Discussion

• Capitalism in its simplest terms means free market enterprise. It is a way of organizing the economy whereby the exchange of goods and services is done according to the forces of the market i.e. demand and supply. Modern view is that of free trade.

• Under a free trade system government has little say in the distribution of goods and services. The two major ideal of

capitalism is privately owned capital and investment and profit making. British capitalism in the New World had one objective - profit making (get wealthy). The plantation system of production used African slave labour thereby making huge profits.. .in no time they became wealthy as evidenced by the plantation houses

constructed across the region. The large profits accrued allowed them to live opulent lives in the Caribbean as well as Britain.

British Capitalism

• According to Walter Rodney (Guyanese) Capitalism was introduced into the Caribbean with the first transshipment of African slaves across the Atlantic. This form of capitalism was one-sided, in short this system was non-negotiable. It was non-negotiable because the Africans had no say in the system and also the fact that the system was forced upon the Africans (How Europe Underdeveloped Africa ,) Intellectuals Eric Williams and CLR James( Trinidadians) in their writings epitomized the thoughts of

Caribbean people on British capitalism.

• Williams argued that slavery was purely economic and embodied the

capitalist ideal of the British. Hence when slavery became unprofitable the British which once embraced this system deemed it savage and

uneconomical and abandoned the system (Capitalism and Slavery). While Williams was able to recognize the brutality of the system of slavery he never lost sight of the fact that the system was economical and slavery was just another means to the economic success of the British..

British Capitalism

• CLR James in the Black Jacobins points out that the system of slavery and

colonialism had to be brutal to ensure that the system of capitalism worked and worked well. The brutality was not only mental but also psychological. The Black West Indian was constantly reminded of his/her blackness and this blackness was closely linked to backwardness and inferiority. Over time blacks in the West Indies came to believe this myth. Once the myth was engrained into their psyche the British was ensured of the success of capitalism. British capitalism only involved the Caribbean to the extent that the position of the Caribbean performed only to the needs of the British government. This forced arrangement was that the

Caribbean produced and the British consumed. Whatever benefit was returned to the Caribbean was only done to ensure that capitalism survived to further enrich Britain.

• This concept of development is attributed to St. Lucian economist Sir Arthur Lewis (Nobel Prize for Economics). This was based on a concept adopted in Puerto Rico called Operation Bootstrap. This concept became the model on which economies of the English speaking territories within the region were fashioned. Following economic systems such as communal, encomienda, slavery and the plantation system, many economists felt that for the Caribbean to be economically viable there was a need for the economy to be reorganized. After all, despite the many economic systems the region was still experiencing problems of an economic nature.

Feminism

• A Feminist is an advocate of woman's rights; anyone who recognizes female oppression and fights for the correction of this oppression. To be feminist is to be calling for equality of the sexes. Part of the feminist agenda is for women and their issues to be on the front burner; on centre stage. It concerns the celebration of women's achievement as for too long the contribution women have made to society has gone unnoticed, unrecorded and unrecognized. The origin of Caribbean feminism is unique due to its long history. Black women of the . Caribbean have been fighting oppression ever since their sale and capture on the west coast of Africa. They were constantly in the quest for freedom.

• Women used their bodies to attack the system of slavery- infanticide, and acts of infertility were common. When this was not the option they turned on the master and his property burnt fields, damaged equipment and animals, killed their masters. Under slavery women out of necessity became brutal and militant. In order to survive she had to become a feminist. Following

emancipation, women's focus changed. They now had to struggle against the same black men, with whom they were enslaved, for visibility and equality. They had to find new tools with which to fight oppression. The new tools became academics and literature. If their voices are to be heard they had to become qualified like the men or more qualified. The views, issues and concerns became audible through literature. In the literature the women authors dramatized the different problems and complexities facing women they also attempted to deconstruct and reconstruct new ideas about women and femininity.

• While doing so the achievements of women are being celebrated eg. Verene Shepherd uses her knowledge of history to refocus attention away from men in history. She has given women a voice and a face in history to women.

Feminism

• One of the major inroads into Caribbean feminism has been made by CAFRA (Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action).

Through this group women are able to explore and celebrate their achievements. It provides a voice for women.

• Through the Women and Development Unit (UWI) information about the status of women is made available to government and NGO, which can then be used to guide formulation of policy

concerning the welfare of women. These many women's

organization have been created to champion the cause; National Organisation of Women (Barbados) Sistren (Jam), CARIWA. These among others highlight role of women in many endeavours such as labour movement, provide a forum for discussion of issues and

provide an inspiration for young women and urge governments to implement legislations on women's issues such as rape, sexual harassment