Caribbeans do better than African Americans?

#immigration

Yes.

Black Caribbean immigrants tend to do better than African Americans.

They have larger families, higher household income, and are less likely to live in poverty. The Caribbean is the most common region of birth for Black immigrants in the United States. source, source

Black immigrants from the Caribbean have long attained greater labor market success than African Americans. source

Close to 90 percent of immigrants in the United States from the 13 Caribbean countries and 17 dependent territories come from one of four countries: Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Haiti. source

The Caribbean is the most common region of birth for the 4.5 million Black immigrants in the United States, accounting for 46 percent of the total. Jamaica (16 percent) and Haiti (15 percent) are the two largest origin countries for Black immigrants. source

Black Caribbean immigrants are born in the Caribbean, live in the US and identify as Black. African Americans are US born and identify as Black. The Black community includes both. source

The Caribbean population accounts for nearly 50% of all blacks, with most coming from Jamaica. source

The Nielsen research finds that the median household income for foreign-born blacks is 30% higher than U.S.-born blacks. source

Why?

Many Caribbean immigrants come to the United States with higher levels of education and professional skills, which can help them secure better-paying jobs. Additionally, the strong community networks and support systems within Caribbean communities can provide a foundation for economic success. source

African Americans have faced systemic barriers that have hindered their financial progress. Systemic barriers that Caribbean immigrants did not face in their homeland. Historical disparities, such as redlining and discrimination in employment and education, have contributed to a significant wealth gap.

These challenges have made it more difficult for African Americans to build and maintain wealth over generations. source

The black immigrant population in the U.S. has a higher percentage of entrepreneurs, and an increased ability to keep dollars in their own communities. source

1. Educational Attainment

• Studies often show that Black immigrants, including those from the Caribbean, tend to have higher levels of educational attainment compared to African Americans. This is partly due to a phenomenon called selective migration, where individuals who migrate are often among the more ambitious and resourceful in their home countries. source

2. Economic Outcomes

• Black Caribbean immigrants may initially achieve higher income levels compared to African Americans. However, disparities persist due to systemic racism affecting all Black populations in the U.S., including immigrants.

• Over time, Black immigrants often face similar challenges to African Americans, such as discrimination in housing, employment, and the justice system. source

  
  

3. Cultural Differences

• Caribbean immigrants may have distinct cultural practices and attitudes that influence their adaptation to U.S. society. For example, some researchers suggest that immigrant families emphasize education and entrepreneurship in ways that might contribute to certain successes. source

Using data from the National Survey of American Life—the first social survey to provide a nationally representative sample of both African Americans and Afro Caribbeans—this study finds that Afro Caribbeans have greater hard skills than African Americans but split the difference on two measures of soft skills: African Americans and Afro Caribbeans are matched on John Henryism, but African Americans have greater personal mastery than Afro Caribbeans. source

Soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person's ability to interact effectively with others. In the workplace, soft skills are considered to be a complement to hard skills, which refer to a person's knowledge and occupational skills.

Psychologists may use the term "soft skills" to describe someone's emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) as opposed to intelligence quotient (IQ). In a competitive labor market, individuals who demonstrate that they have a good combination of hard and soft skills often enjoy a greater demand for their services. source

Caribbean countries include: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Read also: Cherry picking blacks, African American and Black Caribbean relations, Labor Market Disparities Between African Americans and Afro Caribbeans