UTC)

Starbwoy, Savvyjack23


 * I wrote a longer version of my contribution here, but the computer crashed and lost it. So, please, accept a much shorter version: Sorry for arriving so late (I found an old invitation in my Talk page). In using identity labels, I suggest taking these three points in consideration. First, the way people self-identify, among themselves, against others, at home, and abroad. Second, look at how scholars, advocates/activists (mediators) refer to the group in question. Third, every writer who wants to be understood should consider the most convenient way to write. In other words, clarity. Context would determine which of these points takes prominence. But in the US, this is often the order: nation (e.g., Guyanese); racial/political (e.g., "East Indian Guyanese" or "West Indian Black").


 * The term "West Indian" is common for people arriving from the British Caribbean, including those from Guyana. Migrants from the French Caribbean are often put together under "West Indians," and that is fine if being more specific is awkward or inconvenient. If you can, however, use instead "French Antillean." The term "West Indian" is not appropriate for migrants from the Spanish Caribbean. The umbrella term, of course, is simply "Caribbean." Here are some links to sources where the term "French Antillean" is used: 1, 2, 2.   --Caballero/Historiador (talk) 16:56, 22 December 2015 (UTC)

Requested move 11 February 2023

 * The following is a closed discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. Editors desiring to contest the closing decision should consider a move review after discussing it on the closer's talk page. No further edits should be made to this discussion. 

The result of the move request was: Procedural decline due to no rationale provided by requestor. (non-admin closure)   ❯❯❯  Raydann  (Talk)   08:44, 18 February 2023 (UTC)

West Indian Americans → Caribbean Americans – Why ... DeadlyRagDoll (talk) 01:40, 11 February 2023 (UTC)


 * Procedural oppose for lack of rationale.  O.N.R.  (talk) 08:14, 11 February 2023 (UTC)
 * It will confuse people with the India. it’s a dumb term and let’s just merge it into one word that everyone recognizes DeadlyRagDoll (talk) 03:09, 16 March 2023 (UTC)
 * @DeadlyRagDoll, could you please clarify rationale? Silikonz 💬 02:49, 18 February 2023 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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