Guyanese American
Encyclopedia
Guyanese Americans are citizens and residents of the United States who can trace their ancestry back to the South American and Caribbean
nation of Guyana
, or a Guyanese who emigrated to the United States but has American citizenship.
, in 1966, Guyanese immigration to the United States increased dramatically. Political and economic uncertainty, and the internal strife two years earlier prompted many Guyanese who could make the move to seek opportunities abroad.
Many of the first Guyanese emigrants to the United States were of African descent. They were women who were recruited as domestic workers or nursing assistants. Prior to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 Guyanese of Asian descent faced immigration restrictions because of US Immigration policy that was more pro-European. However, many Guyanese who had studied in the US in the mid 20th century or earlier stayed on the US; some, like Cheddi Jagan
returned to Guyana. Shirley Chisholm
's father represents one of the earliest of Guyanese immigrants to the US during the 20th century; emigration from Guyana at that time was mostly to Caribbean or Commonwealth
countries.
Since the 1960s, the majority of Guyanese immigrants to the U.S. have been women. In 1980, the U.S. Census Bureau registered a total of 48,608 people of Guyanese descent living in the United States, which exceeded half women, as these were already 26,046 people. In 1990, approximately 81,665 people Guyanese were already living in this country.
As of 1990, 80 percent of Guyanese Americans lived in the Northeast. A large concentration of them can be found in the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, New York
, Irvington, New Jersey
, Orange, New Jersey
, East Orange, New Jersey
, Flatbush, Brooklyn
, East Flatbush, Brooklyn
, Rockland County, New York
. There are also important Guyanese communities in Miami, Florida.
The Guyanese American students vary their English accent, depending on whether they are at home or at school. In schools, Guyanese students learn to speak English with an American accent. At home, however, tend to speak with an accent of Guyana. Some Indo - Guyanese Americans, in addition to speaking English, also speak Hindi.
The Hindus have religious ceremonies at their houses monthly and they attend a temple. The Indo-Guyanese who are Christian
attend a local church but there are a lot more Hindus than Christians. They have various centers for Bahjans. They worships Sathya
and Sai Baba
in a group prayer ceremony with songs.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
nation of Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
, or a Guyanese who emigrated to the United States but has American citizenship.
History
After the independence of Guyana from Great BritainGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, in 1966, Guyanese immigration to the United States increased dramatically. Political and economic uncertainty, and the internal strife two years earlier prompted many Guyanese who could make the move to seek opportunities abroad.
Many of the first Guyanese emigrants to the United States were of African descent. They were women who were recruited as domestic workers or nursing assistants. Prior to the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 Guyanese of Asian descent faced immigration restrictions because of US Immigration policy that was more pro-European. However, many Guyanese who had studied in the US in the mid 20th century or earlier stayed on the US; some, like Cheddi Jagan
Cheddi Jagan
Cheddi Berret Jagan was a Guyanese politician who was first elected Chief Minister in 1953 and later Premier of British Guiana from 1961 to 1964, prior to independence. He later served as President of Guyana from 1992 to 1997.- Biography :The son of ethnic Indian sugar plantation workers, Jagan...
returned to Guyana. Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a Congresswoman, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress...
's father represents one of the earliest of Guyanese immigrants to the US during the 20th century; emigration from Guyana at that time was mostly to Caribbean or Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
countries.
Since the 1960s, the majority of Guyanese immigrants to the U.S. have been women. In 1980, the U.S. Census Bureau registered a total of 48,608 people of Guyanese descent living in the United States, which exceeded half women, as these were already 26,046 people. In 1990, approximately 81,665 people Guyanese were already living in this country.
Demographics
The United States has the highest number of Guyanese people outside of Guyana.As of 1990, 80 percent of Guyanese Americans lived in the Northeast. A large concentration of them can be found in the neighborhoods of Richmond Hill, New York
Richmond Hill, Queens
Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in central-southern Queens, New York City, USA. It is bordered by Kew Gardens to the north, Woodhaven and Ozone Park to the west, South Ozone Park to the south and South Jamaica to the east...
, Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington, New Jersey
Irvington is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a total population of 53,926, a decline of 11.2% from the 60,695 residents enumerated in the 2000 Census.-Geography:...
, Orange, New Jersey
Orange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
, East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange, New Jersey
East Orange is a city in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census the city's population 64,270, making it the state's 20th largest municipality, having dropped 5,554 residents from its population of 69,824 in the 2000 Census, when it was the state's 14th most...
, Flatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Flatbush is a community of the Borough of Brooklyn, a part of New York City, consisting of several neighborhoods.The name Flatbush is an Anglicization of the Dutch language Vlacke bos ....
, East Flatbush, Brooklyn
East Flatbush, Brooklyn
East Flatbush is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The area is part of Brooklyn Community Board 17 Though the borders of East Flatbush are highly subjective, its northern border is roughly at Empire Boulevard and East New York Avenue east of East 91st Street, its southern...
, Rockland County, New York
Rockland County, New York
Rockland County is a suburban county 15 miles to the northwest of Manhattan and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area, in the U.S. state of New York. It is the southernmost county in New York west of the Hudson River, and the smallest county in New York outside of New York City. The...
. There are also important Guyanese communities in Miami, Florida.
The Guyanese American students vary their English accent, depending on whether they are at home or at school. In schools, Guyanese students learn to speak English with an American accent. At home, however, tend to speak with an accent of Guyana. Some Indo - Guyanese Americans, in addition to speaking English, also speak Hindi.
The Hindus have religious ceremonies at their houses monthly and they attend a temple. The Indo-Guyanese who are Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
attend a local church but there are a lot more Hindus than Christians. They have various centers for Bahjans. They worships Sathya
Satya Mahima Dharma
Satya Mahima Dharma is a religious tradition in Hinduism, from Orissa. It goes back to a historic person called Mahima Svama .He is said to have appeared in Puri in 1826...
and Sai Baba
Sai Baba of Shirdi
Sai Baba of Shirdi , also known as Shirdi Sai Baba , was an Indian guru, yogi, and fakir who is regarded by his Hindu and Muslim devotees as a saint....
in a group prayer ceremony with songs.
Business
The Guyanese have formed their own businesses in the United States, many of which are shops, restaurants of traditional food of Guyana, grocery stores and jewelry stores. There are also some shops of clothing belonging to Guyanese and trinidarios that sell clothing Indian (due to the many Guyanese of Indian origin). In addition to these stores also had some video playback stores specializing in Indian films with English subtitles for those who do not understand Hindi. The Indo - Guyanese Americans try to keep alive their Hindu culture and contact with Guyana and India. Hence, they watch movies, listen to music and read books of Guyana and India. In addition, people of Indian - Guyanese descent that do not speak Hindi, try to learn it.Politics
Guyanese have organized most of the U.S. Caribbean organizations. There are many nurses from Guyana and police associations. although this group does not has managed to have a collective impact on U.S. national policy, they do have organized, however, through their churches with other ethnic groups to promote knowledge and struggles against the problems in their neighborhoods. Have also entered local politics.Associations
Some of the associations are the indo - Caribbean American Cultural and Arts Association, The Indo-Caribbean Federation of North America, and the Association of Guyanese-Americans. A major part of the shows the various Indo-Guyanese Associations put together his the songs and dances.The Indo-Guyanese organizations teach the youth about their cultural origins and let them show it off on stage by performing dances, songs, and plays. The development of the cultural groups in the area had made a necessity for announcements of community news.Relations with Guyana
Americans Guyana has close ties with Guyana and help them financially to this country. There is a large ongoing academic exchanges between Guyana and the United States as academic conferences. The Journal of the Caribbean is a Caribbean newspaper important to inform the Indo-Guyanese and other Caribbean groups of their achievements and inform them about the events in Guyana. This newspaper is published weekly and distributed throughout North America. The publications of these papers are written in English. However, there are also publications in other languages. Newspapers offer services to help people. In the newspaper there is tax air tickets and visa forms, applications and service support for the elderly, advertisements for charities for children in Guyana and India.List of famous Guyanese Americans
- Godfrey CambridgeGodfrey Cambridge-External links:*...
- Shirley ChisholmShirley ChisholmShirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was an American politician, educator, and author. She was a Congresswoman, representing New York's 12th Congressional District for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. In 1968, she became the first black woman elected to Congress...
- Darren CollisonDarren CollisonDarren Michael Collison is an American professional basketball point guard for the Indiana Pacers. He was drafted 21st overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by New Orleans. He is a right-hander and a native of Rancho Cucamonga, California...
- Rafael CameronRafael CameronRafael Cameron is a Guyanese American singer-songwriter best known for his boogie song "Boogie's Gonna Get Ya", it was remixed by François Kevorkian...
- Kevin DarlingtonKevin DarlingtonKevin Godfrey Darlington is a Guyanese born American cricketer. Darlington is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium. Darlington currently represents the United States national cricket team.-Career with Guyana:...
- Oscar Dathorne
- Adrian DutchinAdrian DutchinAdrian Angelo Frank Dutchin is a Guyanese singer with musical influences from Hip-Hop, Dancehall, Reggae and RNB. Adrian is currently signed to Kross Kolor-Biography:...
- Mel KingMel KingMelvin H. King is an American educator, activist, and writer.King has been active across the landscape of neighborhoods and politics of Boston for over fifty-five years, while also being an educator, youth worker, social activist, community organizer and developer, elected politician, author, and...
- Steve MassiahSteve MassiahSteve J Massiah is a Guyana born American cricketer. A right-handed batsman and off spin bowler, he has played for the United States national cricket team since 2000 and is currently the captain of the side...
- Nicole NarainNicole Narain-Career:She was chosen as Playboy's Playmate of the Month in January 2002 and has appeared in numerous Playboy videos.She has appeared in music videos like R.L's song "Got Me a Model", LL Cool J's "Luv You Better", Mario Winans's "I Don't Wanna Know" and Fabolous' "Baby"...
- C. C. H. Pounder
- Thara PrashadThara Prashad- External links :* - South Asian Life style* MoraFire - July/August 2007* about.com...
- Arman ShieldsArman ShieldsArman Shields is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. Prior to his selection in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, he played college football for the University of Richmond Spiders...
- Mark TeixeiraMark TeixeiraMark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
External links
- http://www.guyamerica.org/ Guyanese American Association
- http://www.gacacf.com/ Guyanese American Cultural: Florida central Association