In a captivating lecture, Professor Monique D. A. Kelly, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Michigan State University, provided a fresh perspective on racial inequality in the Anglophone Caribbean. The event, titled “Racial Inequality in the Anglophone Caribbean: Comparing the Cases of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago,” was a landmark gathering that left us with a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the region.

Multidimensional Approach Unveils Nuances:

Prof Kelly, renowned for her work on racial and ethnic stratification, brought her expertise to the forefront, utilising a multidimensional approach to unravel the intricacies of racial inequality in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The selection of these two countries, representing the extremes of ethno-racial diversity in the region, offered a unique lens through which to examine the impact of race on socioeconomic outcomes. One of the most compelling aspects of Prof Kelly’s presentation was the unexpected findings in Trinidad and Tobago. While a prevalent racial hierarchy and pigmentocracy were identified in both countries, Trinidad and Tobago emerged as an exception to the expected Black disadvantage. This revelation sparked meaningful discussions about the broader implications of such findings on our understanding of race in the Caribbean.

The session, chaired by Dr Danielle Bester, an AVReQ/NIHSS postdoc fellow and a collaborator of Prof Kelly, added an extra layer of expertise and collaboration to the event. Dr Bester’s insightful contributions complemented Prof Kelly’s research, creating a well-rounded exploration of racial and ethnic stratification in the Caribbean.

In conclusion, the public lecture by Prof Monique D. A. Kelly, enriched by the expertise of Dr Danielle Bester, provided us with a more nuanced understanding of racial inequality in the Anglophone Caribbean. The unexpected findings and collaborative efforts between these two esteemed scholars made this event a milestone in the ongoing discourse on race and inequality.