{"id":593,"date":"2018-09-05T17:12:05","date_gmt":"2018-09-05T17:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/socamom.com\/w\/?p=593"},"modified":"2023-09-04T22:26:15","modified_gmt":"2023-09-05T04:26:15","slug":"the-impossible-dream-finding-soca-in-the-south-before-the-internet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/socamom.com\/w\/the-impossible-dream-finding-soca-in-the-south-before-the-internet\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impossible Dream: Finding Soca in the South before the Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve had SocaMom.com for seven years, and haven’t talked about some of the harder things to deal with being Caribbean American and living in the Southern United States.<\/p>\n

Historically, Caribbean people did not settle in the south in great numbers.<\/strong> Most people came to Washington, DC, New York, Maryland, Los Angeles… I mean, in the 60’s and 70’s did anyone who came from the Caribbean WANT to resettle in a place with such turmoil and hatred for people of color? It isn’t that there was no racism in the North, but I have to say, having lived in both places, it is different.<\/p>\n

You May Enjoy:<\/strong> 6 Ways to Connect to Caribbean Culture on Your Resort Vacation<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In the South, you knew where to go and where not to go.<\/strong> You knew where you were welcome and where you weren’t. You learned the rules and learned them quickly – for your own health and safety. I found places that I felt comfortable, outside of school of course, and could enjoy black American culture, people, food, and friendship without feeling like a complete outsider.<\/p>\n

Still, my house was soooooo different from my black American friends’ homes.<\/p>\n

While I loved mac n cheese, I really loved macaroni pie.<\/strong> Collard greens were great, but callaloo was my jam. And yes, I really enjoyed rap and R&B music – but soca… soca was what I needed.<\/p>\n