Just about every Caribbean country has a motto that speaks of unity…. Guyana’s “One People, One Nation, One Destiny,” Jamaica’s “Out of Many One People,” The Bahamas’ “Forward Upward Onward Together,” Anguilla’s “Unity, Strength and Endurance,” Haiti’s “L’Union Fait La Force” (Unity makes Strength) Trinidad and Tobago “Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve” Yet all we do is bicker and bitch over trivial topics that signal xenophobia, jingoism, and nativism. It’s very easy to answer your question…because the history of The Bahamas’ contribution to the world is not a secret and is actually rather significant to the American south. But your question isn’t seeking an answer…it’s seeking to denigrate. It’s positioning your (lack of) knowledge about The Bahamas against the undoubtedly storied history of Haiti. What must not be forgotten in your arrogance however, is that the people that populated either island —whether it be Hispaniola or The Bahamas—are one and the same or, at the very least, so similar that they share overlapping African ancestral origins. Same roots, just different routes. Both the British and the French stole from the same countries and the same continent. Let’s not be arrogant about our ignorance over something as trivial as food. Our mottos preach unity. Try to to embrace it. I say the same to Bahamians who try to disparage Haiti and its economic condition. I do not demean the necessity of many of its nationals to emigrate to other neighboring islands for a better way of life. I respect it. And that what this should always come back to: mutual respect. NB: please don’t argue with me about what counts as Caribbean…especially if you believe the Caribbean is just a geographical location.

Tell anyone you’re from the Caribbean and they’ll assume you’re from Jamaica