Attention Leaders Shaping Our Schools, Health Systems, and Public Policy makers, 

 We, the undersigned, call for the immediate recognition of West Indian and Caribbean identities as distinct demographic categories on all forms that collect race and ethnicity data — including but not limited to:

💡School enrollment and demographic forms

💡Medical and healthcare documentation

💡Employment applications and government records

💡Census and public health surveys

💡Grant, scholarship, and program eligibility forms

For generations, individuals of West Indian and Caribbean descent — including those from U.S. territories such as the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico — have been misclassified or erased from school, healthcare, and government systems. Whether Afro-West Indian, Indo-Caribbean, Asian Caribbean, Latino Caribbean, or of mixed Caribbean heritage, our people are forced to choose “Black/African American,” “Hispanic/Latino,” “White,” or “Other” — options that do not reflect our true identities. This erasure impacts everything from culturally appropriate medical care and accurate education reporting, to funding allocation and policy inclusion.

 If this issue remains unaddressed, our communities will continue to be invisible in national statistics and underserved in programs that depend on those numbers. Without representation, Caribbean children grow up with a distorted or fragmented sense of identity. Schools miss opportunities for cultural inclusion. Healthcare disparities deepen. And public policy continues to leave us behind. The simple act of recognizing “West Indian / Caribbean” and related subgroups on official documentation could lead to greater equity, deeper understanding, and better outcomes across the board.

 That’s why we’re calling for change — now. At a time when data equity, social justice, and cultural representation are national priorities, we urge lawmakers, policymakers, and public agencies to act swiftly and intentionally. The systems that serve us must finally see us. Let’s ensure Caribbean voices are counted, our identities respected, and our communities represented.

Why This Change Matters:

✨Cultural accuracy helps ensure that communities receive appropriate representation, funding, and services.

✨Identity affirmation is especially important for children and youth growing up in multicultural households or diaspora settings.

✨Public data collection influences curriculum design, healthcare access, and political recognition — all of which depend on accurate demographic reporting.

We Urge the Adoption of:

1. A dedicated demographic option labeled “West Indian / Caribbean” on all public forms.
2. Sub-identifiers or write-in options that allow for multi-ethnic Caribbean identities, such as:

✅West Indian-American/ Caribbean-American

✅Afro-West Indian

✅Indo-Caribbean

✅Asian Caribbean

✅Latino Caribbean

✅Mixed Caribbean Heritage

3. The inclusion of this category across all U.S. states and territories, especially in high-density Caribbean populations like Florida, New York, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 This petition is not just about checking a box — it’s about visibility, equity, and recognition. Let our voices be heard and our identities acknowledged in the systems that govern education, healthcare, and representation.

 

🖊️ Sign today to support inclusion of Caribbean identities and their intersections — because being West Indian is more than a background, it’s a proud legacy.

Thank you for your support.

 

Taqur A. Ludvig,

Author & Founder

 My West Indian Adventure Children Series

The Peach Experience Agency LLC | TAL Productions