Cape Verdean Oppression
CAPE VERDEAN OPPRESSION
Cabo Verde
History in Cape
Verde
1456- Discovered by Portuguese
1466- Colonists were given trading
rights
Late 1400's- Transatlantic Slave
Trade
1592- 13,700 Slaves were working
the land
1773- 3 droughts have caused the
death of half of the island's
population
1876- Decline of slave trade
1878- Slavery abolished
1951- Portuguese changed status
from colony to overseas province
1956- PAICV established
1961- Obtained civil rights
1974--75- War of independence
1975- July 5, gained independence
April 27, 2015
Cape Verdean Islands
Cabo Verde, also known as the Cape Verde Islands, are located in
West Africa. Cabo Verde consists of 10 islands, 9 of which are
inhabited and
was the
birthplace for a
new Creole
culture and
language.
Norms, Values, and
Worldview
The Cape Verdean community has a strong sense of pride in and
loyalty to their homeland. They identify more with the individual
island from which they were born, rather than Cape Verde as a
whole. It comes as no surprise that Cape Verdeans also value a
strong work ethic and have long before they came to the US. The
most important thing the Cape Verdeans value is family. They are
supportive of one another and accepting of differences. Cape
Verdeans have pride in their children's education and job success
and as a collectivistic society, they have strong relationships.
They care for others and their quality of life. Another value of
Cape Verdeans is their dual African and Portuguese heritage, and
the stories, proverbs, poetry, and music involved in their culture.
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Cape Verdean Oppression
Cape Verdean History
in the US
1643- US colonist Jonathan
Winthrop- first to record contact with
Cape Verdeans
1740's- Whaling ships began
recruiting crews
1818- 1st US consulate established in
Cape Verde
1830-1833- Boston and New York
send money and food to Cape Verde
Mid 1800's- First Cape Verdean
islanders settled in US
1917- US began to prohibit
immigration
1921- Emergency Quota Act-
Harsher immigration laws in place
1924- Johnson-Reed Act
1950's & 1960's- Factory strikes in
Ohio cause Cape Verdeans to come
back to New England
1960's- Children and grandchildren
of first immigrant waves became
involved in Civil Rights movement
1965-Immigration and Nationality
Act
1975- US established diplomatic
relations with Cape Verde
1983- Cape Verdean ambassador
visits US
1990- half of Cape Verdean's citizens
lived abroad due to poor working
conditions
1992-2002- about 10,000 more cape
Verdeans immigrated to US
April 27, 2015
Impact on Counseling:
Pride and Loyalty to Homeland and Culture
Because Cape Verdeans have such a strong level of pride and
loyalty to their homeland, it might be difficult for some to
become accustomed or appreciative of the US and our values and
norms. Seeing a counselor is not common in Cape Verde; a Cape
Verdean is more likely to find themselves at church rather than a
counselor's office, so it is often times a last resort for someone
who is Cape Verdean to seek care.
Strong Work Ethic
Cape Verdeans have always had a strong work ethic, even before
they immigrated to the United States. This could potentially
benefit the counseling process because if a Cape Verdean seeks
care then they are more likely to work hard in order to move
forward in the counseling process.
Family and Relationships
Family is the most important thing to Cape Verdeans. The love
and support they show each other could be beneficial to the
counseling process. Progress during counseling happens more
quickly with support from our loved ones. However, there can
also be a feeling of shame for a Cape Verdean in seeking formal
care, so the close knit relationships could also be detrimental in
this case. One may feel they will disappoint their family if they go
to a counselor because of this not get the care they need.
History
Cape Verde
The Cape Verde Islands were first inhabited by the Portuguese in
1456. Ten years later the colonists were given trading rights and
the Transatlantic Slave Trade made it's way to the Islands. The
slave trade began to encourage settlement and investment. Ships
left Western Europe for Africa with goods to be exchanged for
slaves who were then shipped to the Americas. By 1592 there was
close to 14,000 slaves working the land until the decline of slave
trade in 1876 when the islands lost much of their economic value
to the Portuguese. After an uprising of slaves, slavery was
abolished in 1878. Although slavery was abolished in 1878, the
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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde, PAICV, which was formed to peacefully campaign for
independence from Portugal, wasn't established until 1956. Five years later Cape Verde did obtain civil
rights from Portugal and better access to education. After a War of Independence from 1974-1975, Cape
Verde gained it's independence on July 5, 1975.

Cape Verdeans in the United States

In the 1740's, the US whaling ships began recruiting crews from Cape Verde, and by the middle of the
19th century the first Cape Verdean Islanders had settled in the US. Many of the men who had worked on
the New England whaling ships joined other Cape Verdeans to work on the cranberry bogs of Cape Cod,
so many Cape Verdeans settled in these areas. In 1917 the US began to prohibit the immigration of
people of color, and in 1921 the Emergency Quota Act was passed which imposed quotas on immigrants
based on the country of their birth. By 1965 the Immigration and Nationality Act were passed in which
the allowed amount of visas went from 200 to 20,000. In 1975 the US and Cape Verde established
diplomatic relations and continue to import and export goods to one another. They have an open skies
agreement which facilitates air travel safety and expansion as well. Currently the amount of Cape
Verdeans in the US is close to equal the amount of Cape Verdeans on the Islands themselves.

Origins of remittance inflows, Cape Verde, 1990 and 2000

Source: migrationpolicy.org via: Banco de Cabo Verde. 1991-2001

Important History for Counselors to be Aware of:

I believe the Transatlantic Slave Trade that began in the 1400's is a very important part of Cape Verdean
history for counselors to be aware of. Many Cape Verdeans were sold and traded as slaves and made to

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

leave their homes. Because family and their homeland are so important to Cape Verdeans, the fact that
many Cape Verdeans essentially lost their identities impacted a lot of their families. Since Cape Verdeans
have come to the United States, many of them are still having a difficult time finding their identities.
Some Cape Verdeans see themselves as white, while others see themselves as black. Some Cape Verdeans
are more in touch with their European heritage while others are more in touch with their Portuguese
heritage. Since coming to the US, Cape Verdeans have had a difficult time figuring out where they fit in,
and which culture or ethnicity they most identify with.

I also believe that the say the Islands became independent, July 5, 1975, is important for counselors to be
aware of. Cape Verde has not had it's independence from Portugal for very long and it is especially
important for counselors to know this when counseling Cape Verdeans who have recently come to the
United States.

It would be beneficial to counselors to also know that Cape Verde and the US established diplomatic
relations. We import and export goods to one another and the US had even sent money and food over to
Cape Verde in the 1830's to assist during multiple famines. It is important that counselors know the
positive history that Cape Verde and the US have; it is always nice to know when two countries are able to
get along.

Capeverde.com: everyculture.com capeverdeweb.com

This website gives information
about the history of the Cape
Verde islands, and information
about the Islands as a tourist
destination
This website has information
about various cultures, including
Cape Verdean. It goes into detail
about the culture, the history, the
government, etc.
gives a brief history and
information about the culture of
Cape Verde. It also gives
information about the weather
and property values

Source: Izquotes.com

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

Seeking Help:
Many Cape Verdeans do not seek formal care when they have a problem. Often times, because Cape
Verdeans are so family oriented they will turn to family members with certain issues. Other times a Cape
Verdean may go to church and pray for help.

Community Based Agencies

Centro d’ Saude Cabo Verdeano
– Adult Day Care Center
www.cscvonline.com
34 Hancock Street Dorchester,
MA 02125
1-617-288-0300
The Cape Verdean Adult Day
Care Center provides a social
outlet for older Cape Verdeans
and enhances the quality of life.
Cape Verdean Club- Cape Verdean Association
126 Sandwich Road, East in New Bedford
Falmouth MA 02536 http://cvanb.org/
(508) 548-9021 Cape Verdean Association
The Cape Verdean Club is a in New Bedford Inc,
meeting place for all Cape P.O. BOX 5532 NEW
Verdeans around the Cape. They BEDFORD, MA 02742
hold festivals and rent out the 1-508-991-5796 /
building for banquets etc. 1-508-971-6567
The Cape Verdean Association in
New Bedford aims to keep the
Cape Verdean culture alive.

Interview with Chandler:

Living on Cape Cod I know many people who are Cape Verdean, one of which I happen to work
with. For my interview I talked to 19 year old Chandler who lives in Falmouth, MA. During our
interview she told me about times when she has been discriminated against based on her darker
skin color. She discussed how her father has been called the "n-word" because he also has a darker
skin color. Chandler believes that everyone should be treated the same, and that skin color
shouldn't dictate how someone is treated. I believe that is an important thing for counselors to be
aware of, that regardless of a person's skin color, they are in fact, still a human being. A counselor
should also be aware of how a person identifies themselves. As Chandler said, some Cape
Verdeans see themselves as white, while others consider themselves black. I myself was unaware
of this, so I think it is important for counselors to be sure they understand how someone
identifies.

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

While I was researching, I came across many articles that discussed how a Cape Verdean may feel
both embraced and ostracized by the dominant and minority groups in the US, because other
groups don't understand that Cape Verdeans have African and European ties, and how they may
identify with both cultures. To some, it is difficult to classify Cape Verdeans because they do not
classify themselves as only black, or only white. It is important for a counselor to remember not
to group someone especially before asking how they associate themselves.

Chandler and I also discussed how important family is to Cape Verdeans. She reiterated multiple
times how strong of a connection a Cape Verdean has with his or her family, and I believe a
counselor should keep that in mind in case family ever needs to be involved, or in case a client is
afraid to tell their family they are seeking counseling.

Cape Verdean Strengths

Cape Verdeans are

very family oriented
and supportive of
one another. They
have a very close
commitment to
their family, and not
just to their
immediate family.
Cape Verdeans are
close to their
extended family as
well as good friends
whom they consider
family. A counselor
can use the
relationship a client has with his or her family as an advantage. Source: forumbiodiversity.com

If the client is willing, the family can become involved in the counseling process, and they can
work together in order to solve any difficulties the client may be faced with.

Another strength of Cape Verdeans is their strong work ethic. They are hard workers that often
work multiple jobs and long hours in order to make money for their families. Many times Cape
Verdeans that live in America will send money over to their family back in Cape Verde. This can
benefit the counseling process because a Cape Verdean would be likely to work hard in their

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 Cape Verdean Oppression
Counseling "Do's"
-allow time to understand
client’s stress and why they are
there
- provide support and
encouragement
-ask about client’s beliefs to
better understand cultural
makeup
- allow time for client to share
story and background
-use psychoeducation- help to
empower the client
Counseling "Don'ts"
-Assume client has
understanding of mental
health services/counseling
-assume you understand what
the client has been through or
why they are there
-Bypass language barriers
-Forget about potential
exposure client may have had
to discrimination
-Don't belittle the client's
experiences
health services to the client in case they do not quite understand what it is, but don't speak to
them as if they are uneducated. Remember that it is often difficult for a Cape Verdean to seek
counseling so be encouraging, and remind them that it is ok to talk to someone. Allow the client
April 27, 2015
counseling sessions in order to work towards solving what is troubling
them.
Cape Verdeans are also very proud of their culture and where they are
from. Because of this, counselors could involve Cape Verdean cultural
aspects in order to interest the client in being more involved in their
counseling sessions. Showing an interest in the culture of a client is also
beneficial to both counselor and client.
Counseling Interventions
Because Cape Verdeans may be hesitant to seek formal counseling, it is
good to understand possible interventions in order to better help those in
need. A community health center in Randolph, MA- Lamour Clinic- is an
example of a place that offers different types of quality care. Here you can
find interventions such as in-home therapy, therapeutic mentoring,
community support, and outpatient programs. ( http://lamourgroup.org/).
Because Cape Verdeans are involved in a collectivistic society, community
support groups are important to offer. These groups can be short term and
introduce Cape Verdeans to other links in the community that may be
helpful to further their counseling. In-home therapy is beneficial
especially for those who are unsure if seeking formal care is right for
them. The counselor is able to go to them in order to introduce possible
treatments and support.
Do's and Dont's
It is important to remember that many Cape Verdean clients may not be
comfortable seeking help from a counselor, so there are certain things a
counselor should do, and certain things they should not do when
counseling someone from Cape Verde.
Always remember that you do not know each client's story or background,
and that is ok. It is not ok to assume that you know what an individual
has gone through or is going through just because you have counseled a
Cape Verdean in the past. Ask the client their story if they are
comfortable telling you! Introduce the idea of counseling and mental
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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

to talk about themselves, and their story and culture. It is important to learn about your client
and where they come from and their own personal stories, not just those of Cape Verdeans in
general.

A Cape Verdean's Perspective on Quality Mental Health Care

A study was done by Maria De Jesus, PhD and Tara R. Earl, PhD, entitled: "Perspectives on
Quality Mental Health Care from Brazilian and Cape Verdean outpatients: Implications for
Effective Patient-Centered Policies and Models of Care." In this study, Cape Verdeans, along with
Brazilians, identified what they believed to be important aspects of a quality mental health
counselor. Here I have highlighted a few I thought to be the most important:

• Attentive- a provider who listens and captures everything

• Available to patient- for phone calls, meetings, etc.

• Respectful- sees client as a regular patient

• Nonjudgmental

• Thoughtful- the counselor thinks before they speak, thinks of the right word

• Relatable- shows some imperfections

• Encouraging- reassure the client it is ok to seek care

• Egalitarian- treats client as equals

• Good communication

Jesus, M., & Earl, T. (n.d.). Perspectives on quality mental health care from Brazilian and Cape Verdean outpatients:
Implications for effective patient-centered policies and models of care. Retrieved March 20, 2015, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3901388/

The Four Forces

Psychodynamic:
The Psychodynamic approach, which focuses on the unconscious part of a person's mind
that is effecting current behavior, may be an uncomfortable form of counseling for a Cape
Verdean. Because many Cape Verdeans are hesitant to seek care, having a counselor delve into the
unconscious mind could be very uncomfortable. Cape Verdeans are also strong willed, which may
in turn cause them to hold back on allowing a counselor to really gain insight into their
unconscious.

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

Cognitive Behavioral:
The Cognitive Behavioral approach, which is goal oriented and hands on, would be a
beneficial form of therapy for a Cape Verdean. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is short term and
goal oriented which would work well for a hard working Cape Verdean. A Cape Verdean client
would be able to focus on the goals they want to achieve in therapy, and completing those goals in
a timely manner in order to change the negative way they feel into a more positive one, all while
learning how to help themselves in the future.

Existential Humanistic:
The Existential Humanistic approach, that promotes self awareness and personal growth
through analyzing our current reality, is also a good form of therapy for a Cape Verdean client. A
Cape Verdean client may be able to integrate their own cultures and language into reality therapy;
while interpreting their daily reality, a client can alter patterns of behavior in order to change the
repetitive nature of their day to day life.

Multicultural:
Multicultural Counseling is also a good form of therapy to use when counseling a Cape
Verdean. People from Cape Verde are very proud of their culture and through Multicultural
counseling they can express that pride and acknowledge the oppression they have faced and are
facing.

Source: Freeflagicons.com

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 Demographics
Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015
Ethnic Groups:

Demographics, Status, • Creole: 71%

and Power • African: 28%

• European: 1%

Unfortunately, I found limited data about the economic, Population:

educational, political, and social status/power of Cape Verdeans in 538,535 (July 2014)
the United States since Cape Verdeans are not completely identified
in their own ethnic group yet. However, I was able to find Median Age: (2014)
information regarding Cape Verdeans status in all of these areas in • Total: 24 years
Cape Verde itself.
• Male: 23.2 years
Economic:
• Female: 24.8 years
Cape Verde has a vulnerable economy; there are droughts,
volcanoes, soil erosion, and deforestation. The economy, which is Literacy: (15 and over and can
primarily based on agriculture, depends on aid, foreign investment, read and write; 2012)
and most importantly, tourism. However, tourism also depends on • Total: 85.3%
the conditions of the islands. Cape Verde has a poor natural
resource base and the islands end up importing most of what they • Male: 90.5%
consume. • Female: 80.5%

Educational:
Education is very important to the people of Cape Verde.
They take great pride in their children's academic success, and 85.3%
of the population age 15 and over can read and write. Education is
mandatory and free between the ages of 7-14, however, in order to
obtain a degree past high school, Cape Verdeans must go abroad.
Because of this many Cape
Verdean people do not
continue to further their
education.

Source: Education in Cape Verde -

The Borgen Project

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

Political:
Cape Verde has a Democratic Multiparty government. The Islands have a head of
government: the Prime Minister, and a head of state: the President, who serves five years. The
African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) and the Movement for Democracy
(MpD) are the two main political parties in Cape Verde which form the government.

Social:
According to the constitution, men and women of Cape Verde have equal social status.
Regardless of their wealth, both men and women are hard workers, providing for their families.
There is little class distinction in Cape Verde; most of the population is poor, there is a small but
growing middle class, and no upper class. Often times Cape Verdeans who have come to the US
will send money and goods back home to their families. American brand name clothing is highly
valued and is often an indicator of class.

Contemporary Issues in the US:

Gang Violence:

Many Cape Verdeans in the US are living in areas such as New Bedford, Dorchester, and
Brockton which all have a high crime rate. Cape Verdeans are highly involved in gang violence in
these areas. The following graph shows "The social network of high-risk individuals in Cape
Verdean community in Boston, 2008."

Papachristos, A., Braga, A., & Hureau, D. (n.d.). Social Networks and the Risk of Gunshot Injury. Retrieved April 29, 2015,
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3531351/figure/Fig2/

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

Oppression and Discrimination:

Cape Verdeans are constantly at risk of being oppressed and discriminated against. Many Cape
Verdeans do not identify as white, and many do not identify as black. They have a hard time
"fitting in" with people who do not understand how they identify themselves. Other times,
because their skin is darker and not the normal "white", they are discriminated against because of
that. The lack of understanding and acceptance of differences in our world and society has gotten
worse over the years rather than better, and Cape Verdeans face this struggle daily.

A Final Note:
As a future counselor, I believe it is important to remember these three things, which ironically
enough we have taught our children since day one, and yet we continue to forget to practice what
we preach.

1. Treat others the way you want to be treated- put kindness out there in order to get kindness back

2. Don't judge a book by it's cover- you can't tell anything about who a person is just by judging them
on how they look.

3. Smile- a single smile can go a long way to improve someone's day, and can remind you that there are
so many beautiful reasons to be happy.

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Cape Verdean Oppression April 27, 2015

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