Anytime I enter a new place I'm always asked the question, "What ethnicity are you?" I am, in fact, Guyanese-American or Indo-Caribbean American. When people hear this they immediately respond, "I thought you were Indian." Well, they're almost right and I'll explain why.
My family is from a little country in South America, named Guyana (not to be confused with Ghana in Africa). It is right on the equator. When I say small, I mean it's one of the tiniest countries on the continent and it looks incredibly small compared to its neighboring country, Brazil. Despite being geographically located in South America, it is indeed part of the Caribbean being that it belongs to the Caribbean Community, otherwise known as CARICOM. It was predominantly a Dutch settlement before being taken over by the British in the 18th Century.
Along with British colonization, slavery came to the country. This is where people are partially right when they guess that I'm Indian. Slaves and indentured servants were transported from Africa and the Indian subcontinent and brought to the Caribbean.
I am a descendant of this past, in appearance and culture. When my ancestors left India for the Caribbean, they brought with them their Hindu beliefs, their music, and their foods. Many of us in Indo-Caribbean American communities practice Hinduism, eat "roti" for dinner, and find comfort in Bollywood movies and songs. However, we come with a twist. We have Caribbean influences within us too. As much as we love Bollywood, we love Soca music and Caribbean carnival culture. It's a unique and interesting balance between the two cultures. It instills a sense of unity.
The American part of me exists because I am a result of Guyanese-born immigrants. I was born and raised in New York, but I still have the same love and appreciation for my heritage. The Guyanese community in America is fairly small (since the country has a very small population itself), but most of us reside in the five boroughs of New York City. It's great to see that despite our small population, we are still being recognized in colleges and universities in the form of Guyanese Student Associations and Caribbean culture clubs.
When we see another Guyanese person, whether they were born in America or in Guyana, we are immediately comforted and excited. Even if we've never seen each other before, we feel a connection through the love of our heritage and the appreciation of our troubled past. We are immediately unified. So, yes, I am a proud Guyanese-American (of Indian descent).
