Description
The Independents of Color
Book Summary
This historical essay offers a detailed analysis of the 1912 Negro Rebellion in Cuba, also known as the armed uprising of the Independents of Color. Serafín Portuondo Linares reconstructs the origins, development, and consequences of this military conflict that pitted Afro-Cuban rebels against the armies of Cuba and the United States. A fundamental work for understanding the racial and political tensions in early 20th-century Cuba, written from the perspective of a direct descendant of the participants in the struggle.
What is it about?
The book tells the story of the Independent Party of Color and the armed uprising it led in 1912 in eastern Cuba. Portuondo Linares documents the social and political context that led to the creation of this Afro-Cuban political organization, its struggle for equal rights, and the violent repression it suffered. The work describes the military confrontation between the rebels, the Cuban army, and the U.S. Marines, which concluded with the deaths of leaders Evaristo Estenoz and Pedro Ivonnet, and an estimated toll of between 3,000 and 6,000 victims among the insurgents.
Main themes
- History of the Independent Party of Color in Cuba
- 1912 Negro Rebellion and its political and social causes
- Race relations and discrimination in Republican Cuba
- U.S. military intervention in Cuban internal conflicts
- Historical memory and controversy over casualty figures
Who is it recommended for?
This book is intended for students and researchers of contemporary Cuban and Caribbean history, specialists in African-American and Afro-Cuban studies, as well as readers interested in social movements, racial conflicts, and the political history of Latin America. It is also of interest to those seeking to understand the roots of racial tensions in today's Cuban society.
What this book contributes
- A documented vision of a historical episode frequently silenced in official Cuban historiography
- The testimony of an author descended from participants in the conflict, which provides a familiar and close perspective on the events
- Political and social context for understanding the formation of racial minority parties in the post-colonial Caribbean
- Analysis of power dynamics between the Cuban government, local elites, and foreign intervention
Technical specifications
- Author: Portuondo Linares, Serafín
- Publisher: Linkgua Ediciones
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Classic texts
- Collection: History
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 2021
- Number of pages: 246
- Weight: 100 g
Editorial assessment
This is a reference essay for the study of the 1912 Negro Rebellion, a key event in the history of Cuba that often remains on the margins of conventional historical accounts. The work stands out for its documentary rigor and for offering a look from within the conflict, thanks to the author's family ties to the events. Its reading is especially valuable for those seeking to delve into the racial and political complexities of the island Caribbean during the republican period.