Belizean Diaspora, Transnationalism, and the Politics of Central American-Caribbean Identity in LA

Описание: Full Title: Belizean Diaspora, Transnationalism, and the Politics of Central American-Caribbean Identity in Los Angeles

Synopsis: This paper explores the experiences of Belizeans in Los Angeles to examine the complex and often overlooked dimensions of Black Central American and Caribbean diasporas in the United States. As a predominantly Black and Creole-speaking nation, Belize occupies a liminal space: geographically part of Central America, yet culturally and historically connected to the Anglophone Caribbean. This dual positioning creates a unique diasporic identity that challenges rigid frameworks of Latinidad and Central Americanness, as well as dominant understandings of Blackness in the U.S. context.This paper pays close attention to how placemaking, collective memory, and everyday rituals shape identity formation. These practices reveal the emotional and political labor required to sustain diasporic life across borders. This paper highlights how Belizeans are not only preserving culture but also actively reshaping what it means to be Central American and Caribbean in diaspora.

About the presenter(s): Nicole Ramsey is a scholar of Black Central American and Caribbean diasporas, with a focus on Belizean culture, identity, and transnationalism. Her work explores how Black Belizeans navigate race, nation, and belonging across borders, particularly in sites like Los Angeles. Drawing on performance studies, Black feminism, and diaspora theory, she examines cultural preservation, placemaking, and digital life in the diaspora. Her current book project, Under the Shade I Flourish, centers Belize as a critical site for understanding Afro-Diasporic life in Central America and beyond.

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