CULTURE OF THE PLANTATION SOCIETY

1. CULTURE OF THE PLANTATION SOCIETY

2. Description of the Plantation Society? The plantation society was one which was highly stratified socially and economically. This meant that based on one’s race they were being seen differently on the plantation. That is, the whites were the superiors and the blacks were the inferiors

3. Dependence was centered on a mono crop. Meaning that life on the plantation was centered around the cultivation of sugarcane

4. Social Stratification Within the Plantation Society (A description of the hierarchy)

5. At the top of the social hierarchy was a white planter or owner, who made all major decisions that gave direction to the plantation system. He decided on the type of slave organization, the size of slave Labour force and the purchasing and selling of slaves.

6. 2. The overseer was the second rank in the social hierarchy of the slave plantation society. He was usually recruited from families of the planter. He was the manager of the plantation Labour force. His duty was to ensure a smooth, efficient and productive operation of the plantation labour force.

7. Below the overseer was the head driver who was usually a well-heeled black slave with the ability to supervise the work of regular slaves.

8. Below the driver, were the house slaves who performed roles related to domestic housework. They included; nurses, cooks, body servants, butlers and the artisans who lived into close contact with the white owner and his family. NB. These persons held a higher status than the field slaves.

9. Below the house slaves were the field slaves who worked on the sugar plantation. They made up majority of the population.

10. Treatment of Class, Race and Colour • Beauty was closely connected to the European physical features & light complexion. People who possessed these features were viewed as being the highest in society • Notions of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ hair was spoken of, the slaves were known to have ‘bad’ hair and the whites ‘good’ hair. This too would contributed to the treatment that persons received.

11. Religion within the Plantation Society • The Europeans held on to the Roman Catholic faith, while also trying to indoctrinate the Slaves. • The slaves on the plantations were seen as pagans by the Europeans. • The slaves kept tribal customs and cults such as obeah, and vodun .

12. The belief in a supreme being was of value, as well as afterlife, as a result of this many slaves committed suicide

13. Music and dance within the plantation society • Where ever slaves gathered they made music which was accompanied by dances. According to Dyde, Greenwood and Hamber this dominated their social life. • Slaves sang in the fields to help them through their labours as well as at nights. During the weekends they sang and danced as a means of entertainment.

14. Language within the Plantation Society • The slaves retained their original language despite learning broken language which they used to communicate with the whites. • The slaves developed a unique language called patois in order to communicate easily with each other on the plantation.

15. Clothing within the Plantation Society • The basic elements of slave clothing was provided by the plantation owners. Since adult slaves had their clothes renewed only once or twice per year they were usually seen wearing ‘rags’. • Slave children usually went naked.

16. Food within the Plantation Society • The food provided by the planters for the slaves was extremely limited. • The food provided for them mainly consisted of: • Salted meat • Dried fish • Rice • Maize • flour

17. Family Life within the Plantation Society • Slave marriages were accepted by most planters because they believed marriage made slaves easier to control and less likely to run away. • The marriage ceremony consisted of a man and a woman “JUMPING THE BROOM” which affirmed their position to each other before the slave community .