I would have replied to this thread sooner, but, when I returned I saw that a number of sistergreeks and sisterfriends had adequately answered you.
From my perspective, as a Jamaican who attended school in the US, I can relate to all that has been said, but, I believe that a key factor contributing to a "Caribbean Mentality" (for want of a better term) towards AAs is something that AKA Monet pointed out as follows:
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Fact is many Island Nations actually fought and won their freedom from slavery 100-200 years before the slaves in the States got theirs in 1865...
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For this reason Caribbean people are unable to directly relate, but, rather empathize with the struggle of AAs in the US. I don't think we will EVER be able to completely grasp the struggle in its entirety. As another person pointed out, we have been ruling our countries as black people for decades. To see a black person in a leadership position is no phenomenon to us, and, as such, is not as revered as it is in the US by AAs. It is an everyday, normal occurance, and has been so for more than half a century. This is perhaps why Caribbean folk do not take a liking to being lumped into a category as simply being black, because for us, our race is not as important as our nationality and being distinctly recognised as Jamaican, Cuban, Bahamian, Bajan, Trinidadian etc.
I also find it a little unfair to say or imply that Caribbean people come to the US and are reaping the benefits of the Black stuggle, yet none of them contributed. I have no names to give at this point as I am no civil rights or history buff, but, I have heard of SEVERAL Caribbean people who were key in the formation of the NAACP, Black Panther and a few other movements of 'rebellion' which aided the rise of Blacks out of oppression.
My perspective as a member of a BGLO...I personally feel that the message, mission and service of our organisations far transcends the boundaries of African Americans, and this is why chapters have seen the need to incoporate persons of different nationalities and races into the fold.
To the person who spoke about Caribbean people coming to the US for a change of scenery and not necessarily "a better life", I can DIRECTLY RELATE to this. Just as how an AA student may feel the need to leave her home in Los Angeles California to attend school in Florida is exactly the way we pick up ourselves and attend school in another location. And we go EVERYWHERE. Not just to the US. I have friends who attend school in Russia, UK, Germany, Cuba and in other Caribbean islands who are from Jamaica. So, it's not always because we are trying to get something from anybody, please don't get it twisted. We just wish to be away from home for a while.
It amazes me though, that the first thought that would come to the minds of some is that Caribbean people must be jealous of AAs and that's why they act that way. Oh boy! LOL...