Member-only story

Race, Labor, and Sugar in the Age of Emancipation: A Long and Tortuous Path

Lucas Reed

·7.5k Followers· Follow

Published in Coolies And Cane: Race Labor And Sugar In The Age Of Emancipation

5 min read

649 View Claps

71 Respond

Save

Listen

The history of race, labor, and sugar in the United States is a long and tortuous one. From the earliest days of slavery, sugar was a major cash crop, and the labor of enslaved Africans was essential to its production. After emancipation, African Americans continued to work in the sugar industry, but they faced discrimination and exploitation. It was not until the late 20th century that African Americans began to make significant gains in the sugar industry. Today, African Americans play a vital role in all aspects of the sugar industry, from production to marketing.

Coolies and Cane: Race, Labor, and Sugar in the Age of Emancipation

by Moon-Ho Jung

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1446 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	289 pages

The Sugar Industry in the Age of Slavery

Sugar was introduced to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1493. By the 16th century, sugar plantations had been established in the Caribbean and South America. The demand for sugar in Europe was high, and the sugar industry quickly became a major source of wealth for European planters. However, the labor required to produce sugar was grueling, and the mortality rate among enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations was high.

In the United States, sugar was first grown in Louisiana in the 17th century. By the 18th century, sugar had become a major cash crop in the South. The sugar industry in the United States was heavily dependent on slave labor. In 1860, there were over 300,000 enslaved Africans working on sugar plantations in the United States.

Emancipation and the Sugar Industry

The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved Africans in the Confederacy, but it did not end slavery in the United States. Slavery was not abolished in the United States until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865.

After emancipation, African Americans continued to work in the sugar industry. However, they faced discrimination and exploitation. African Americans were paid less than white workers, and they were often forced to work in the most dangerous and unhealthy jobs.

In the late 19th century, the sugar industry in the United States began to mechanize. This led to a decline in the number of jobs available to African Americans in the sugar industry. By the early 20th century, African Americans had been largely displaced from the sugar industry.

The Civil Rights Movement and the Sugar Industry

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s led to significant changes in the sugar industry. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was passed. The Civil Rights Act prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This led to increased opportunities for African Americans in the sugar industry.

In the late 20th century, African Americans began to make significant gains in the sugar industry. African Americans began to own and operate sugar plantations, and they began to hold positions of leadership in the sugar industry. Today, African Americans play a vital role in all aspects of the sugar industry, from production to marketing.

The history of race, labor, and sugar in the United States is a long and tortuous one. However, it is also a story of progress. African Americans have overcome discrimination and exploitation to become vital members of the sugar industry. Today, African Americans play a leading role in all aspects of the sugar industry, from production to marketing. The story of race, labor, and sugar in the United States is a testament to the resilience and determination of the human spirit.