Mportant cultural symbols and practices, the development of social networks and

Mportant cultural symbols and practices, the development of social networks and cultural ties in both sending and receiving countries, insulation from racism and racial stratification, and the provision of important reference groups and norms for shaping immigrants’ self-perceptions and identities (Bashi, 2007; Ebaugh Curry, 2000; Foley Hoge, 2007; Kurien, 2006; Maynard-Reid, 2000; Vickerman, 1999, 2001a, 2001b Waters, 1999). Tangible benefits of involvement in immigrant worship communities include the enhancement of social capital and other social resources, provision of material assistance, goods and services, and opportunities for civic and community engagement and participation (Cadge Ecklund, 2006, 2007; Stepick et al., 2009). Finally, recent research raises important questions about the meaning of immigrant religion within the post-immigration context. Several scholars have suggested that religion and religious involvement has increased significance for immigrants GGTI298 site following relocation due, in part, to the development of distinctive ethno-religious communities within immigrant churches (Yang Ebaugh, 2001b) and the substantial material and psychosocial resources accruing to immigrants. Accordingly, immigrants are thought to demonstrate higher rates of formal denominational affiliation and participation following immigration (Connor, 2008; Foley Hoge, 2007; Kurien, 2006), while subsequent generations demonstrate lower levels of religious investment than their parents (Herberg, 1960).GGTI298MedChemExpress GGTI298 NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptRace, Religion and ImmigrationCaribbean Blacks in the U.S. occupy a dual position as persons of African descent and as immigrants (Bashi, 2007; Foner, 2005; Vickerman, 1999, 2001a; Waters, 1999). Accordingly, research on religious involvement among Caribbean Blacks is informed by their unique situation as immigrants, as well as the special pressures and circumstances that are associated with Black race in the U.S. (Taylor, Chatters Jackson, 2007a,b). The following section explores these dual aspects of Caribbean Blacks’ status, with special attention to the ways that religious practices and worship communities are responsive to and shaped by the immigration experience and their social circumstances in the U.S. The reviewed literature is also attentive to similarities in patterns of religious involvement observed among native African American populations. Religious institutions have performed comparable roles for these two groups and, accordingly, have similar significance and centrality in their individual and community lives. Black Caribbeans represent several groups with different national origins and immigration histories, as well as diverse language, religious and cultural traditions. Given different histories and patterns of immigration, Black Caribbeans reflect a full range of experiences inRev Relig Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 December 1.Taylor et al.Pagethe United States, including recent arrivals to those tracing several generations of family to the Caribbean region. Despite differences between Black Caribbeans and African Americans, both groups share a racial and cultural heritage of African descent that is manifested in distinctive cultural artifacts and traditions such as music and worship practices (Maynard-Reid, 2000). However, within American society, Caribbean Blacks’ ethnic distinctiveness is relatively invisible given their physical si.Mportant cultural symbols and practices, the development of social networks and cultural ties in both sending and receiving countries, insulation from racism and racial stratification, and the provision of important reference groups and norms for shaping immigrants’ self-perceptions and identities (Bashi, 2007; Ebaugh Curry, 2000; Foley Hoge, 2007; Kurien, 2006; Maynard-Reid, 2000; Vickerman, 1999, 2001a, 2001b Waters, 1999). Tangible benefits of involvement in immigrant worship communities include the enhancement of social capital and other social resources, provision of material assistance, goods and services, and opportunities for civic and community engagement and participation (Cadge Ecklund, 2006, 2007; Stepick et al., 2009). Finally, recent research raises important questions about the meaning of immigrant religion within the post-immigration context. Several scholars have suggested that religion and religious involvement has increased significance for immigrants following relocation due, in part, to the development of distinctive ethno-religious communities within immigrant churches (Yang Ebaugh, 2001b) and the substantial material and psychosocial resources accruing to immigrants. Accordingly, immigrants are thought to demonstrate higher rates of formal denominational affiliation and participation following immigration (Connor, 2008; Foley Hoge, 2007; Kurien, 2006), while subsequent generations demonstrate lower levels of religious investment than their parents (Herberg, 1960).NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptRace, Religion and ImmigrationCaribbean Blacks in the U.S. occupy a dual position as persons of African descent and as immigrants (Bashi, 2007; Foner, 2005; Vickerman, 1999, 2001a; Waters, 1999). Accordingly, research on religious involvement among Caribbean Blacks is informed by their unique situation as immigrants, as well as the special pressures and circumstances that are associated with Black race in the U.S. (Taylor, Chatters Jackson, 2007a,b). The following section explores these dual aspects of Caribbean Blacks’ status, with special attention to the ways that religious practices and worship communities are responsive to and shaped by the immigration experience and their social circumstances in the U.S. The reviewed literature is also attentive to similarities in patterns of religious involvement observed among native African American populations. Religious institutions have performed comparable roles for these two groups and, accordingly, have similar significance and centrality in their individual and community lives. Black Caribbeans represent several groups with different national origins and immigration histories, as well as diverse language, religious and cultural traditions. Given different histories and patterns of immigration, Black Caribbeans reflect a full range of experiences inRev Relig Res. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 December 1.Taylor et al.Pagethe United States, including recent arrivals to those tracing several generations of family to the Caribbean region. Despite differences between Black Caribbeans and African Americans, both groups share a racial and cultural heritage of African descent that is manifested in distinctive cultural artifacts and traditions such as music and worship practices (Maynard-Reid, 2000). However, within American society, Caribbean Blacks’ ethnic distinctiveness is relatively invisible given their physical si.