From Occupation to Independence A Short History of the Peoples of the English-Speaking Caribbean Region

Spanning five centuries of the slave trade & West Indian politics, this is the first "beginner's guide" to the history of the English-speaking West Indies. Striking a balance between the common perceptions of "greedy" African chiefs - selling their kith & kin for beads & trinkets, - the "heroism" of early antislavery campaigners such as William Wiberforce, & the role played by the Pan-African movement, the author assesses the role of blacks themselves in achieving the abolition of slavery. The fierce war waged against the colonists is portrayed here, along with the courage of the rebels & the various guerrilla movements that led their people to independence. This volume goes beyond existing histories of the Caribbean to explore how the impact of slavery has been reflected in West Indian popular culture in the twentieth century.Hart, Richard is the author of 'From Occupation to Independence A Short History of the Peoples of the English-Speaking Caribbean Region', published 1998 under ISBN 9789768125521 and ISBN 9768125527.