Who is Bimini Islanders from Islands in the Stream and what is their importance?

The Bimini islanders live simple lives within the island paradise. Yet complexities roil within and come out with the application of rum and a little encouragement. They resent the island authorities and nearly burn down the Commissioner's house. Regardless, they individually carry hearts of gold and of the lion within their breasts. Hemingway seems to sympathise with them perhaps because of the racism against them for the time.