White people, in general, have been exploiting people and traditions of other cultures for centuries, a problem that is no different in regards to the Caribbean. While the entire population is not blindly ignorant, the majority of Americans tend to have three thoughts when it comes to the Caribbean: Pirates of the, sweet vacation spots, and Bob Marley. And it’s becoming increasingly popular to falsify expertise in popular media outlets (as popular media is becoming more easily accessed to people every day), so that we all end up sounding like this
When really we just did this
In fact, the cultures of the Caribbean people are very uniquely their own. Shocking, I know. Similar to most cultures throughout the world, one very important aspect of the Caribbean region is the different religions and spiritual practices that are apparent in every day life. However, oftentimes they are all lumped into one large, ignorant category—one that is easily dismissed, mocked, and even feared.
I know what you’re thinking…
To which you would, in fact, be correct. We are. So how, you must be wondering, do we learn more about such an important part of Caribbean culture and avoid this inevitable American racism? You’ve come to the right place, dear readers, because the information you seek sure won’t be represented accurately in most media resources. Luckily we’ve done a lot of the digging for you, providing one tell-all source for all things Obeah and Pukkumina.
Obeah is one of the most popular Caribbean belief systems to date, and while much of the world believes it as an evil practice (the most prominent Google definition refers to it simply as “sorcery”, or black magic), with a little education on the subject it is clear that this is not the case. Although, in some cases, any religion can be used with malintent, the prominent usages include protection of yourself or loved ones, bringing good fortune in love and economic success, healing practices, and contacting the spirit world, among many other things. Many people turn to Obeah when they are in desperate need for help—not when they wish harm on others or want revenge.
Pukkumina, or Kumina, is another tradition, influenced by their African roots, that is mainly dedicated to healing rituals and honoring past ancestors. There is much more of an opportunity for misunderstandings with this set of spiritual beliefs because the information gathered on Kumina is less prevalent, due to the fact that each leader of a Kumina group is free to improvise and transform their ceremonial traditions around their specific needs and functions. However, one huge characteristic holds true across all practices of Pukkumina: it provides a sense of security to those who practice, as opposed to a sense of danger to those who do not.
We hope you enjoy learning more about these Caribbean traditions,
Aria, Kayla, Lauren and Zarin
The Classics of Caribbean Literature 