We Slaves of Suriname

Anton de Kom s We Slaves of Suriname is a literary masterpiece as well as a fierce indictment of racism and colonialism. In this classic book, published here in English for the first time, the Surinamese writer and resistance leader recounts the history of his homeland, from the first settlements by Europeans in search of gold through the era of the slave trade and the period of Dutch colonial rule, when the old slave mentality persisted, long after slavery had been formally abolished. 159 years after the abolition of slavery in Suriname and 88 years after its initial publication, We Slaves of Suriname has lost none of its brilliance and power.

Anton de Kom's We Slaves of Suriname is a literary masterpiece as well as a fierce indictment of racism and colonialism. In this classic book, published here in English for the first time, the Surinamese writer and resistance leader recounts the history of his homeland, from the first settlements by Europeans in search of gold through the era of the slave trade and the period of Dutch colonial rule, when the old slave mentality persisted, long after slavery had been formally abolished.159 years after the abolition of slavery in Suriname and 88 years after its initial publication, We Slaves of Suriname has lost none of its brilliance and power.

Translator's NoteIntroductionsFrimangron by Tessa LeuwshaThe Breath of Freedom by Duco van OostrumWhy Anton de Kom Still Inspires Generation after Generation by Mitchell EsajasForeword by Judith de KomWe Slaves of Suriname"Sranan," our fatherlandThe era of slaveryThe arrival of the whitesEl DoradoThe first settlementsThe Dutch regimeThe slave tradeThe marketEnslavedThe slave womanThe mastersThe punishmentsThe History of Our NationVan Aerssen van Sommelsdyck (1683-1688)The brutesThe forest expeditionsJohan Jacob Mauricius (1742-1751)Governor Crommelin (1752-1768)Governor Nepveu (1770-1779)Buku (decayed into dust)The final chapter for the resistanceSuriname under British ruleThe great fireThe fate of the ethicalWhite settlementFighting the currentGovernors on paradeThe abolition of slaveryFreedom?The great selloutThe era of freedomHow we liveThe essence of autonomyFin de siècleIndentured laborFree laborIn search of goldThe major cropsWhat becomes of those millions?ResultsReunion and farewellNotesGlossary of Surinamese termsIndex