Becoming Free, Becoming Black: Race, Freedom, and Law in Cuba

Enslaved and free people of color in the Americas used the law to claim freedom and citizenship, challenging slaveholders' efforts to make blackness synonymous with slavery. The law of freedom, not slavery, established the meaning of blackness in law, and contests over freedom determined whether and how it was possible to move from slave to free status.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 295 pages
Publication date: 02 December 2021
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Becoming Free, Becoming Black is a captivating book that delves into the intricate and often overlooked history of enslaved and free people of color in the Americas. Through the lens of law, the authors, Alejandro de la Fuente and Ariela J. Gross, shed light on the remarkable stories of individuals who used legal means to claim freedom and citizenship for themselves and their loved ones. These communities actively resisted the attempts of slaveholders to conflate blackness with slavery, challenging the very foundations of the oppressive system.

In their detailed examination of three slave societies, Cuba, Virginia, and Louisiana, de la Fuente and Gross illustrate how the law of freedom, rather than slavery, played a pivotal role in shaping the legal definition of blackness. They meticulously analyze the legal contests that unfolded, revealing how these contests determined the possibilities for individuals to transition from slave to free status and the implications of claiming citizenship tied to racial identity.

The authors highlight how laws regulating the lives and institutions of free people of color created the boundaries between black and white, delineating the rights exclusively reserved for white individuals and the degradations imposed solely on black people. These legal frameworks not only reinforced the existing social and economic inequalities but also perpetuated the cycle of oppression and marginalization. However, Becoming Free, Becoming Black also offers a glimmer of hope. The authors showcase how individuals and communities used the law to challenge these oppressive laws and advocate for their rights. They highlight the resilience and determination of these individuals in the face of immense adversity, as they fought for equality and justice.

Through their compelling storytelling and rigorous analysis, de la Fuente and Gross provide a fresh perspective on the history of blackness in the Americas. They challenge the conventional narratives and shed light on the complex legal and social dynamics that shaped the lives of enslaved and free people of color. This book is a valuable addition to the literature on race and history, offering a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of those who fought for freedom and equality.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108468145
Edition number: New ed