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    Did You Know Slavery Was Abolished in Trinidad and Tobago on This Day?

    By 3 Mins Read

    On August 1, 1834, slavery was abolished in Trinidad and Tobago. It was announced that the end of slavery would roll out as slaves on plantations would still be expected to “work” as apprentices until 1840. Following the announcement, there was an uprising among formerly enslaved that put pressure on Great Britain, which colonized the island, to it immediately.

    Here are five things you should know about Trinidad and Tobago and the abolition of slavery there.

    1. The Original Inhabitants of Trinidad were Amerindians

    More than 40,000 Amerindians existed in Trinidad before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and Spanish settlement in 1592. They could not survive the disease, warfare, murder, forced labor and rape brought on by the Spanish colonizers and it would ultimately lead to their near extermination. In 1783, the King of Spain established the Cedula of Population which opened Trinidad to immigration primarily from the French Caribbean islands. By 1797, the Trinidad population was estimated to be at 18,627; 2,500 were “white,” 5,000 were “free Blacks and people of color,” 10,000 were enslaved Africans, and 1,082 were Amerindians.

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    Shayla Farrow is a multimedia journalist with a Media, Journalism and Film Communications degree from Howard University and a master’s degree in management from Wake Forest University. Shayla discovered her passion for journalism while working as a reporter with Spotlight Network at Howard University. She worked with other campus media, including NewsVision, WHBC 96.3 HD3, WHUR-FM, 101 Magazine, and the HU News Service. Her reporting abilities earned her opportunities to interview industry professionals including Cathy Hughes, movie director Malcolm D. Lee and creator of “David Makes Man,” Tarell Alvin McCraney. Shayla intends to leave her mark in journalism by broadcasting radio and television shows that cover a wide array of topics ranging from politics and social justice issues to entertainment and pop culture. She has worked on a variety of shows, including the Wendy Williams Show, The Joe Madison Show, and The Karen Hunter Show as well as worked as a producer for the NBC News Channel. However, her ultimate career goal is to own a television and audio entertainment platform that provides quality content to viewing and listening audiences.

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