Zaffir Mohammed

How Caribbean People have responded to Oppression throughout History

Throughout Caribbean history, Caribbean people have responded to oppression in
many different ways. Firstly, in order to understand the response to oppression, one must
understand what is meant by oppression. Oppression can be defined as, Unjust or cruel exercise
of authority or power. Caribbean people responded to oppression by resistance which can take
the form insurrectionary and non- insurrectionary, also revolt and revolution which is a subcategory of insurrectionary. Insurrectionary was a violent form of resistance while noninsurrectionary was a more peaceful from of resistance.
Firstly, one will discuss how the Tainos responded to oppression. According to
Gordon Lewis, the Tainos like the Aztecs, Mayas and Incas were determined to defend what
belonged to them. Therefore, the idea that the indigenes were a passive group of people was a
myth. The Tainos resisted oppression via open warfare with the Europeans this was first noted in
1493 when they killed Columbus men in La Navidad in Hispaniola. They further resisted during
the course of the Spanish Encomienda system where caciques such as Guarionex of Hispaniola,
Hatuey in Cuba and Agueybana of Puerto Rico fought for the freedom of the natives. Apart from
open warfare, the Tainos resisted via, Maroonage, saboteur and suicide.
Secondly, how did the Kalinagoes responded to oppression will be discussed. The
Kalinagos engaged in open guerilla warfare with the Spaniards in the mountainous areas of the
Lesser Antilles. Their social organization permitted flexibility has they did not have a traditional
noble line with hereditary power; instead the leadership resided in the best warriors. The
Kalinagos usually retreat in the interiors from there they launched continuous raids on
settlements of the Europeans. The Kalinagos were not totally subdued as they fought relentlessly
to keep their territories. However, part of their survival today is attributed to the Treaties signed
with the Europeans.
Next, one will discuss how the Africans responded to oppression. The Africans took
passive forms of resistance such as acts of sabotage such as damaging tools and equipment and
other property belonging to the planter, malingering, deliberately misunderstanding instructions,
suicide and induced abortions. Maroonage was another option where most of the enslaved
escaped to the mountainous regions and established their maroon communities. These maroon

Zaffir Mohammed

communities were normally hidden and so the slaves could ambush the Europeans easily. The
Africans did not discontinue the practice of their African cultures. For example, they continued
to use their African languages, they told their Anansi stories, made up songs and they performed
in ways that ridiculed the white man, they also continue their culture of drumming although it
was banned in many territories.
Last but not least, some post emancipation attributes which developed as a response
to oppression in Caribbean society are, Africans done Sou Sou to gain large amounts of money,
friendly societies and Baptiste Missionaries in Jamaica, pooling of money, land squatters,
migration to urban areas, Sunday market as well as steel pan and limbo. These are some of the
many customs which Caribbean people used as an escape from oppression and are still
implemented in everyday life.
In conclusion, Caribbean people dealt with oppression in many different ways
throughout history, both pre-emancipation and post emancipation. Some of the ways spoken
about were insurrectionary and non- insurrectionary. Even today Caribbean people respond to
oppression through music such as reggae and calypso.