Paradise and the Caribbean

Hello! I was born and raised on St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. Currently, as a designer, I’m looking into what “paradise” means for local island communities. Paradise is traditionally defined as an ideal or idyllic place or state. In some religions, paradise is heaven or the garden of Eden, the ultimate abode of the just, those with enough money to live freely despite socioeconomic pressures.

Many Caribbean nations are marketed as “paradise,” referring to the ability of travelers to escape from the monotony of their lives to experience the sun, sand, and sea offered by these tropical islands. This particular project is about redefining paradise and looking into its roots, which are the local communities.

The photography on this page is of the island from the early 1940s from photographer, Jack Delano. His work highlighted the importance of the average person, because there would be no paradise to enjoy without the local people and its communities.