The movie "12 years a slave" is making quite an impact. In the next few posts, I shall be highlighting a few differences and similarities between the horrific experience of Solomon Northup and that of Guianese slaves.
The movie "12 years a slave" is making quite an impact. In the next few posts, I shall be highlighting a few differences and similarities between the horrific experience of Solomon Northup and that of Guianese slaves.
THE TIMELINE. Solomon Northup (a black man who was born free in New York state but kidnapped in Washington, D.C.) was sold into slavery, in around 1840. He was kept in bondage for 12 years in Louisiana, and then produced his book in 1853.
By contrast, slavery in Guyana (formerly British Guiana) was over by then. The first stage of abolition went through in 1807 (import banned), and was complete by 1834 (total ban). In Suriname, however, the vile use of slaves continued until 1870.
Given that history, the slaves of what's now Guyana and Suriname were predominantly Dutch-owned, as it was Holland which dominated 'de Wilde Kust' (or 'Wild Coast) until the early 1800s. It was however the British that dominated the slave trade – which is why the Maroons of Suriname (see photo) still speak a form of English called Talkie-talkie.
The first slaves had arrived in the 1630s.
