Is there racial tension, acceptance or diversity in Belize?
Giancarlo Vega
There is no racial tension here in Belize, especially here in Placencia. There are no problems arising from people being from different races and cultures.
I am a caretaker of a property. The property owner is from New York and whenever he comes, there are people from here, within the Peninsula, who have been living here for a long time, who are really close friends with him. Out here, it does not really matter where you come from.
There is no racial tension here in Belize, especially here in Placencia. There are no problems arising from people being from different races and cultures.
I am a caretaker of a property. The property owner is from New York and whenever he comes, there are people from here, within the Peninsula, who have been living here for a long time, who are really close friends with him. Out here, it does not really matter where you come from.
It is not unusual that people have different friends with different colors; that is very common. People of different races inter-marry and that is not an issue either.
Posted December 1, 2014
Tamrah Lozano
I don’t believe there is racial tension in Belize. Belize is a Caribbean country so it is expected to meet black people here. Even the locals do not look at expats any differently. Everyone is accepted.
I don’t believe there is racial tension in Belize. Belize is a Caribbean country so it is expected to meet black people here. Even the locals do not look at expats any differently. Everyone is accepted.
Posted December 1, 2014
Christian Burn
Belize is very diverse; it is like a multi-cultural melting pot. Like Canada, Belizeans celebrate diversity. They do not fear it. It's not like you have to be American first and then whatever culture is second. In Canada, first you’re your other culture, then you're Canadian. Likewise here in Belize, Belizeans consider themselves to be whatever their heritage is, but they are very proud Belizeans because their differences are accepted. There is significantly less racial tension...
Belize is very diverse; it is like a multi-cultural melting pot. Like Canada, Belizeans celebrate diversity. They do not fear it. It's not like you have to be American first and then whatever culture is second. In Canada, first you’re your other culture, then you're Canadian. Likewise here in Belize, Belizeans consider themselves to be whatever their heritage is, but they are very proud Belizeans because their differences are accepted. There is significantly less racial tension in Belize than in the US. Some of it is based on the fact that there are only 300,000 people in Belize.
There are a lot of different races in Belize, but surprisingly there is also a large Mennonite population. The Mennonites are accepted here along with all the other cultures, from the Mayan culture, which is one of the original cultures, to the Garifuna culture, which is also an original culture here because they are descendants of the slaves. There is also the Mestizo culture, which is the Spanish / slave mix. There is a Creole culture, which is the British / slave mix. Then there is the British-American culture, but all these different cultures kind of mix together into one. People of all different races and cultures hang out together and do things together here in Belize.
There are a lot of different races in Belize, but surprisingly there is also a large Mennonite population. The Mennonites are accepted here along with all the other cultures, from the Mayan culture, which is one of the original cultures, to the Garifuna culture, which is also an original culture here because they are descendants of the slaves. There is also the Mestizo culture, which is the Spanish / slave mix. There is a Creole culture, which is the British / slave mix. Then there is the British-American culture, but all these different cultures kind of mix together into one. People of all different races and cultures hang out together and do things together here in Belize.
Posted December 2, 2014
Boris Mannsfeld - Boris Mannsfeld & Associates
Everybody gets along here in Belize, so there is really no racial tension.
There are people here who are the original descendants of Mayans and Europeans that settled here a long time ago. The Mayans, which are the real Mayan-Indians, are active in Belize, too. We also have the darker skinned African-American that came in from the slave trade a long time ago. The Garifuna, who have darker skin, are here in Belize, too. Quite a few Taiwanese and Chinese...
Everybody gets along here in Belize, so there is really no racial tension.
There are people here who are the original descendants of Mayans and Europeans that settled here a long time ago. The Mayans, which are the real Mayan-Indians, are active in Belize, too. We also have the darker skinned African-American that came in from the slave trade a long time ago. The Garifuna, who have darker skin, are here in Belize, too. Quite a few Taiwanese and Chinese people work here, too. There is a Mennonite community here in Belize, who are very pale-skinned Germans. You have a whole variety of people here in Belize. Most of the restaurants and grocery stores are owned and operated by the Asian community. Then you have the Mestizos, who are sort of a mix of the Mayans who had babies with the British and Spaniards, or the Europeans who came to Belize many years ago. They came out with a group of darker-skinned Caucasians who have Mayan darker olive skin. Then you have the Caucasians from the States and Europe. There are a few Australians and British from the old government. There is a good variety of people here in Belize.
Posted December 2, 2014
Gwido Mar - Grupo Mar Realty Ltd.
I wouldn’t say that there is racial tension in Belize. Belize is a melting pot. There are lots of ethnic groups, such as Asians, including Chinese, Taiwanese, and Koreans. There are Mennonites of German background. There are Hispanics from Central America who moved to Belize. You’ll find people from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. There are people referred to as "Creole," who are Belizean Blacks. There are Europeans and North Americans,...I wouldn’t say that there is racial tension in Belize. Belize is a melting pot. There are lots of ethnic groups, such as Asians, including Chinese, Taiwanese, and Koreans. There are Mennonites of German background. There are Hispanics from Central America who moved to Belize. You’ll find people from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. There are people referred to as "Creole," who are Belizean Blacks. There are Europeans and North Americans, specifically Canadians and Americans. It’s just a melting pot and there are no issues, as far as I can see.People intermarry between these different groups. I have Belizean friends who married Asians. My sister is married to a Mennonite. I’ve seen Hispanics marry Blacks and Blacks marry North Americans.
The Chinese haven’t been in Belize very long. The Taiwanese and Koreans have been here longer. The Taiwanese and the Koreans set up their community many years ago and they kept to themselves. Over the years, that has changed. They have moved to different areas in Belize. Now, Chinese are everywhere and they have no problems living with other ethnic groups. Many Chinese are in business. They set up shops, stores, grocery stores, gas stations and hardware stores. They also do not make exceptions and sell to everybody.
Meanwhile, the Mennonites keep to themselves in their Mennonite village. They have several communities as well. My sister married a Mennonite and has moved into the Mennonite community. A female outsider is allowed to move into a Mennonite community, but a male outsider is not allowed to go into a Mennonite community. If a female Mennonite married an outsider, she would have to leave.
Posted March 1, 2015
Chris Leonard - Paradise Found Belize Real Estate and Development
There’s very little racial tension in Belize. It’s a melting pot, so you have a very diverse group of people, from the native Belizeans to people from other nations. People from Honduras or Panama came over and some have been coming down from Mexico. While there is very little racial tension in Belize, the Belizeans just have a really strong distaste for people who go out of their way to break the law.
There’s very little racial tension in Belize. It’s a melting pot, so you have a very diverse group of people, from the native Belizeans to people from other nations. People from Honduras or Panama came over and some have been coming down from Mexico. While there is very little racial tension in Belize, the Belizeans just have a really strong distaste for people who go out of their way to break the law.
Posted March 17, 2015
Saira Mahabir - Century 21 Belize
There is no racial tension in Belize since it is one of the most diverse countries. We have all kinds of different ethnic groups here. You will see Japanese people marrying Garifuna people. You will see Spanish people here who married black people.
Belize has a very diverse and mixed culture that sometimes it is unbelievable to see. I have never seen any racial tension here in Belize.
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There is no racial tension in Belize since it is one of the most diverse countries. We have all kinds of different ethnic groups here. You will see Japanese people marrying Garifuna people. You will see Spanish people here who married black people.
Belize has a very diverse and mixed culture that sometimes it is unbelievable to see. I have never seen any racial tension here in Belize.
(Mishelby Leiva, Miss San Pedro Ambergris Caye, Belize beauty contestant,pictured.)
Posted September 5, 2015
Irma Quiroz-Yuque - Belize Vacation Homes
There is no racial tension in Belize.When we first arrived there were some issues with perhaps a certain group of individuals because of their sexuality, but other than that it’s really progressed since we’ve been here. There is no racial tension. Everybody is very friendly, and they all get along with each other.
Here in Belize, we have those who are from Africa, the Garafuna, and you have those who are from many other places. It’s a...
There is no racial tension in Belize.When we first arrived there were some issues with perhaps a certain group of individuals because of their sexuality, but other than that it’s really progressed since we’ve been here. There is no racial tension. Everybody is very friendly, and they all get along with each other.
Here in Belize, we have those who are from Africa, the Garafuna, and you have those who are from many other places. It’s a melting pot here. Everybody is from every different area and they all get along. There is no tension that I can see.
(Ancient Maya sporting exhibition, Belize, pictured.)
Posted October 25, 2015
Rubi Young - Altamira Residences
There is not racial tension in Belize even though there are different ethnic groups in Belize. We have black people and white people and we name them by their ethnic groups. We call the black people the Garifuna. November 19th is a public holiday in Belize called Garifuna Day where the whole country celebrates with the Garifuna people. People who are of mixed Spanish descent are called mestizos. We have Mennonites, Creole, Mayans, etc. and all of these people are loved and respected...There is not racial tension in Belize even though there are different ethnic groups in Belize. We have black people and white people and we name them by their ethnic groups. We call the black people the Garifuna. November 19th is a public holiday in Belize called Garifuna Day where the whole country celebrates with the Garifuna people. People who are of mixed Spanish descent are called mestizos. We have Mennonites, Creole, Mayans, etc. and all of these people are loved and respected here in Belize. We do not discriminate against people of different races. Regardless if you are a black person or a white and you decide to come to Belize, you don’t need to worry about being discriminated against or that people would not like you around. You will find yourself at home here in Belize. It is very normal to see people of different ethnic groups who are friends with each other. People from different ethnic groups also intermarry here in Belize.
(Mestizo boy in Belize, pictured. )
Posted December 9, 2015
Franklin Syrowatka - Better Homes Belize
There is a big diversity here in Belize when it comes to races, religion and different lifestyles in general and Belizeans are very proud of that. It is not considered a problem but rather a feature. It becomes very evident in the month of September when they celebrate their Independence Day. Diversity is the main topic they celebrate. Belizeans are proud of being diverse and getting along well with each other. This is a very pleasant change compared to other countries I have been...There is a big diversity here in Belize when it comes to races, religion and different lifestyles in general and Belizeans are very proud of that. It is not considered a problem but rather a feature. It becomes very evident in the month of September when they celebrate their Independence Day. Diversity is the main topic they celebrate. Belizeans are proud of being diverse and getting along well with each other. This is a very pleasant change compared to other countries I have been to. (Mr. Rodriguez's barbecue chicken roadside stand, Cayo, Belize, pictured.)
Posted January 21, 2016
Jestine Dawson - AQ Belize Car Rental
There is racial acceptance in Belize. How you are accepted depends on the way you introduce yourself to the community. If you are the type of person who likes to keep to yourself, it might attract some hostility and some racial arguments or division but once you decide to come out of your comfort zone and mingle with people, you will be fine. It is not like in the States where Caribbean people also like to hang out only with other Caribbean people. Here in Belize, we like to mix and meet...There is racial acceptance in Belize. How you are accepted depends on the way you introduce yourself to the community. If you are the type of person who likes to keep to yourself, it might attract some hostility and some racial arguments or division but once you decide to come out of your comfort zone and mingle with people, you will be fine. It is not like in the States where Caribbean people also like to hang out only with other Caribbean people. Here in Belize, we like to mix and meet other people, although there are still some small communities that like to keep to themselves; they are just a minority.Overall, there is no real racial tension in Belize but rather just cultural issues where if you act in a superior way, there may be some resentment towards you, which may come out as racial tension even though its origins where not racial. Whatever race you are coming from, you wouldn’t feel concerned coming into Belize. People will treat you more on how you act as an individual.
(Pictured: Justine Lawson with friends, Belize.)
Posted January 25, 2016
Wayne Robbins - The Placencia
I can only speak from my experience but I think, overall, Belize has a diverse group of people. There are Belizeans, Americans, Canadians, Europeans, etc. It is really an eclectic group of people.
It is also a diverse group in terms of economics as there are people who are very poor and there are people who have money. In the 12 years that I have stayed in Belize, I have never seen any racial tension. The Belizeans are super friendly. The expats down there are extremely nice....
It is also a diverse group in terms of economics as there are people who are very poor and there are people who have money. In the 12 years that I have stayed in Belize, I have never seen any racial tension. The Belizeans are super friendly. The expats down there are extremely nice....
I can only speak from my experience but I think, overall, Belize has a diverse group of people. There are Belizeans, Americans, Canadians, Europeans, etc. It is really an eclectic group of people.
It is also a diverse group in terms of economics as there are people who are very poor and there are people who have money. In the 12 years that I have stayed in Belize, I have never seen any racial tension. The Belizeans are super friendly. The expats down there are extremely nice. The developments are all pro-Belize in just getting the word out about a beautiful country. I have travelled out of Placencia and have been to many different areas in Belize and found the people to be very friendly.
It is also a diverse group in terms of economics as there are people who are very poor and there are people who have money. In the 12 years that I have stayed in Belize, I have never seen any racial tension. The Belizeans are super friendly. The expats down there are extremely nice. The developments are all pro-Belize in just getting the word out about a beautiful country. I have travelled out of Placencia and have been to many different areas in Belize and found the people to be very friendly.
Posted February 2, 2016