ABSTRACT
I t is said tha t the Caribbean includes over f i f t y societies; 1 and perhaps there are almost as m a n y ways i n w h i c h we m i g h t discuss the i r in ter rac ia l patterns. Since Dav id Lowen tha l ' s recent account o f these pa t te rns 2 cannot be fau l ted , I shall t r y to carry f o r w a r d the analysis b y seeking t o isolate those condi t ions or factors w h i c h have regulated the a l loca t ion o f d i f fe ren t ia l status among racia l ly d i s t inc t stocks w i t h i n Caribbean societies. A l t h o u g h the data and discussion concentrate o n Creole societies, I shall ci te suff ic ient materials f r o m Hispanic un i t s i n this region to indica te tha t the analysis applies to t h e m also. T o pursue these goals I shall f i rs t indicate the nature o f s t r a t i f i ca t ion and race, and, then ou t l i ne the va r i a t ion and develop m e n t o f Caribbean societies w i t h special a t t e n t i o n to the i r popu l a t i o n compos i t ions and histories. I n conc lus ion I shall b r i e f l y relate these data and findings t o the general t heo ry o f social and c u l t u r a l p lura l i sm.
