Essay about Life of a Slave in the Caribbean - 1450 Words

Life of a Slave in the Caribbean The experience of Caribbean slavery is vital in understanding the contemporary social structure of the region. It was the introduction of an estimated four million Africans to the Caribbean which made these islands melting pots of culture and society. Since Africans had such a tremendous impact on the region, it is important that we recognize the nature of slavery and how it transformed their lives. Although most agree that the institution was dehumanizing, the social relations of slavery help to explain the development of the Caribbean’s identity. In order to understand slavery it is imperative to recognize that it’s introduction to the Caribbean was driven by colonizers need for economic expansion†¦show more content†¦As a result of the distinctions among field and domestic slaves a social hierarchy developed on the majority of plantations. As sugar and other agriculture became more important to the economies of the Caribbean islands the colonies evolved from settlement colonies to exploitation colonies. The consequences of the exploitation colonies was that Africans outnumbered the European ruling class. As a result, for upper-class whites, race rather than class and nationality became a consoling, fraternal bond ( Knight 150). Because race became so important to the colonizers, by the eighteenth century, skin color became a socially defining factor on plantations. Ultimately color became the ticket to social mobility and this created divisions among slaves on the plantation. The majority of the plantations throughout the Caribbean were similar in structure because all the colonizers wanted to maximize profits. Still there were lots of distinctions amongst the islands. In Puerto Rico for example, the Spanish established strict slave codes which gave slaves more rights than in many other colonies. These codes allowed the majority of slaves to own property, cultivate subsistence plots, and live in family units which promoted stable unions (Beckles 62). As a result, the increase in slave numbers was not a reflection of new Africans but rather the growth of slave families. In Cuba on the other hand, the sugar industry becameShow MoreRelatedOpression of Caribbean Peole817 Words   |  4 PagesQuestion: Using examples from the Caribbean, explain how Caribbean people throughout history has responded to oppression. The Caribbean, known as a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea, is inhabited by a mixture of people of diverse races, cultures, personalities and beliefs; the end result of slavery and oppression. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, oppression can be defined as â€Å"Prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control; or the state of beingRead More Caribbean Culture and the Way it Formed Essay1196 Words   |  5 PagesCaribbean Culture and the Way it Formed One of the greatest debates that exists today about the Caribbean is the condition of the socio-culture of the people. Sidney Mintz, Antonio Benitz-Rojo, and Michelle Cliff are three authors that comment on this problem in their writings. They discuss whether there is a lack of identify, unity and culture in the lives of Caribbean people. They examine a culture which was created out of the chaos of slavery, colonialism and the integration of cultures thatRead MoreEssay on History of Slavery in the Caribbean720 Words   |  3 PagesHistory of Slavery in the Caribbean The institution of slavery has played a major role in the history, and the shaping of the Caribbean. 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An initial thought in response to this suggestion was to wonder just how one would go about eliciting any sort of meaningful response from a likely ill-informed and possibly disinterested group of consumers in centralRead More The Institution of Slave Trade Essay1533 Words   |  7 PagesThe Institution of Slave Trade The institution of slave trade and the actual experiences of slavery that occurred in the Caribbean were to form a monumental part of that regions culture, society, and everyday interactions, both in the past and in the present. The culture that is present today in the Caribbean is the result of many different influences varying from those introduced by ruling colonial countries, to influences that the slaves stressed, and even from brand new colonies being developed