Indo-Caribbean Americans

Since the 1960s, a large Indo-Caribbean community has developed in South Richmond Hill, a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens in the state of New York. The Indo-Caribbean population has also grown rapidly in the Floridian cities of Tampa, Orlando, Kissimmee, Poinciana, Fort Myers, Naples, Ocala, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Loxahatchee, The Acreage, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Homestead, Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay, Miami Gardens, Port Saint Lucie, Coral Springs, Margate, Lauderdale Lakes, North Lauderdale (more than 1% of residents in the city were born in Trinidad and Tobago), Sunrise, Plantation, Parkland, Lauderhill, Pompano Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Oakland Park, Tamarac, Cooper City, Miramar, Davie, Weston, Southwest Ranches, and Pembroke Pines. Indo-Surinamese tend to migrate to the Netherlands, but have started to settle in Florida and the New York metropolitan area in small numbers. Indo-Jamaicans also live in moderate numbers throughout the New York metropolitan area and Florida. There are also smaller numbers of Indo-Barbadians, Indo-Belizeans, Indo-French Guianese, Indo-Grenadians, Indo-Guadeloupeans, Indo-Martiniquais, Indo-Kittitian and Nevisian, Indo-Saint Lucian, Indo-Vincentian and Grenadinese in the New York metropolitan area and in Florida. ==Culture and religion==

While a majority of Indo-Caribbean Americans are followers of Hinduism, many follow a more flexible version of Hinduism developed while in the Caribbean, known as Caribbean Hinduism. Although Caribbean Hinduism doesn’t rely on caste systems followed in India, social and class divides persisted in the Caribbean and in America. A minority of Indo-Caribbeans belong to Islam, Christianity and other religions. Major holidays such as Diwali, Phagwah, Eid, Hosay, Indian Arrival Day, Easter, and Christmas are celebrated with a distinct flavor unique to the Caribbean. The Richmond Hill Phagwah Parade is the largest Holi celebration in the United States. Thousands attend the parade annually each Spring in Queens, with thousands of attendees crowding Liberty Avenue and Smoky Oval Park. ==Notable people==

Indo-Guyanese Americans • Avi Nash - actor • Gaiutra Bahadur - author • Rhona Fox - actress and businesswoman • Terry Vivkeanand Gajraj - singer • Pandit Prakash Gossai - Hindu religious leader • Nezam Hafiz - cricketer and victim of the September 11 attacks • Harischandra Khemraj - writer • Rajiv Mohabir - poet • Deborah Persaud – virologist • Anisa Singh - singer, author, businesswoman • Stanley Praimnath - bank executive and survivor of the September 11 attacks • Annand Mahendra "Victor" Ramdin - professional poker player and philanthropist Indo-Jamaican Americans • Shaun Bridgmohan - jockey • Rajiv Maragh - jockey Indo-Surinamese Americans • Vinoodh Matadin - fashion photographer Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian Americans • Mahaboob Ben Ali - businessman • Tatyana Ali - actress • Gerry Bednob - actor and comedian • Cathy Bissoon - United States district judge • Niala Boodhoo - journalist, host, and executive producer • Annie Dookhan - convicted felon and former chemist • Ramin Ganeshram - journalist • Reema Harrysingh - former First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago • Ismith Khan - author and educator • Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan - soldier • Krishna Maharaj - British businessman convicted of murder in Miami, Florida • Davan Maharaj - former editor-in-chief and publisher of the Los Angeles Times • Ria Persad - mathematician, classical musician, and model • Anantanand Rambachan - Hindu religious scholar • Arnold Rampersad - biographer and literary critic • Lall Ramnath Sawh - urologist • Errol Sitahal - actor • Lakshmi Singh - NPR's national midday newscaster • Bhaskar Sunkara - political publisher and writer == See also ==