The marketing language of tourism artfully sells the lands bordering the Caribbean Sea as a private paradise, travel destinations with little purpose other than serving fantasies of sunlit indolence. Behind the façade of these picture postcards, however, is a region with a fascinating history and a unique demographic mix. The inhabitants of the Caribbean have included indigenous and migratory Amerindian peoples; European conquerors, merchants, and settlers; African slaves from diverse tribes across the continent; indentured plantation workers from India; and more recent arrivals from China, Lebanon, Syria, and other countries around the globe. The merging and blending of influences from these diverse sources has created the dynamic Creole culture of the contemporary Caribbean. The work produced today by traditional Caribbean potters opens a window into a rich historical narrative of resistance, adaptation, and survival.
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