Empire, citizenship and belonging: the Chinese in Jamaica, 1920-1940

Since 1854, Jamaica has been home to a highly visible minority population of Chinese and Chinese-descended residents and citizens. This multi-generation community has shaped Jamaica in substantial ways. Yet, even after decades of rich multi-generational involvement in their communities, this multi-layer demographic presence has continued to be studied and viewed as outsiders or visitors, rather than legitimate permanent residents or citizens. This article will assess the construction of understandings of integration and belonging in relation to Chinese communities in Jamaica between c.1920 and c.1940. It will interrogate how these frameworks were constructed and who was involved in their formation. The article combines a unique top-down and bottom-up approach. This approach will shed light on the role of official and community voices in defining integration and belonging. Crucially, it will also highlight the points of intersection between these voices to demonstrate that these concepts were not conceived in isolation.