Ask a parent born in the Caribbean what they want their kids to study when they grow up, and you probably won’t hear music, art, literature, or history in their answer.  I am sure that it varies from family to family, but a common response is that they didn’t work hard to come to America so that you can sing and dance.

Typical acceptable fields of study? Law, medicine, or economics.  Those were the “real” jobs. Is this still true?

Funny thing is, when you look at the number of successful artists in music, theater, music, and literature – they may be labeled as African American, but when you look deeper into their heritage, many of them are of Caribbean descent.

Carnival is a very large part of Caribbean culture, and is one of the most visible and longest running (on several continents throughout the year) displays of artistry in design, music, and dance in the world.  How is it that creativity in the arts is celebrated in the Caribbean, but getting “a good government job” or becoming a physician, scientist, or attorney is the goal once we reach the states? Is this still the goal for Caribbean Americans?

My father came here and became an attorney, but he is truly his happiest when he is making something beautiful or singing karaoke.

Share your thoughts in the comment section.  Here are some questions that you can answer:

Do Caribbean parents push success regardless of the field, or do we focus more on the field of study?

Once Caribbean parents reach the US, do we put less emphasis on the field of study, and more on the happiness of the child?

Do we include the arts in the education of our children more in the US or in the Caribbean?

In recent years, is it more acceptable for Caribbean people in America, Canada, and the UK to enter fields in the arts rather than “professional” ones?

How do you encourage your children to be creative?

Do you believe that encouraging creativity is important in the education of children?

Do you connect the creative culture of the Caribbean with the prevalence of innovative Caribbean people living in the US, Canada, and the UK?

Feel free to share your thoughts outside of these questions as well.