Cape Verdean-American Cape Verdean-American CultureCulture Nicole Spieler

21 Islands and Islets21 Islands and Islets9 Islands- Main body of Cape 9 Islands- Main body of Cape VerdeVerde

HistoryHistory

1462 – A Portuguese explored

visited uninhabited islands of

Cape Verde and began to settle there 1501 – 1600 - Cape Verde is the shipping center for the

slave trade 1701 – 1800 - U.S. whaling ships recruited crews from

islands 1709 – 1807 - A minimum of 106, 544 slaves were carried

in 934 known Rhode Island slave voyages  1773 – People started selling themselves as slaves

onboard foreign ships due to one of the worst famines 1807 - U.S. formally prohibited slave trade 1832 – Severe famine caused ten percent of the

population to die in Cape Verde

History ContinuedHistory Continued 1863 – Famine again killed nearly a third of the

population 1888 – Earliest attempt of a written alphabet 1917 – Newcomers required to demonstrate an ability

to read and write by passing a literacy test administered by immigration authorities upon arrival

 1920 – Another major famine killed about 30,000 people

 1922 – Restrictions were introduced and emigration to America was reduced, it also deterred Cape Verdean Americans from visiting Cape Verde in fear of not being allowed back into the U.S.

1924 – Cape Verdeans harvested about nine-tenths of the Cape Cod cranberry crop  

1930s – During the Great Depression an average of 50% of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Cape Verdean labor force was unemployed

History ContinuedHistory Continued 1966 – American Emigration rules relaxed and

started to pick up pace again 1975 – Cape Verde islands finally gain

independence from Portugal 1980 – U.S. Census made a “Cape Verdean”

response for the question of ancestry 1982 – U.S. provided emergency humanitarian aid

to the island in Brava after a hurricane 1995 – U.S. provided emergency humanitarian aid

to the island in Fogo after a volcanic eruption 1995 – 1997 President and Prime Minister of Cape

Verde visited Cape Verdean American communities in New England during official trips to the United States

Values, Norms & Values, Norms & Worldview Worldview

FAMILYConnection to

homelandCommunity

relationshipsIdentityHard WorkersReligion

““AmericanizationAmericanization””“There is some conflict present for them that

may be due to the struggles to acculturate – that is, trying to ‘Americanize’ while confronted with familial, social, and peer pressure to adhere to the traditional Cape Verdean values and roles” (Andrade, 1996, p.99)

“The sufferings of drought and famine are central to Cape Verdeans’ sense of identity and have given them a view of their country as inextricable bound to poverty” (Carling, 2009, p.134).

IdentityIdentity

CensusCensusThere is an estimated 300,000 to

500,000 Cape Verdeans living in the United States

However, the 2000 Census only shows that there are 77,103 Cape Verdeans living in the United States.

Massachusetts – 58.5% of Cape Verdean-Americans◦ 17.6% living below poverty level◦ New Bedford, MA – 10%

32.6% living below poverty levelRhode Island – 20.4%

◦ 20.7% living below poverty level

LanguageLanguageCreole is the language used

socially and informally between Cape Verdeans and is the preferred language to use by many

Official Language of Cape Verde is Portuguese

QuitodoQuitodo“poor thing”Private family matterThe word and concept of “disability”

commonly used among service providers in the US is negatively perceived by Cape Verdeans, whereas the concept of “illness” or being “sick” is not and therefore preferred.

Mental illnesses are seen as mysterious and the perception of someone who is depressed is that one should “cheer up”

InterviewInterview

Connection to Connection to BravaBrava

Escola Materna Nossa Senhora da Graça

Counseling Interventions & Counseling Interventions & ModelsModelsGenogramHousehold Drawing / Eco-mapStress Management

Indigenous ProvidersMulticultural Competence

Four ForcesFour ForcesPsychodynamic

◦Difficult approach to take with someone who is Cape Verdean

◦Highly Verbal◦Conscious about past and how it

influences their present thinking, feeling, and behavior

◦Internally looks at client◦Culture is not taken into

consideration

Four ForcesFour ForcesExistential-Humanistic Approach

◦Compatible in terms of religion and creating a safe environment

◦Trust Needed◦Highly Verbal◦Not a direct route◦Lengthy Process – not open with

counseling so this would impede in the process as well

Four ForcesFour ForcesCognitive-Behavioral

◦Focuses on observable behaviors and responses to life

◦Short term◦Skill building◦Stress Management◦Client and counselor relationship

critical for change

Four ForcesFour ForcesMulticultural

◦Stresses how people develop multiple identities

◦Context of culture, society and history into consideration

◦Uses therapeutic strategies and techniques that effectively, respectfully, and ethically with people from diverse groups and backgrounds

DoDo’’s and Dons and Don’’tstsDo’s

◦ Be respectful, open, and non-judgmental towards client ◦ Discuss family and relationships◦ Discuss their work/work ethic◦ Discuss cultural events that they could attend◦ Be aware of the differences between generations and

gender roles◦ Understand historical information

Don’ts◦ Do not press issues that they clearly are not

comfortable discussing – trust might not get established if you do

◦ Refrain from asking directly why they came to counseling

◦ Make assumptions about history◦ Do not exclude outside resources◦ Do not use stereotypical terms

New Bedford Whaling New Bedford Whaling MuseumMuseumCape Verdean Maritime Exhibit

(July 2011)◦This exhibition will capture the

essence of the important connections between New Bedford and Cape Verde, the unique characteristics of Cape Verdean culture, and the special legacy of that culture and history here in New Bedford

““It is hard to appreciate It is hard to appreciate the value of life until you the value of life until you have come from a place have come from a place like I havelike I have””