Exploration of How the Social Construction of Race Impacts the Lived Experience of Individuals Based on Geographic Location Between the U.S. and the Caribbean

Presenter: Danielle Auguste

Faculty Sponsor: Panteha Sanati

School: Massasoit Community College

Research Area: Race and Ethnicity Studies

Session: Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM, Auditorium, A18

ABSTRACT

This project explores to what extent race plays a role in the experiences of individuals in the United States and the Caribbean, specifically Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica, in terms of how the social construction of race influences their lives. Race and social identity have long been shaped by colonialism, migration, and systems of power that affect opportunities, privilege, and discrimination. Although Haiti, Cuba and Jamaica share histories of slavery and resistance, each nation has developed unique racial ideology that shapes identity and institutional structures. This comparison examines how individuals from these regions perceive and navigate race both in their home countries and in the United States emphasizing the differences as well as the shared struggles rooted in the pursuit of equality. Using a qualitative and comparative approach, the research draws from peer-reviewed journal articles, historical analyses, personal interviews, alongside personal reflections as an immigrant to connect academic findings with lived experience. The results reveal that while racial concepts vary across societies, systemic inequality persists through cultural hierarchies that privilege lighter skin and Western ideals; racial constructs produce real consequences that can only be addressed through education, awareness and sustained social change.