Radical Caribbean social thought: Race,class identity and the postcolonial nation

Abstract

The Caribbean, that first place of significant European conquest, colonialism, large-scale transportation and varying levels of forced or coerced migration and labour, provided the impetus for many ‘race theories’ of the 18th and 19th centuries. This article explores the engaged scholarship of radical intellectuals of the English-speaking Caribbean emerging from this racially defined colonial context that emerged over the early to mid-20th century and produced counter-narratives of ‘postcolonial’ and ‘anti-colonial’ thought. With a focus on the radical pan-Africanist, socialist and neo-Marxist traditions it locates elements of radical Caribbean social thought within a larger radical global intellectual tradition and as a precursor in many ways to today’s critical race theories/studies. It focuses on particular themes and methodologies that characterize this work and writing as well as its regional and international impact. Also, the significance of women’s rights and ‘gender’ issues in this tradition is examined; both by its attention to the situation of women in writing and activism and through the important work of key women in these movements. Finally, the article makes a call for a re-engagement with this earlier radical tradition contributing to what Michael Burawoy refers to as public sociology, i.e. a sociology in dialogue with audiences outside the academy while drawing on the traditions of critical sociology.