I Am Guyanese, Indo-Caribbean, West Indian, and American-Born

A short reflection for Caribbean Heritage Month, and an invitation to read my limited Substack series, I Come From More Than One Place.

I grew up knowing who I was at home.

I am Indo-Caribbean

But outside my family, I did not always know how to explain it.

I would say Guyanese, and people would look confused.

I would say Indian, and people would assume India.

I would say Caribbean, and people would picture something else completely.

And then I would say Indo-Caribbean, and suddenly I felt like I needed a map, a history lesson, and maybe a plate of chicken curry, pepperpot, cassava pone, plantain chips, and chow mein just to make it make sense.

But the older I get, the more I realize something.

I was never confused.

The labels were just too small.

I am American-born.

I am Guyanese.

I am Indo-Caribbean.

I am West Indian.

I am a descendant of Indian indentured servants whose story passed through Guyana before it reached me.

My Indian heritage matters to me. It connects to my religion, bhajans, Bollywood movies, wedding clothes, food, and the history of my great-great-grandparents.

But my Indo-Guyanese and Indo-Caribbean identity is where so much of me feels most alive.

It is the blend.

The Indian, African, Portuguese, English, Dutch, Chinese, and Amerindian influences that shaped Guyana.

It is the way we eat, dance, pray, celebrate, speak, laugh, and carry family.

It is tassa drums at weddings.

It is Diwali and Phagwah.

It is chutney, soca, calypso, bhajans, and Bollywood all living in the same memory.

It is the Guyanese phrases that used to embarrass me as a kid, but now make me laugh and feel at home.

Now that I have kids, I think about this differently.

I do not want them to only know the polished version of culture.

I want them to know the phrases.

The food.

The music.

The stories.

The accent, even if mine is not perfect.

The truth that they come from more than one place.

That is why, for Caribbean Heritage Month, I started a limited Substack series called I Come From More Than One Place.

Day 1 is called What Indo-Caribbean Means to Me.

In the full article, I talk more about Indo-Caribbean identity, Guyanese culture, food, music, Creolese, tassa drums, family history, and why “Indian” was always true for me, but never the whole answer.

I also included an AI image prompt readers can try with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, or their favorite AI art generator to create an Indo-Caribbean luxury editorial portrait that reflects their identity.

Because sometimes seeing yourself reflected back matters.

Not as a costume.

Not as a trend.

As a reminder.

You are not hard to explain.

You come from more than one place.

Read the full article on Substack **here.**

If this speaks to you and you want me to continue writing about Indo-Caribbean identity, Guyanese culture, West Indian roots, family history, AI images, journals, planners, products, and preserving our stories, comment MORE on the Substack post.

Written by Mandy Rahim | Mandy Everyday Chick — Creator of practical AI tools, digital products, and journals designed for real life. Learn more about AI here.

Follow me on my Substack for more in depth AI articles including 1 monthly one on one to learn how to apply AI to create an income for my subscribers.

Follow me on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook for more.