Week 6: “Survival and Invention” -Hulme (Castle)

In his piece on the creation of identity on the part of “native” Caribs, Hulme, discusses the definition of certain cultural identifiers, such as “texts”, and their role on the creation and subjugation of identity. The most interesting aspect of Hulme’s work was his discussion on the necessity of destroying the isolation that accompanies colonially-instutituted isolation, and that with the ability to experience and embrace other “races”, the Caribs, in a sense can embrace their own. Some thoughts that arise from this idea of isolation are: Can we understand our own identities in isolation? If not, in the creation of identity, why do we continue to necessitate “othering” people groups for our own self-definition and aggrandizment? These are some questions that are foundational before we can begin answering “who we are” as natives, immigrants, and even Americans.