The Nature of Ethnic Idenitity Among the People of Curaçao

Curaçao is a multicultural society whose ethno-cultural composition has been shaped over time by multicultural ancestral traces. The native Indians, Hispanics, Dutch, Sephardic Jews, Africans and Mulattos, set the tone for the initial make-up of the country. Their descendants and each consecutive new wave of immigrants with their particular backgrounds have complemented its diversity. The main objective of this research is to explore the nature of ethnic identity amongst the people of Curaçao and to consequently arrive at a deeper understanding of the perceptions, thinking, feeling and behaviour patterns of the island’s people. The nature of ethnic identity was studied amongst descendants of the fifteen major ethnic groups on the island, according to four basic interactive components: ethnic self-identification, ethnic awareness, ethnic studies and ethnic behaviour. Ethnic identity was approached throughout this study as a dynamic psychological process that is subject to change according to prevailing characteristics of the individuals’ development within the social context of the Curaçaoan society in which they live.

Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION ….. 9

1.1 Statement of the Problem ….. 12
1.2 Research premises ….. 13

2. THEORIES OF ETHNIC IDENTITY ….. 15

2.1 General ….. 15
2.2 Ethnic Identity Components …..16
2.3 Ethnic Identity and Social Dynamics ….. 20

3. MULTICULTURAL ANCESTRAL TRACES ….. 23

Literary Review ….. 23

3.1 Curaçaoan Indian Ancestry ….. 24
3.2 Hispanic Ancestry ….. 36
3.3 Dutch Ancestry ….. 54
3.4 Jewish Ancestry ….. 89
3.5 African Ancestry ….. 105
3.6 Mulatto Ancestry ….. 145
3.7 Caribbean Ancestry ….. 155
3.7.1 Bonairean Ancestry ….. 157
3.7.2 Aruban Ancestry ….. 162
3.7.3 Dutch Windward Islands and British Caribbean Ancestry ….. 165
3.7.4 Surinamese Ancestry ….. 170
3.7.5 Haitian Ancestry ….. 175
3.8 Arab Ancestry ….. 178
3.9 Chinese Ancestry ….. 182
3.10 Indian (India) Ancestry ….. 188
3.11 Portuguese Ancestry ….. 192
3.12 Other Groups ….. 197

4. RESEARCH METHOD ….. 200

4.1 Design ….. 200
4.2 Subjects ….. 200
4.3 Instrument ….. 203
4.4 Procedure ….. 203

5. DESCENDANTS: ETHNIC IDENTITY PATTERNS ….. 206

Qualitative Implementation Reports ….. 206

5.1 Hispanic Descendants ….. 206
5.2 Dutch Descendants ….. 223
5.3 Jewish Descent Group ….. 245
5.4 African Descendants ….. 261
5.5 Mulatto Descendants (Mixed Race) ….. 282
5.6 Bonairean Descendants ….. 301
5.7 Aruban Descendents ….. 311
5.8 Windward Island (Saint Martin, Statia, Saba) Descendents ….. 323
5.9 British Caribbean Descendants ….. 337
5.10 Surinamese Descendants ….. 348
5.11 Arab Descendants ….. 365
5.12 Chinese Descendants ….. 387
5.13 Indian (India) Descendants ….. 402
5.14 Portuguese Descendants ….. 420
5.15 Other Descendants: German, Haitian, Indo-Dutch and Italian ….. 434

6. THE NATURE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY AMONG THE PEOPLE OF CURAÇAO ….. 451

Discussion: Connecting Literary and Implementation dots 451

6.1 Demographics ….. 458
6.2 Ethnic Self-Identification ….. 463
6.3 Ethnic Awareness ….. 472
6.4 Ethnic Attitudes ….. 484
6.5 Behavioral Patterns ….. 499

7. CONCLUSIONS ….. 509

APPENDIX I

Semi Open Ended Interview ….. 511

APPENDIX II

Curacao Historical Highlights ….. 512

REFERENCES ….. 514

CURRICULUM VITAE ….. 538