Godfrey Mwakikagile

Belize and Its Identity: A Multicultural Perspective Godfrey Mwakikagile

This work is about Belize from a historical and contemporary perspective. Once known as British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. And it's only one of two such countries in Latin America. The other one is Guyana in South America which was also once ruled by Britain. The author looks at the different racial and ethno-cultural groups which collectively constitute Belize, a country founded by British settlers and African slaves more than 300 years ago. The work is a general introduction to Belize. It's also about life in Belize and how the different groups interact with each other in this multicultural society. He examines Belize's multicultural character and identity and how members of different groups interact at different levels of national life - as individuals, as an integral part of an ethnic or cultural group, and as an integral part of the nation. How important is group identity? Is Belize a melting pot? Has it ever tried to be one if it's not one already? Are ethnic relations good or bad? How do immigrants fit in? Are there "true" Belizeans? Who is a native Belizean and who is not? How have competing claims to native status affected ethnic and racial relations? How many ethnic and racial groups are in Belize? Are there ethnic enclaves in Belize? Is Belize also an Afro-Caribbean nation although it's in Central America? Is it more black than Spanish? What is the dominant culture in Belize and why? Those are some of the subjects addressed in the book. Members of the general public including those going to Belize may find this work to be useful. It may also help some students learn a few things about the country.