Caribbean Counterparts?

Black immigrants from the Caribbean are often referred to as an invisible immigrant group because of the preconceived notion that all Black people living in the United States are African American. The term "invisible" in this concept refers to the masking of a Caribbean-American's immigrant identity due to their skin color or race. The importance of discussing and illustrating these experiences helps bring awareness to the Black Caribbean immigrant community as well as provides more information on the Black community as a whole. We are looking at Haitian and Jamaican immigrants, specifically in higher education, because this institution can be observed from numerous lenses, from admission statistics to academic retention, and is more accessible for an undergraduate student. Exploring the experiences of Haitian and Jamaican descended students in higher education is essential because this group is often overlooked in academia, such as in admissions. Individually, we will work with Black Caribbean students who attend Florida State University as first-generation college students. First-generation college students are an important demographic to explore because they face unique challenges when maneuvering through college life.