Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Date of Degree

6-2025

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Program

Political Science

Advisor

John Mollenkopf

Subject Categories

Other Political Science

Keywords

Guyanese diaspora, Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, racial and ethnic identity, cultural hybridization, New York City

Abstract

This study explores racial and ethnic self-identification among members of the Guyanese diaspora in New York City, with particular emphasis on individuals who select "Other" as their racial or ethnic category. Utilizing an IRB-approved quantitative methodology, data was collected through a structured survey targeting Indo-, Afro-, and mixed-heritage Guyanese populations. Drawing on Stuart Hall’s Cultural Identity Theory and Cultural Hybridization Theory, this research analyzes how participants negotiate potentially fluid identities within social contexts that often favor rigid racial categorizations. My findings indicate that those who identify as "Other Race" frequently resist binary classifications, instead constructing hybrid forms of "Guyanese-ness" that blend multiple cultural, linguistic, and historical influences. By centering the experiences and narratives of these individuals, this study contributes to broader discussions of diasporic identity, racial fluidity, and the significance of cultural hybridity. The results underscore the need to expand academic and social frameworks to reflect the lived experiences of marginalized and multiracial communities more accurately within the Caribbean diaspora.

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