Bahamian American

Infobox Ethnic group
group = flagicon|Bahamas Bahamian American flagicon|USA


caption = Notable Bahamian Americans: Lenny Kravitz W. E. B. DuBois
poptime = Bahamian 31,984 Americans cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DTTable?_bm=y&-context=dt&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U&-mt_name=DEC_2000_SF3_U_PCT018&-CONTEXT=dt&-tree_id=403&-redoLog=true&-all_geo_types=N&-geo_id=01000US&-search_results=01000US&-format=&-_lang=en&-SubjectID=14595646 | title=US Census Bureau, American FactFinder, Decennial Programs, Census 2000, Data Set Census 2000 Summary File 3 (SF 3) – Sample Data, Table: PCT18 ANCESTRY (TOTAL CATEGORIES TALLIED) FOR PEOPLE WITH ONE OR MORE ANCESTRY CATEGORIES REPORTED [109] Universe] 0.01% of the US population
popplace = Florida (South Florida), Georgia (Metro Atlanta), Alabama, New York (New York metropolitan area)
langs = English (American English, Bahamian English)
rels = Anglican/Episcopalian, Baptist, Church of God, Methodist, Roman Catholic
related =

Bahamian Americans are citizens or residents of the United States of Bahamian ancestry. Although many native-born Bahamians live and work in the United States, they are not considered Bahamian Americans, as that title is reserved for people born in the United States to at least one Bahamian parent, or parent of Bahamian descent. The United States Census of 2000 counted 31,984 people of Bahamian ancestry.

Communities

The majority of Bahamian Americans, about 21,000 in total, live in and around Miami, Florida, with the Bahamian community centered in Coconut Grove. There is also a growing Bahamian American population in Metro Atlanta, Georgia, evident from the recent opening of an honorary consulate there.

Although the majority of Bahamian Americans live in the Southern United States, a large population can be found in the New York City area, with the population particularly centered in Harlem. Bahamian Americans in the New York City area regularly provide cultural education and entertainment, particularly due to the Office of the Bahamas Consulate General in New York being located in the city.

In the 1920s and 1930s, many Bahamian Americans in Key West, Florida and Riviera Beach, Florida were often referred to as "Conchs," and their communities sometimes referred to as "Conch Towns." In 1939, the WPA conducted a study of Bahamian Americans in Florida entitled "Conch Town."

US communities with high percentages of people of Bahamian ancestry

The top US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Bahamian ancestry are: [cite web |url=http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Bahamian.html |title=Ancestry Map of Bahamian Communities |publisher=Epodunk.com |accessdate=2008-08-04]

# Bunche Park, Florida 3.80%
# El Portal, Florida 2.20%
# Goulds, Florida 2.00%
# Golden Glades, Florida 1.80%
# Richmond Heights, Florida 1.30%
# West Little River, Florida and North Miami, Florida 1.20%
# Munford, Alabama and North Miami Beach, Florida 1.10%
# Rincon, Georgia 1.00%

Culture

Like other immigrant groups, Bahamian Americans have retained much of their cultural heritage. Bahamian Americans listen to and perform Junkanoo and rake-and-scrape music, engage in the classic art of West Indian storytelling about characters like Anansi, and create Bahamian-style art, especially straw weaving and canvas art.

Bahamian foods staples such as conch, peas and rice, Johnny cake, and duffs (especially guava) continue to be made by Bahamian Americans. Bahamian dialect is also spoken by many Bahamian Americans, especially in Florida.

Organizations

Both the Bahamian American Cultural Society and the Bahamian American Association Inc., the largest Bahamian American organizations in the United States, are located in Manhattan. These organizations provide cultural education services, social opportunities, and genealogical records to Bahamian Americans and those interested in Bahamian and Bahamian American culture.

The National Association of the Bahamas, located in Miami, offers primarily social opportunities for the local Bahamian American community.

Notable Bahamian Americans

* Wendy Coakley-Thompson, writer [ [http://pageonelit.com/interviews/WCThompson.html "Wendy Coakley-Thompson, Ph.D." Page One Lit. Accessed July 19, 2007.] ]
* Tee Corinne, artist and gay right activist
* Jimmy Curry, producer and director

* Lenny Kravitz, musician [ [http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1749/Roxie_Roker_actress_and_more "Roxie Roker, actress and more!" African American Registry. Accessed July 19, 2007.] ]
* Sidney Poitier, actor [ [http://www.spanish.eb.com/oscar/article-9060564 "Sidney Poitier." All About Oscar. Accessed July 19, 2007.] ]
* Al Roker, meteorologist and television personality [ ["Al Roker's Family Reunion." Food Network, 2000.] ]
* Roxie Roker, actress [ [http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1749/Roxie_Roker_actress_and_more "Roxie Roker, actress and more!" African American Registry. Accessed July 19, 2007.] ]
* Esther Rolle, actress [ [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/littleexuma/0291010001.html Porter, Darwin. "Introduction to Little Exuma." Frommers. Accessed July 19, 2007.] ]
* Joanne Smith, model
* Persia White, actress and singer
*Kimbo Slice, Mixed Martial Arts fighter.

ee also

* Celebrity residents of the Bahamas

References

External links

* [http://www.bahamianamericanassociation.org/ Bahamian American Association]
* [http://www.bahamianamericanculturalsociety.org/ Bahamian American Cultural Society]
* [http://www.nabmiami.com/ National Association of the Bahamas]
* [http://www.un.int/bahamas/Consular_Travel_Information.htm Office of the Bahamas Consulate General in New York]
* [http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/wpa/ Online version (made available for public use by the State Archives of Florida) of a 1939 WPA exhibit on Bahamian Americans of Florida ]