This is a study of migration from the parish of St. Elizabeth in Jamaica, 1954-1962. The thesis attempts to integrate the literature relating to debates in the sociology of migration and the sociology of race and ethnic relations. We begin with a discussion of theoretical issues raised in the literature with regard to migration and labour. These raised questions about structure and agency. We emphasise the passage between cultures and the significance of biographies, work histories and kinship. Chapters 3 and 4 examine the context of migration in the 1940s and 1950s from the background of rural Jamaican society and focuses upon the parish of St. Elizabeth and a series of interviews with some septuagenarians. Chapters 5 to 11 focus upon the life experiences of the people who migrated. We pay particular attention to the reasons for migration, experiences of British society and racism, how they obtained jobs and pursued their concern for a better life. In this we raise questions about the way in which aspects of St. Elizabethan culture fitted them to cope with British society. We pay particular attention to kinship, savings and credit schemes and their attitudes towards education as a source of social mobility. Chapters 12 and 13 look at the children of the migrants and particularly their experience of education and family relations. In this we identify important sources of variation in the experience of the second generation. We explore these in Chapters 14 and 15 through questions relating to social class and social identity. Throughout the thesis has relied upon detailed informal interviews, life history and participant observation as research techniques. These were all used to facilitate our understanding of the qualitative side of the migrants' experience.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:632849 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Creators | Sterling, Louis |
| Publisher | University of Manchester |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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