Beyond Slavery The Multilayered Legacy Of Africans

In the book Beyond Slavery: The Multilayered Legacy of Africans in Latin America and The Caribbean, editor Darien Davis, primarily examines the history of Africans in Latin America between the 1700s and the 1800s.The four readings in part 1, deal with â€Å"independence, freedom, and national identity and emphasize the place and role of freed and enslaved blacks in the revolutionary wars of independence, republicanism, and the periods of national consolidation† (Davis, 3). The work also aid in the continuing discussion of African experiences in Latin America. The writers in the discussion include David Geggus, Camilla Townsend, Juan Manuel Rosas, and Dario Euraque. In the first chapter, Geggus discusses the Haitian Revolution and how its success impacted both Africans and their Caribbean nations. As Haiti is trying to create a free independent state, the news of its success begins to be heard around the world. Africans, who hear of the revolution, become prideful and inspired to obtain their own freedom. Over time, this leads to them becoming more insolent to their masters, going to courts to assert their freedom, and many former slaves (mostly Haitians) help in revolutions for independence. At the same time, many Africans use legal systems to secure their rights and privileges they feel they rightly deserve. Many other Latin American nations were able to obtain independence before they outlawed slavery. The reason for this was because as Geggus points out, â€Å"independence meantShow MoreRelatedAfrican Slavery And The Slave Trade Essay1795 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Slavery is the legalized economic activity under which people, especially the natives of a land, are treated as property by colonizers like the Spanish. Slavery was a system that lasted for many years before it was abolished and the Africans as well as the Indians went through a lot of suffering upon the hands of their masters. The slaves were meant to perform duties such as cultivation of the plantations, domestic chores and even mining activities and were on the constant watch of