Introduction Although many huge corporations are successful monetary wise, many have issues painted with underlying greed and environmental damage due to their indifference towards making sure their business efforts are safe to individuals and the environment. Instead of using their resources to analyze their business and prioritize safe methods of operation, we frequently observe businesses […]
Category: Colonialism
Békés
Introduction Békés are the white population of Martinique who have been living there for generations (Bongie 225). As seen with Esternome’s early life stories, békés were originally plantation owners and owned masses of enslaved people. The békés’ forces were harsh, and they continued to push the power discrepancies, which allowed themselves to continue to grow […]
Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a species of tropical grass with a hard, thick stem that can reach several meters tall. Originating from eastern Asia, sugarcane was brought to the Caribbean by Christopher Columbus, and since then has grown exponentially, impacting the Caribbean culture and economy dramatically. Its rapid growth caused the introduction of slavery into the New World, […]
Martinique
Introduction The Caribbean island of Martinique is well-known for its popular resort spots and tourist destinations. However, this French-owned territory in the Caribbean Sea held strong roots in the beginnings of globalization. Martinique served as one of the world’s top sugar exporters during the 19th century due to the abundance of fertile land for plantations. […]
Maroons and Marronage
History Sparking from the traumatizing and damaging slavery experience, individuals, known as maroons, escape their plantation, seeking out a better life. Although the exact date is not clear, the early 1600’s is believed to be the start of slavery. As a result of the awful conditions the enslaved persons endured, they escaped from their plantations […]
French Overseas Departments
Introduction A French Overseas Department is a region of France that is not included within metropolitan France. However, these departments still have the same status as France’s mainland regions and departments. Martinique, the setting of the novel Texaco, by Patrick Chamoiseau, is a French overseas department. History of French Overseas Expansion Beginning in the early fifteenth and […]
Creolization
Texaco, a novel written by Patrick Chamoiseau, serves as a prime demonstration of the inner workings and significance of the process of creolization in the Caribbean, specifically on the island of Martinique. Understanding this process is key in gaining a greater understanding of the novel in the realm of history, globalization, and cultural relationships. For […]
Le Code Noir (Black Code)
Introduction Slavery characterized the beginning of globalization by powering the Caribbean economy. However, this positive impact on the economy was accompanied by the negative treatment of the enslaved people. The Code Noir was the governing set of laws that outlined the regulations by which enslaved people were to live in French colonies. This set of […]
Biblical References
INTRODUCTION Texaco, written by Patrick Chamosieau, provides a tale concerning the culture and life of people in Martinique, through the storytelling of fictional character Marie Sophie. One of the several ways the story is foretold is through the use of Biblical references. Although, there are multiple lenses that can be placed on this novel. This article will concern […]
