Sentence Outline

Topic: Discuss the major similarities and differences between the identities of a Caribbean

individual and a non-Caribbean individual.

Thesis Statement: Although a Caribbean and a non-Caribbean have similar religious beliefs,

they differ in cuisine and ethnicity.

Sub-Topic Topic Sentence

Religious beliefs Individuals from the Caribbean and non-Caribbean nations

are comparable because they embrace similar religious

beliefs.

Cuisine A disparity between the Caribbean and non-Caribbean

individuals is their cuisine, which is different in each

country.

Ethnicity Furthermore, the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals

have a diversion with their ethnicity which is made up of

various characteristics.
The qualities, values, attitudes, looks, and manifestations of a person are referred to as his or her

identity. Identity is defined as who a person predicts or aspires to become, whom they feel forced

to strive to become, or who they despise becoming. Identity has been defined in a variety of

ways, including unitary or multiple, actual or fabricated, stable" or fluid, personal" or social, and

a variety of other ways that frequently appear to contradict each other (Vignoles, 2011).

However, identification is not limited to defining persons; it is also used to designate regions of

the world. When discussing a region's identity, it is best to utilize cultural identity. Cultural

identity refers to a person's sense of belonging to a specific group based on cultural factors such

as nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, and religion. Every individual has their own cultural

identity. It stems from the way they use parts of each of their cultures to form and define who

they are. Although a Caribbean and a non-Caribbean have similar religious beliefs, they differ in

cuisine and ethnicity.

Individuals from the Caribbean and Non-Caribbean nations are comparable because they

embrace similar religious beliefs. Religious beliefs refer to the practices of individuals which

include worship, rituals, symbolism, cosmology and arts (Olupona, 2007). Christianity is the

most widely practiced religion in the Caribbean, however, Hinduism and Islam also have

significant followings, particularly in Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the

Caribbean countries, such as Haiti and Dominica, with longer histories of French and Spanish

colonialism, Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith, whereas Anglicans and Methodists have

historically predominated in the Caribbean country, Montserrat which has a strong British

influence.
Christianity is also the dominant religion in non-Caribbean countries such as Europe, North

America, South America, and parts of Africa. The majority of Muslims live in the Middle East

and North Africa, while the majority of Hindus live in India. However, both Christians and

Muslims exist in India. African religious traditions, as well as those of Caribbean countries like

Haiti, continue to be expressed through Voodoo. Rastafarianism has spread throughout the

region, with roots in Ethiopian history and development as a distinct belief system in Jamaica.

A disparity between the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals is their cuisine, which is

different in each country. People of various cultures consume a variety of dishes. Food

preferences and dislikes are based on how individuals grew and where their parents or

grandparents are originated from. In general, Caribbean food is made up of a variety of cultures

that are mingled together to produce various creative dishes that give the region's cuisine a

distinct identity. Likewise, Non-Caribbean food is also made up of a variety of different cultures

which helps to create the identity of the country and by extension the individual. For example,

according to (Gossai, 2021) Guyana's national cuisine which is pepperpot, honours the

contributions of the nation's founding people. It is a slow-cooked meat stew made using beef,

although other versions use mutton, pork, or chicken. In reference to (Betts 2017) Roast pork,

jiaozi, also known as Chinese dumplings, along with spring rolls, huoshao, and rice are popular

dishes in China for any occasion. This shows a great disparity among these two countries.
Furthermore, the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals have a diversion with their ethnicity

which is made up of various characteristics. Ethnicity is a term used to describe a group of

individuals who identify with each other based on similar traits that separate them from other

groups, such as a shared set of traditions, ancestry, language, music, society, culture, nation,

religion, or social treatment in their locality. Solid proof that a Caribbean individual may be

distinguished from a non-Caribbean individual based on the mentioned characteristics, for

example, individuals who reside in the Caribbean, like Trinidad and Tobago speak creole

languages, whereas people in England speak English. Another example would be the music an

individual prefers, this can reveal one's ethnicity. According to (Statista 2021), in the United

Kingdom (UK) people prefer to listen to pop music, whilst reggae and dancehall are favoured in

Jamaica.

It can be concluded that the Caribbean and non-Caribbean individuals both share similarities

with their religious beliefs and differences with cuisine and ethnicity. Despite the fact that the

individuals have various cultures, their religious beliefs are similar, with Christianity being the

predominant faith. The distinction in cuisine is based on a country's identity, whereas ethnicity is

based on an individual's ancestors' origins.

 Reference List

Betts, Jennifer. “Chinese Christmas Traditions: From Food to Decorations.” LoveToKnow.

LoveToKnow Media. Accessed November 30, 2021.

https://christmas.lovetoknow.com/chinese-christmas-traditions.

Gossai, Sonia, Sonia Gossai, and Sonia GossaiBased in Georgetown. “Top 25 Foods from

Guyana (with Pictures!).” Chef's Pencil, July 10, 2021.

https://www.chefspencil.com/top-25-foods-from-guyana-with-pictures/.

Olupona, J. (2007). Beyond primitivism. New York: Routledge

“(PDF) Identity: Personal and Social -.” Accessed November 30, 2021.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316790231_Identity_Personal_AND_Social.

Published by Statista Research Department, and Jan 8. “Most Popular Music Genres in the UK

2018.” Statista, January 8, 2021

. https://www.statista.com/statistics/963798/most-popular-music-genres-united-kingdom-uk/.