About the book
The contributions of the black population to the history and economic development of Puerto Rico have long been distorted and underplayed, Luis A. Figueroa contends. Focusing on the southeastern coastal region of Guayama, one of Puerto Rico’s three leading centers of sugarcane agriculture, Figueroa examines the transition from slavery and slave labor to freedom and free labor after the 1873 abolition of slavery in colonial Puerto Rico. He corrects misconceptions about how ex-slaves went about building their lives and livelihoods after emancipation and debunks standing myths about race relations in Puerto Rico.
Historians have assumed that after emancipation in Puerto Rico, as in other parts of the Caribbean and the U.S. South, former slaves acquired some land of their own and became subsistence farmers. Figueroa finds that in Puerto Rico, however, this was not an option because both capital and land available for sale to the Afro–Puerto Rican population were scarce. Paying particular attention to class, gender, and race, his account of how these libertos joined the labor market profoundly revises our understanding of the emancipation process and the evolution of the working class in Puerto Rico.
Editions of Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807829493
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807856109
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807876831
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890871565
Read an Excerpt
The contributions of the black population to the history and economic development of Puerto Rico have long been distorted and underplayed, Luis A. Figueroa contends. Focusing on the southeastern coastal region of Guayama, one of Puerto Rico’s three leading centers of sugarcane agriculture, Figueroa examines the transition from slavery and slave labor to freedom and free labor after the 1873 abolition of slavery in colonial Puerto Rico. He corrects misconceptions about how ex-slaves went about building their lives and livelihoods after emancipation and debunks standing myths about race relations in Puerto Rico.
Historians have assumed that after emancipation in Puerto Rico, as in other parts of the Caribbean and the U.S. South, former slaves acquired some land of their own and became subsistence farmers. Figueroa finds that in Puerto Rico, however, this was not an option because both capital and land available for sale to the Afro–Puerto Rican population were scarce. Paying particular attention to class, gender, and race, his account of how these libertos joined the labor market profoundly revises our understanding of the emancipation process and the evolution of the working class in Puerto Rico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico about?
The contributions of the black population to the history and economic development of Puerto Rico have long been distorted and underplayed, Luis A. Figueroa contends. Focusing on the southeastern coastal region of Guayama, one of Puerto Rico’s three leading centers of sugarcane agriculture, Figueroa examines the transition from slavery and slave labor to freedom and free labor after the 1873 abolition of slavery in colonial Puerto Rico. He corrects misconceptions about how ex-slaves went about building their lives and livelihoods after emancipation and debunks standing myths about race relations in Puerto Rico.
Historians have assumed that after emancipation in Puerto Rico, as in other parts of the Caribbean and the U.S. South, former slaves acquired some land of their own and became subsistence farmers. Figueroa finds that in Puerto Rico, however, this was not an option because both capital and land available for sale to the Afro–Puerto Rican population were scarce. Paying particular attention to class, gender, and race, his account of how these libertos joined the labor market profoundly revises our understanding of the emancipation process and the evolution of the working class in Puerto Rico.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity
Where can I read a sample of Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807829493
How long is Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico and how many pages does it have?
Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico has 304 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico?
Luis A. Figueroa
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807829493) and paperback(ISBN 9780807856109) and ebook(ISBN 9780807876831) and pdf(ISBN 9798890871565)
Where can I buy Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico online or support local independent bookshops?
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Where can I buy Sugar, Slavery, and Freedom in Nineteenth-Century Puerto Rico?