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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.
Bahamas
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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