It hadn't been long since they'd arrived in such a strange place. They were forced to work the land day in and day out, were frequently starved, and were banned from their cultural practices. They were TIRED!
So taking back what was rightfully theirs was a MUST.
200 enslaved Africans strategically attacked their enslavers at Boca de Nigua, a sugar plantation near Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. They stole ammunition, burned down the plantation and the enslaver’s home, all done in the name of liberation.
They even kicked out the whites and crowned a Black queen! So why isn't this rebellion more well known?
It's been purposely swept under the rug! The Dominican Republic has tried to keep its involvement under wraps.
The country’s African influence has been buried beneath Spanish colonial history. But like their ancestors, Afro-Dominicans are fighting back.
Today, activist groups like Afros RD plan an annual "Maroon Awareness Tour" revealing little-known locations across Santo Domingo where African people contributed significantly to the country's history. Each year on October 30th, the "Maroon Festival" commemorates the rebellion.
Our people forcibly built up the places many of us now call home. Despite how white supremacy tries to erase us, telling our own stories is a crucial way to honor Black history in the Americas and celebrate our ancestors!