1. Prof. Roland The Caribbean in Post-Colonial Perspective ANTH 1115

2.  Fon (Benin/W. Africa)  Catholicism (French)

3.  Bondye (“Good God”) Distant/Unapproachable  Loa/Lwa Ancestrally linked spirits Interact w/ humans Damballa, Erzulie, Legba, Ogoun  Houngan/Mambo Priests/Priestesses

4. RADAPETWO (ALSO CALLED CONGO)  Family spirits Relatively happy/peaceful 95% of Vodou practice http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=_lkyqLhLXQ4 http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=_lkyqLhLXQ4  Angry/Mean Lwa “Black magic” Vodou Source of Hollywood’s “voodoo” http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=yZAY-78zhmw http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=yZAY-78zhmw

5.  Boukman’s dream Ogoun inspired slave uprising  Duvaliers (Papa & Baby Doc) exploit popular beliefs for power

6.  Religion as a cultural construct Reflects believers understanding of the world  Vodou responds to terrors slavery Reenacts domination & resistance Day-to-day survival in hands of others  Pay penance  No use fighting “the power”  Bow & Serve

8.  From Slavery to Peasantry 1848 abolition of slavery Slow rise of peasantry as plantations divided into plots for ex-slaves

9.  Independent farms not enough  Soil depleted over time  Irregular/seasonal employment Urbanization Emigration Gendered experiences

10. 33-tier racial structure Békés/white elite CClosed community “Colored” middle stratum SSome Western education Black creole masses SSlow upward mobility through education

11. 1946 Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana overseas departments of France equal w/ mainland departments Cultural Identity? Local ID (island specific) Regional ID (Antillean) National ID (French)  EU Status in 1993? Overseas products lose value on open EU market Caribbean “Reality Check” Return to peasantry?