Enslaved African Americans

The existence of African slavery has been prevailing for centuries before the infamous American slavery. Beginning in the 1500’s, slavery was prominent in the world. During slavery, in places like the West Indies, Jamaica and even Florida, enslaved Africans would rebel against slavery. The first escape occurred in 1512, and since then more enslaved Africans began to escape. The enslaved Africans would escape into the jungles and forests where there was no sign of humanity. Eventually, communities were made from the escaped enslaved Africans and they were called maroon communities.
The etymology of maroon communities is Spanish. In Spanish, the word “maroon” is “cimarrones” means wild or untamed. “These societies ranged from small bands that survived less than a year to powerful states encompassing thousands of members and surviving for generations and even centuries.” (Price,1). Many of the maroon communities were established by men, who would thrive off raids to sustain life. While other communities would remain stable through
In the 1700s, they were visualized and labeled as a group of rebellions. At the time, the majority were the British slave owners, therefore they held the advantage of creating and persuading others to share the same view of the enslaved Africans as they would. The maroon communities created and extended legacies and cultures. The escaped enslaved Africans fought for their humanity. It took a significant amount of bravery for someone who’s enslaved to attempt to escape alone. Each escaped enslaved African sacrificed losing their family, tribe, and most importantly their life. The maroon communities are special because they refused to submit to a foreign way of life that minimized their dignity. The maroon communities were brave beings who rebelled against the extinction of the African culture. Maroon communities’ significance in the world is far beyond