From the skies of wartime Europe to the helm of a developing nation, the journey of Errol Walton Barrow, the ‘Father of Independence’ of Barbados, is a tale of resilience, vision, and unwavering leadership. His life, woven into the fabric of Barbadian identity, exemplifies a relentless pursuit of freedom, equality, and prosperity for his people. …
The Bussa Rebellion stands as a monumental event in the history of Barbados, representing the largest slave revolt ever witnessed on the island. Led by the African-born slave Bussa, this rebellion marked the beginning of a series of uprisings in the British West Indies during the early 19th century. Despite its ultimate suppression, the Bussa …
Trinidad and Tobago, an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, has a rich history that spans thousands of years. From its original settlement by Amerindians to its colonisation by the British, the nation has undergone significant changes. Settlement by the Amerindians The history of Trinidad and Tobago begins over 7,000 years ago when the islands …
The Industrial Revolution was a groundbreaking period that transformed Britain into an economic superpower. It brought about significant advancements in various industries, including iron production. Traditionally, the credit for revolutionising iron production has been attributed to Henry Cort, a British financier turned ironmaster. However, recent research suggests this innovation may have originated from an unexpected …
Seventy-five years ago, the Windrush Generation brought a unique financial tradition to the UK. This practice, known as “pardna,” was an informal, community-based financial solution born from the discriminatory financial exclusion they faced. Today, this practice has evolved into an innovative mobile app, offering an alternative to traditional banking systems in the midst of a …
The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event that showcases the rich cultural heritage and vibrant spirit of the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. This two-day extravaganza, held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, is a celebration of music, dance, costumes, and traditions that have been passed down through generations. Origins …
Slavery has been a dark stain on human history, and Britain played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade. However, the involvement of the British monarchy in the slave trade is not as well known. The British involvement in the slave trade began in the late 16th century, with the establishment of the Royal …
The American occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 remains a contentious and controversial chapter in history. It was a period marked by political intervention, economic control, and social unrest. Background and motivations Haiti’s strategic importance to the United States dates back to the 19th century when President Andrew Johnson proposed its annexation along with …
In 1781 over 100 enslaved Africans were thrown overboard the Zong slave ship to allow the slave owners to collect insurance money on their human commodities. This is one of the most egregious acts of inhumanity in Black history. The slave trade brought vast wealth to British ports and merchants but conditions were horrific. Enslaved …
The theme of Black History Month 2021 is Proud to Be. How did our ancestors reclaim their dignity, and what made them proud to be after slavery? I grew up listening to a lot of uplifting songs that told me I should be proud to be black. Growing up during a time when the …
The making of the Rastafari movement can be seen in two parts: restoring the dignity of black people that slavery and colonisation had stripped from them and setting them on a spiritual path that was not dictated by the white church. Whilst Marcus Garvey focused on the former as a Catholic, he was unable to …
Francis Kerr-Jarrett was a landowner and sugar manufacturer in Jamaica. He served as Custos Rotulorum of Saint James Parish, Jamaica, from 1933–1965. Custos rotulorum is Latin for ‘keeper of the rolls. It is a civic post in Jamaica that involves helping to maintain law and order. The Kerr-Jarrett Family Francis Moncrieff Kerr-Jarrett was born …
We often think of the British Armed Forces as exclusively male, but it may surprise you to know that many Caribbean women served in World War II. Historically, most Armed Forces were almost exclusively composed of men. However, many women joined the British Armed Forces during WW2. The exact number of Caribbean women serving in …
When the English took over the colonisation of Jamaica from the Spanish, they imported thousands of Africans as slaves to work on plantations of wealthy Englishmen. Like other colonised islands, the slaves rebelled regularly. The most well-known Jamaican slave rebellions are the 1831 Christmas rebellion, led by Samuel Sharpe and the Maroon Wars led …
Jamaican Maroons were escaped African slaves who had run away from Spanish owned plantations when the British took the Caribbean Island of Jamaica from Spain in 1655. They fled to the mountainous areas of Jamaica, where it was difficult for their owners to follow and catch them. There they formed independent communities as free men …
Where is the Dominican Republic? The Dominican Republic is a country in the West Indies that occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola, the second-largest island of the Greater Antilles chain in the Caribbean Sea. Haiti, also an independent republic, occupies the western third of the island. The capital of the Dominican Rebublic is Santo Domingo. …
Here are seven Caribbean and American women who were abolitionists, revolutionaries and activists. These women fought to free their people from the chains of slavery, discrimination and the lasting effects of slavery. Some took up arms, some used strategy and some used the pen. The women discussed in this video are: Sojourner Truth Sojourner Truth …
Where is Saint Lucia? Saint Lucia is an island in the Caribbean Sea. It is the second largest of the Windward group. Castries is the capital city. Saint Lucia was first known as “Louanalao” by the Arawak Indians in 200 AD, meaning “Island of the Iguanas,” and then “Hewanorra,” in 800 AD when the Carib …
Maurice Bishop, born on 29 May 1944 in Aruba to Grenadian parents, was a charismatic leader whose life and political career left an indelible mark on the history of Grenada. Educated in Britain, Bishop became a qualified barrister, but his heart lay in the socio-political issues of his homeland. In the early 1970s, Bishop emerged …
Flore Bois Gaillard was a St Lucian runaway slave who led a band of free slaves called ‘Armée Française Dans Les Bois (French Army in the Woods). The life of Flore Bois Gaillard Flore Bois Gaillard was an enslaved biracial woman owned by a man known as Master Bellac. For several years she worked on …
Marie Sainte Dédée Bazile is notable as part of the Haitian Revolution. While there is much written about the men of the Haitian Revolution, not much is known or written about the women who helped to emancipate the people of the island. Born near Cap-Francais (now Cap-Hattian) to enslaved parents, we rely on oral history …
Grenada is one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Known as the Spice island, it is the world’s second-largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia and is a significant producer of mace, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. It also boasts beautiful scenery with fertile valleys, rainforests and mountain lakes. Saint George’s is the capital …
Where is Haiti? Haiti is in the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island. Port-au-Prince is the capital city of Haiti. When was Haiti colonised? Haiti was first colonised by the Spanish who enslaved the native …
On 5 December 1492, European navigator Christopher Columbus came upon an island in the Caribbean that he claimed for Spain and called La Isla Española (“The Spanish Island”, later Anglicised as Hispaniola). Haiti colonised by Spain Spain colonised the island and enslaved the native Taino and Ciboney people. Forced to mine gold under brutal working …
