Caribbean authors Louise Bennett & Derek walcott

Caribbean writers have struggled to conform to European literary standards due to the lack of historical tradition caused by slavery and colonialism. West Indian literature has been undervalued and ignored, with early works by outsiders neglecting the region's language, culture, and history. However, modern Caribbean writers recognize the power of literature to revitalize the tales of the people. There is a demand for unique regional voices, like Louise Bennett and Derek Walcott, who embraced Caribbean language and setting to break away from European ideals and represent the everyday world in Jamaica. These writers give voice to unique Caribbean forms of expression. Many Caribbean writers have felt the burden of conformity to European standards of literary expression. The region is without the historical tradition of the old world, because the privilege to know the roots of its past has been undercut by slavery and colonialism. West Indian literature has been undervalued at best and ignored at worst. Much of the early literature set in the Caribbean was created by outsiders, who omitted the linguistic, cultural and historical traditions of the populace. Modern Caribbean writers now finally recognize that through literature, the tales of the people can be revitalized. There is a call for unique regional voices, such as were embedded in the work of writers like Louise Bennett and Derek Walcott, who used the language and setting of the Caribbean to move away from Europeanized literary ideals, and found the identity of the everyday world in Jamaica. Such writers give voice to unique Caribbean forms of expression.