The Caribbean Irish: How the Slave Myth was Made

by Miki Garcia

The Caribbean Irish explores the little known fact that the Irish were amongst the earliest settlers in the Caribbean. They became colonisers, planters and merchants living in the British West Indies between 1620 and 1800 but the majority of them arrived as indentured servants. This book explores their lives and poses the question, were they really slaves? As African slaves started arriving en masse and taking over servants’ tasks, the role of the Irish gradually diminished. But the legacy of the Caribbean Irish still lives on.

Genres: History

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 29, 2019

Reviews

[Melisende · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, for me, was a fascinating read as much of what I have read in the past relating to Irish history has been focused on the country itself. It was no news to me that a great many Irish left their homeland following war and the Famine, whether voluntarily or not - my own family arrived in Australia in less than auspicious circumstances. And it is only lately, in this last decade, that I have begun specifically exploring the full extent of the reach of Irish migration to Spain, South America, and now the Caribbean - places, except for Spain, that I was unfamiliar with. So, in addition to the recently read Paisanos by Tim Fanning, I will add this tome by Miki Garcia, as a must read.

For me, this was a valuable insight into the Irish diaspora as well as the history of the British West Indies. As this was not really my field of expertise, I had no idea that Europeans supplanted the native Amerindian populations; that the Irish were transported in their hundreds of thousands (willingly or not) before the introduction of African slaves; and that once there, there was frequent cross migration between the islands and the Amazon Basin.

Garcia's narrative style makes it easy to follow this tangled web, At times it feels as if you are sitting across from her having a conversation. It is easy, after reading this, to understand how the Irish slave myth arose and it is a topic well worth exploring further. Garcia's book will start you on your journey.


Full review here @ Melisende's Library

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many Irish settled in the Caribbean region, particularly in Barbados, fairly early. They mostly came as indentured servants, but this led to a rumor of enslavement. The sugar trade in the Caribbean drove the need for workers in the region, and the Irish, considered less-than-desirable by other Europeans, produced the essential labor until their replacement by African slave labor. While the book seems to be well-researched, it is not well-documented. With an average of one end note every two pages, the author failed to credit many sources and inadequately cited others by including a title in the text without including pages. The lack of documentation makes the work less useful and less credible. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Alannah Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley.co.uk for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

When the majority of people think of slaves, they usually think of the African population being taken from their homeland to be sold on, then forced to work on plantations. People are often surprised when I tell them this had happened to Irish people as well, but I was never able to explain further.

I have studied empires, but I never got the opportunity to go in-depth into how it affected people's lives, the individuals who weren't in charge.

I found this book very interesting. The writer gives you an insight into what went on. I thought it was a brilliant read and well written. I think if you have an interest in Irish history, I would strongly recommend this book.

[LAWonder10 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never cease to be amazed how much one can learn each day. Perhaps that is why I enjoy reading so much!
Previously, I had learned the Irish were put into servitude, along with Scotts, Scandinavian and lesser class British subjects, but never did I realize the extent. They were treated equally badly as the African slaves.
They were signed up for years of servitude, supposedly to be then freed. This didn't often happen for many, many years if ever, especially for women. Many of those in servitude starved to death and many wished for death.
​ The Vikings raided the coasts of England, Wales, and Scotland, bordering on the Iris Sea.
Slaves were transported on sea from East to West. In 1169, the Anglo-Normans invaded and conquered parts of Ireland.. Some Celtic rulers slowly accepted King Henry ll's "over-lordship"and Norman lords soon became Celtic chieftains.
Discord in Ireland began between the Catholics and Protestant (which has continued until recent years.). In the mid 1600's, Officer Oliver Cromwell came to Ireland to settle the dispute. He and his army conquered Ireland in a most unethical and brutal way. His theft and slaughter are described including the forced slavery, many of whom were orphaned children. Many boys over twelve were trained for military service. However, the Irish were known as "fighters" and didn't give in easily.
These are just a few of the facts I learned. The further deprecation is inhumane on all accounts.
​ All the Irish were considered low class and unintelligent. Even in early 20th century America, many regarded the Irish in this manner.
I am appalled that any person in any country can delight in the mistreatment of others, yet claim to be Christian! I can understand why God stated "the natural man is an enemy to God".
This account was thorough and well-written.
I offer a Five Stars rating for this book of valuable information.
*This book was gifted me with no suggestion for a positive review. This is my honest review.

[Emilija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers for providing an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

This book could have been really interesting. It's about a topic that isn't looked into much, both of the Irish diaspora and the life of the Irish in the Caribbean, as most Irish history focuses on the Irish in Ireland and most just state the numbers of people that left Ireland during the troubles that faced the country.

But the writing is just so dry. A lot of it just feels like a list of facts, listed one after another, which isn't helped by the author jumping between topics and raising topics that have been mentioned before.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a detailed and well-researched exploration of the emigration, often forced, of countless Irish citizens to the Caribbean, where their legacy lives on right to today. Some went voluntarily but many of them they were forced into being indentured servants and often suffered horrendous hardship. This aspect of Irish history is probably not as well-known as it should be and thus this new account is to be welcomed indeed. I learnt a lot from it. However, although it is accessibly written I didn’t find it particularly well-written, with a rather jumbled approach and much repetition. There’s sometimes an awkwardness to the writing and some jarring grammatical infelicities. Thus I didn’t find it as engaging as it could have been, and some careful editing wouldn’t have come amiss. Worth reading, however, for an insight into Ireland's past as well as that of the Caribbean.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Caribbean Irish: How the Slave Myth Was Made
Author: Miki Gracia
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Chronos Books, for being so kind as to think of me again. I would like to send a shout out to Ben and Sarah for sending me an ARC of this book.

I’m just going to put this out there: I had no idea there was such an Irish presence in the Caribbean. Mikki introduced a completely new topic to me and I love that. I love learning new things and being exposed to things that aren’t often talked about. Whenever I think of the historical Caribbean I always think of the Spanish and the African slave trade. I had no idea that something similar was going on with the Irish.

This book couldn’t have come at a better either. For those of you who don’t know, I teach fifth grade history. We are getting ready to talk about the Caribbean and the impacts that European exploration had on the region. This will be a nice little add on for my students. It’s not talked about at all in our program, which don’t even get me started on that. This book will help give my students a little extra edge. Not only we will be talking about a subject that isn’t hardly spoken of this book does a nice job of explaining the difference between a slave and indentured servant.

I love how easy this book is to read. I’ve already said that I didn’t know anything about this subject prior to reading this. Like with all books I’ve read by this publisher, it is super easy to read and everything is explained very nicely. You can jump into this book without knowing anything and walk out with a feeling that you’ve learned something. This is what I like in my nonfiction. I like being able to easy read it and learning at the same time. The everyday language and easy to follow format makes this read more like a novel than anything. I guess what I’m getting at is we don’t have that dry textbook read here.

I also liked that we got to see some everyday people. A lot of times history just focuses on the upper class. I get it: we have more records about the upper class than the lower class. Here, it’s almost like Mikki does the opposite. We get to experience history through the poor and rougher ends of society. Now, the Church is involved a lot in the book and I believe that’s where a lot of the refences came from, but still. I give this book a round of applause for including all aspects of life.

Overall, I am very happy that I read this. It’s an easy to read book and isn’t very long at all. It’s only 240 pages.

This book comes out on December 1, 2019.

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This non-fiction book looks at the early Irish settlers in the Caribbean Islands.

The book considers the effects the many of the settlers and invaders had on the Irish and their way of life, from the missionaries of Rome, Vikings, Scots, Normans and ultimately the English and the battles led by the military leader, Oliver Cromwell. War, famine and religious disharmony made Ireland not a pleasant place to be. Plenty of pull and push factors discussed: definitely a case of Irish winners and losers.

This is a good study, full of dates, facts and figures indicating the amount of research Garcia has undertaken. Some of the research is a bit repetitive and the organisation of the material lacks flow, but it is easy to read. However, this remains a fairly unknown piece of history and the author suggests that this is because the Irish are a diverse and unclassifiable and not much documentation survives. Perhaps this is all of it. Fascinating stuff.

[A_Place_In The_Orchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

To me, at least, this story was completely unknown... of course history has a habit of doing that, burying the sagas that deserve the light of day, and that's great because it means authors like Garcia can then retrieve them, and books like this are the result. A fascinating tale of survival, adaptation, hardship and hard work, it's written in a way that takes you into the heart of events, and if you have any kind of Irish history collection, this is a vital addition.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a good start do those who are interested in migration Irish history or wanting to know more about indentured (that type of history) persons. A look at something that one might not think about.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I picked up this book, I had no idea the Irish were among the earliest settlers in the Caribbean. The Caribbean Irish is a fascinating look at a somewhat forgotten period of history. During the 1600s, as the British set out to colonize the West Indies, they relied heavily on the Irish as a source of indentured labor. But by the 1800s, the Irish had all but disappeared as their labor was replaced by African slaves.

It is hard to imagine life during Cromwell's reign as he developed a policy to rid Ireland of the Irish, particularly by encouraging the transplantation of those considered undesirable. He particularly singled out political prisoners, or the unfortunate like orphans and widows or anyone at the wrong place at the wrong time. And while some Irish did manage to become planters and businessmen, this account looks primarily at the role of servants, and how their experiences contrasted with that of slaves brought to the island as sugar production became more widespread. Although both lived and worked in deplorable conditions, the indentured servants had at least the hope of being free at the end of their contracts, provided they lived that long, unlike slaves who were kept in bondage without any of hope of freedom. And it seems that by the 1800s as their labor was less in demand, they managed to find other opportunities outside the islands.

I found this to be an engaging account of those who often didn't have a voice during British global expansion into the West Indies. And I liked the fact that this book made me aware of a part of history that I otherwise wouldn't have known about.

Thanks to Chronos Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
More reviews at: www.susannesbooklist.blogspot.com

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting but rather dry study of how the Irish populated parts of the Caribbean via indenture, punishment and of course slavery. There is the bones of a great book here but it is weighed down with figures that, whilst important, often interrupted the flow so made it hard to stay engaged.

[Allison]

I plan to read this book as it is a subject of great interest to me. I am a 3rd generation American of Irish ethnicity. I was also raised in the Caribbean. This gives me a depth in understanding of Caribbean culture and history that other readers may not have. While I plan to read the book as soon as possible, and will leave a follow up comment, I do find the the title off putting. How the slave myth was made. It is not a myth. When the Caribbean was first colonized by Europeans in the early 1500’s, they dumped there unwanted into the islands as forced labor. For the British islands these people were Scots, Welsh and in particular the Irish. The term indentured implies complicity, but for most that was not the case. These were stolen people. They lived in brutal circumstances. The concept of chattel slavery did not yet exist. It came later with the vast waves of slaves from Africa. Prior to that if you were someone who could be bought and sold by men who “owned” you, you were a slave. That was the term that was used in their common, everyday language. Chattel slavery created a divide between the white servants and the black, made necessary by the two groups working together in rebellion.
The people of the former British Caribbean all have similar DNA, west African, English, Irish, Scottish. Some look white, some look very dark, many are mid range, many have blue or green eyes. My best friend is what we call a White West Indian. He presents as white. His family is of all color ranges. The tiny island he hails from, Bequia, knows their oral history. He knows his family came to Bequia as white slaves from Barbados. He tells me he descends from prisoners and pirates.
My point is there is no myth here, the early Caribbean was a melting pot of misery and the Irish were very much in that soup.

[Francesco · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cromwellian conquest represents a turning point in the history of Catholic Ireland. It marked the beginning of what is commonly known as the “Irish Di-aspora”. Cromwell’s project to convert Ireland into a protestant country caused voluntary and forced migrations of the vast majority of Irish people. Their main destination was the Caribbean. At first, they came there as indentured servants who were forced to work in atrocious conditions for their British masters. The situation changed when planters started to prefer African slaves that were more resistant to the climate of the tropics. Indentured servants and African slaves worked side by side, but Irish were unwilling to accept that condition perpetually and they frequently rebelled against British authority.
However, as Miki Garcia’s book demonstrates, many Irish people profited from this situation and accumulated a lot of wealth thanks to the slave trade. Therefore, with a well-documented analysis, Miki Garcia claims that Irish people suffered the consequences of the slave trade, but at the same time they contributed significantly to it; they were the backbone of the British Empire and also their Achilles’ heel since they repeatedly backed Catholic France and Spain to hinder the British project to control the whole world.

[Eliz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It appears that a lot of effort went into the researching of this important book, but it reads as if not much effort went into the writing of it. The text is repetitive, lacking in any form of colour, and poorly edited. There are many ungrammatical sentences and parts where three consecutive sentences say more or less the same thing in slightly different words. The layout of the book is also poor, and the author often jumps around from topic to topic, only to raise those topics again and again later in the book.

This is a shame, because the author clearly put a lot of effort into the research, and has gathered information from a broad range of sources. This is particularly commendable when records, particularly from the Irish perspective, are not straightforward or easy to come by. I also commend the writer for not being tempted down the 'the poor Irish were slaves too' route, and seems to give a balanced view of the role of the Irish in the Caribbean. A shorter, clearer text, perhaps beginning with chapter 4 with a bit of the detail from the previous chapters added, would have been far more powerful.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I have heard stories of the Irish in Monserrat, I was largely ignorant of the history of Irish immigration to the Caribbean and when I came across the book, ‘The Caribbean Irish: How the Slave Myth Was Made’ by Miki Garcia, I was excited by the opportunity to finally learn about the truth of the indentured Irish and their arrival on the Caribbean islands from 1641 onwards.
The work is detailed and covers topics such as religions, ports, trades, the different islands, groups within Caribbean society such as ‘redlegs’ etc. And provides an insight into the lives of Irish who have been transported to Caribbean areas like Jamaica, Barbados, St Martin. I found this book to be both a detailed and well-researched exploration of this aspect of Irish history.
I received a free copy of this book from Chronos via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars*
An informative read, shedding a light on a somewhat murky part of Irish & English history. I wasn't aware that England had been shipping out "unwanted elements" to faraway colonies before they did so in the late 18th century to Australia, to say nothing of the way they went about it, nor even Cromwell’s involvement. It was fascinating, if not always easy reading, especially when the author went into specifics about the daily life, restrictions and punishments awaiting the Irish "servants" and later on the African slaves which, certain similarities aside, were even more horrible. I liked the quotes used throughout the narrative which at times was rather dry, but I’d have preferred it if the author had given more insights into his sources.

[roxi Net · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing history book -- especially given my fascination with Irish history and having parents from Puerto Rico. I don't claim to be a historian at all and normally stick to fiction, however the subject fascinated me and I learned so much; even knowing that Irish came to Aguada, Puerto Rico explains quite a bit of the people from that area centuries later. I was able to share what I learned with my mother (the historian in the family) and plan to give her the book once it's published. I think it's a great book for those that fall under the odd niche fascination of both Irish/Caribbean history.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miki Garcia researches professionally and that is evident in the detail provided in this book. The use of "indentured" Irish servants in the settlement of the Caribbean has come up often in the last few months. Though their treatment as documented and described by Ms Garcia, was not stellar, they were eventually "free" and not slaves. I found the book was written rather conversationally. I had no trouble following the narrative. I think it would make an excellent reference piece and could even be used as a book discussion selection. I learned a lot and Ms Garcia has spurred me to read further.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and researched piece about Irish history from an angle that I have never considered before. This book follows the impact of Cromwell's ascendancy on Ireland and the practices of forced emigration and indentured servitude. The title is a bit misleading in that there is a great deal more covered than just life in the Caribbean. I learned so much I hadn't known about this important piece of history for both the Irish and the new world.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

[Rebecca Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take what you think you know about the Irish, and throw it out the window. This well-done book will challenge all your preconceptions and set you straight in the meantime.

Miki Garcia did a great job and laid out this fabulous book with an easy to follow, and well-documented facts. The slave trade changed quite a bit of the Caribbean layout, and as the slave trade grew, the role of the Irish was not as involved. However, they left their mark regardless. The enduring legacy remains, and they are not to be underestimated or discounted. This is a must-read!

[Dale Dewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didnt know how to feel about this book. My wife and I have traveled extensively in the Caribbean so I love reading histories about it. I felt that the author was a bit long-winded in descriptions of how the Irish came to be exported to the new world. The numbers seemed to almost go county by county and the histories seemed to repeat. I felt there was a good narrative in there but it became too bogged down in statistics and asides to make it not enjoyable enough to read.

[Denice Langley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing look at a little known fact of history. Neither the scenery of the Caribbean nor the topic of slavery brings to mind the Irish population that migrated and settles there. Migrating as indentured servants did not give these brave souls the futures they expected, most never made it to freedom again. An excellent look at another shameful time in world history.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fascinated by The Caribbean Irish: How the Slave Myth Was Made. I thought it was a good and quick read. I am giving it three and a half stars.

[Anubha (BooksFullOfLife, LifeFullOfBooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Caribbean Irish provides an insight into the lives of Irish who have been transported to Carribbean areas like Jamaica, Barbados, St Martin, etc. These migrations might have been voluntary in search for better opportunities or forced because of the requirement of labour in certain regions. After England took over Ireland and the Protestant religion was extended to Irish people, some people just fled to preserve the Catholic religion. In all In Caribbean, Irish men accumulated in numbers, this book briefs one with their journey, their livelihoods, and there means of existence. Cromwell transported various men as slaves so an insight into their treatment, their clothing, their wages and their means of sustenance is also provided. Further political situation during those times and details about revolutionary groups like Quakers have been provided as well. So basically anyone who likes history and is interested in Irish history can pick this up. It is written from a subaltern perspective that is from lower sections of the society's perspective and this aids one to look at the other side of the coin which might not be that popular.