More dangerous than lava, not as hot but move much faster. Landscape is changed forever, lunar surface appearance. Huge amounts of ash have settled on the island. Bethel Baptist Church, destroyed and then completely covered. On each island there often is a firmly rooted parochialism -devotion to a parish or a village, a mountain valley or a coastal lowland.
Most Caribbean people identify themselves as English or French in terms of culture.
English or French dialects are the languages spoken in common. Nationalists see the European connection as a reminder of slavery. There is a new ethnic consciousness emphasizing their black African heritage. The population of the Caribbean is predominately black, with lesser numbers of mixed bloods and small numbers of whites. African influences remain strong on the islands, although they have been blended with European Christianity and civilization.