Family and community networks in the (re)making of ethnic identity of Caribbean young people in Britain

Abstract

This paper examines how Caribbean young people utilize community and family networks to re-affirm notions of cultural, ethnic and family belonging. At a community level, this occurs through Caribbean young people's participation in black-led institutions and agencies within their local communities and neighbourhoods. At a family level, the young people are involved in kinship activities and practices that develop and maintain social networks at localized and transnational levels. Bonding social capital operates as a valuable social resource, which embeds the young people within their family and community networks. It also provides a platform from which they can bridge, and access relationships and resources, across diverse ethnic groups. The analysis shows that these young people's desire for kinship and cultural belonging must be understood within the wider context of social exclusion and disadvantage in British society. However, there are some negative consequences associated with bonding social capital for the individual, family and society. The discussion is based on qualitative interviews with 30 second and third generation Caribbean young people (age between 16 and 30 years old), and their views concerning family and community in ethnic identity formation.