The Caribbean has been globally imagined and described as an everlasting Garden of Eden where the land, bodies, and cultures of its inhabitants are open to be consumed in various ways and where visitors can satisfy all their desires. In addition, hurricanes and other natural disasters have made headlines around the world, casting the region as a space of inevitable doom. But there is more to the story. In fact, the relationship between the U.S. and the Caribbean reveals an even more complex narrative characterized by imperialism, racism, migrations, and geopolitical strife. Through case studies, this course will interrogate the impact of U.S. imperialist stance in the Caribbean, as well as Caribbean peoples’ responses to that stance. By mapping out the many ways in which the histories of the U.S. and the Caribbean intersect, we will shape our own understanding of this relationship and assess its significance today.