Belizean Americans are
Americans
Americans are the citizens and nationals of the United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many dual citizens, expatriates, and permanent residents could also legally claim Ame ...
who are of
Belizean ancestry. These ancestors might be from
Belize
Belize (; bzj, Bileez) is a Caribbean and Central American country on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a wate ...
or of its diaspora.
Diaspora
About one out of every three Belizeans now live overseas and outside of Belize; the majority have migrated to
Anglophone
Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the ''Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest language ...
countries, especially the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, where there are some 54,925 Belizeans,
and the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
, with around 3,000 Belizeans. Smaller numbers now live in Canada.
Kriols and other ethnic groups are emigrating mostly to the United States, but also to the United Kingdom and other developed nations for better opportunities. Based on the latest
U.S. Census, Belizeans in the United States are primarily of the
Kriol and
Garinagu ethnic groups of African, Native American and European descent, who are considered Black in the United States. In 1990, there were about 10,000 Belizean Americans citizens in the United States.
Notable people
*
Avery August (born 1966), doctor and scientist
*
Andrew Ballen (born 1973), entrepreneur and producer
*
Pi'erre Bourne (born 1993), producer and rapper
*
Zee Edgell
Zelma Inez Edgell, better known as Zee Edgell, MBE (21 October 1940 – 20 December 2020), was a Belizean-born American writer who published four novels. She retired as a full, tenured professor of English at Kent State University.
Biography
Z ...
(1940–2020), author
*
Max Faget (1921–2004), mechanical engineer
*
Noel Felix (born 1981), basketball player
*
Kareem Ferguson
Kareem Ferguson (born in Belize), is an American actor on theater and in films and television. He has also directed one short film ''The Touch'' and produced two others, ''Three Takes'' and ''Talking with the Taxman About Poetry''.
Ferguson is a ...
(born 1986), actor
*
O.T. Genasis (born 1987), rapper
*
Erik Griffin (born 1988), comedian
*
Houston
Houston (; ) is the most populous city in Texas, the most populous city in the Southern United States, the fourth-most populous city in the United States, and the sixth-most populous city in North America, with a population of 2,304,580 i ...
(born 1983), singer
* Marion Jones (born 1975), track and field athlete and basketball player
* Ernest Lyon (1860–1938), minister, educator and diplomat
* Chito Martínez (born 1965), baseball player
* Kenneth Medwood (born 1987), track and field athlete
* Nigel Miguel (born 1963), actor
* Rakeem Nuñez-Roches (born 1993), American football player
* Joe Pacheco (born 1985), mixed martial artist
* Milt Palacio (born 1978), basketball player
* Arlie Petters (born 1964), physicist
* Verno Phillips (born 1969), boxer
* Marion Reneau (born 1977), mixed martial artist
* ILoveMakonnen, Makonnen Sheran (born 1989), rapper
* Shyne (born 1978), rapper
* Lisa Tucker (singer), Lisa Tucker (born 1989), singer and actress
* Simone Biles (born 1997), artistic gymnast and Olympic gold medalist
* Jarrell Miller (born July 15, 1988), professional boxer and former kickboxer
*Joey Garcia (born November 2, 1960), author and media personality
See also
*Demographics of Belize
*Belize–United States relations
References
Further reading
* “Belizeans.” ''Encyclopedia of Chicago History'' (2005)
* Babcock, Elizabeth Cooling. "The transformative potential of Belizean migrant voluntary associations in Chicago." ''International Migration'' 44.1 (2006): 31-53.
* Stabin, Tova. "Belizean Americans." ''Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America,'' edited by Thomas Riggs, (3rd ed., vol. 1, Gale, 2014), pp. 289–299
online* Straughan, Jerome F. ''Belizean Immigrants in Los Angeles'' (University of Southern California, 2004).
External links
U.S. Embassy in Belize*
Belize Culture and Heritage Association (BCHA)
Belizean American,
Ethnic groups in Belize
Ethnic groups in Central America
Ethnic groups in the Caribbean
American people of Belizean descent, *
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