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Bahamas

In recent years, many blacks from Haiti, one of the world’s poorest coun- tries, have entered the Bahamas illegally in search of jobs. Bahamians have relegated them to poor-paying manual labor. Haitians are widely resented by the general public; they are looked down upon for many reasons, including their darker skin and shorter stature. White Bahamians, who make up almost 5 percent of the population, are primarily of English and Irish descent. Small numbers of Bahamians claim Greek descent; most are related to divers who arrived in the islands to hunt for sponges, and then remained. Other groups of white Bahamians are direct descendants of the pirates and wreckers who inhabited Nassau during its “Privateer’s Republic” days. Asians and Hispanics together make up about 3 percent of the popula- tion. They are for the most part well integrated into Bahamian society. Urban Islanders The residents of Nassau and Freeport, the islands’ two largest cities, are pri- marily professional, upper-middle-class, and working-class Bahamians. libel— published statements or representations that convey an unjustly unfavorable impression of a person. obeah— a West Indian religion with roots in Africa, characterized by the use of magical rituals and herbal medicines. Words to Understand in this Chapter