Manchester University Press
1 Mapping racial boundaries
Abstract
A more critical reappraisal of the position of white women is needed in order to clarify further the inter-relations of race, class and gender in Barbados. The St John initiative appeared to have been the first of its kind in Barbados, and likely attracted much interest from among public-spirited Barbadians concerned with the welfare of the island's poor whites. Barbados's poor whites were for the most part descendants of indentured servants who made up the bulk of the plantation labour force before the widespread introduction of African slavery. The displacement of white servants from the plantations had significant repercussions for poor white women. Conscious of the imperative to secure the racial loyalty of poor whites in order to assure its own security in the event of black uprisings, elite society attempted to harness the physical resources of the poor whites.
Abstract
A more critical reappraisal of the position of white women is needed in order to clarify further the inter-relations of race, class and gender in Barbados. The St John initiative appeared to have been the first of its kind in Barbados, and likely attracted much interest from among public-spirited Barbadians concerned with the welfare of the island's poor whites. Barbados's poor whites were for the most part descendants of indentured servants who made up the bulk of the plantation labour force before the widespread introduction of African slavery. The displacement of white servants from the plantations had significant repercussions for poor white women. Conscious of the imperative to secure the racial loyalty of poor whites in order to assure its own security in the event of black uprisings, elite society attempted to harness the physical resources of the poor whites.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- General editor’s introduction vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Mapping racial boundaries 13
- 2 ‘Worse than [white] men, much worse than the Negroes . . .’ 44
- 3 ‘To serve her own desires’ 80
- 4 There may be my sphere of usefulness . . .’ 119
- 5 White lives, black bodies 155
- 6 ‘She Would Labor Almost Night and Day’ 184
- Conclusion 217
- Bibliography 226
- Index 233
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- General editor’s introduction vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations xi
- Introduction 1
- 1 Mapping racial boundaries 13
- 2 ‘Worse than [white] men, much worse than the Negroes . . .’ 44
- 3 ‘To serve her own desires’ 80
- 4 There may be my sphere of usefulness . . .’ 119
- 5 White lives, black bodies 155
- 6 ‘She Would Labor Almost Night and Day’ 184
- Conclusion 217
- Bibliography 226
- Index 233
