so-treu:

claytoncubitt:

The Black Irish of Montserrat - Irish accents in the Caribbean (thanks Laura!)

“A Radharc report from 1976 about the Black Irish of Montserrat. Irish people exiled by Cromwell and African slaves arrived on Montserrat at about the same time.”

wow.

WHITE WASHED!

Whilst Montserrat is the only country outside of the Republic to officially recognise St. Patricks Day as a national holiday, the Irish have a really, really shitty history in the rest of the Caribbean.

Many Irish people went to the West Indies as Endentured Slaves, and whilst conditions and restrictions were relatively similar, they weren’t physically owned by the Planters and were free to leave after the negotiated time span. Though they could be bought and sold, it was merely their labour which was available, not their person. As they were White, however, they were often given the easier jobs such as cleaning and nannying, so as to not have too many dark faces around the house.

They were also quite often at the very front line of any force sent to quell Slave rebellions. They were particularly noted for their brutality towards the Maroons.