The Apprenticeship Era

In 1834, slavery was abolished, but the sugar industry continued (Jamaica History). After the abolition of slavery, Jamaica’s plantation owners looked for another source of legal labor (Religion and Society). Thus the concept of “apprenticeships” was created (Jamaica History). The system of apprenticeships stated that the ex-slaves would work without pay for their former masters for a certain amount of hours every week in exchange for shelter, food, clothing, and a small portion of the fields in which they could grow their own food during the remaining quarter of the week (Religion and Society). They could also, if they chose, hire themselves out for more wages during that remaining quarter (Religion and Society). With this money, the ex-slave and now apprentice could buy their freedom (Jamaica History). Local government abided by the regulations of the apprenticeship period on Jamaica, that Britain set in place, because the white plantation owners worried the slaves would leave and find their own land to live on and work for themselves (Jamaica History).


Although emancipation was brought to Jamaica, the historic apprenticeship period came with its own problems (Jamaica History). While emancipation laws required former masters to provide apprentices with shelter and food, many owners charged for food or for rent in the form of extra labor (Religion and Society). Special officers of the government were placed to regulate the apprenticeships and were intended to put a stop to these injustices, but they could not be at every plantation at once (Religion and Society). However, the majority worked diligently to improve the conditions of the apprentices. Another problem of apprenticeship was the division of labor hours (Jamaica History). The apprentices were required to work long hours per week for the master (up to 40 hours), but the hours were not divided (Religion and Society). While special officers fought for longer work days, leaving the apprentices Friday as well as Saturday free for other work, planters almost always insisted on shorter days, meaning the apprentices were not given much time for their own because they would be working every day (Jamaica History). The plantation owners also charged excessive rates to former slaves who wanted to buy their own freedom (Religion and Society).


While both men and women would work during the apprenticeship period, there were differences (Jamaica History). Traditionally, woman's place was in the home and women received lesser payments than men (Jamaica History). Women were still assigned domestic tasks inside the plantation homes or small fieldwork positions, while most men worked hard hours in the field or blacksmith positions (Religion and Society). Women and men were equally punished, however, if rebellion arose (Religion and Society).

While the apprenticeship was supposed to deter slavery qualities, particularly violence, it did not (Jamaica History). Planters were known to work their apprentices more harshly than they had when the blacks were slaves, with more brutal punishments as well (Jamaica History). Such brutal punishments included torture devices like the treadmill, which had been introduced to Jamaica in replacement for the use of whips, particularly on women (Religion and Society). The treadmill was a large cylinder with a series of steps attached to it. The person's weight on these steps caused the cylinder to spin, and they would have to step quickly to remain standing (Jamaica History). If a person fainted or fell, they would hang by the wrists tied to a handrail while the steps hit them (Religion and Society).

At the end of 1836, a new Governor attempted to pass a few laws through the Assembly to improve relations. However, the Assembly refuted the new laws, as it had done before, and nothing improved (Religion and Society).

Although the apprenticeship period in history was meant to ease the change between slavery and freedom for the landowners, there was no help for either freed black nor planter after the slaves were completely free, and this would cause a new host of problems (Religion and Society). Freedom, the ultimate right to act, speak, think and gain equality for the former slaves of Jamaica was not completely obtained until the end of the apprenticeship era in 1838 (Religion and Society).

*All information found via:

Youtube

"Jamaica History: Apprenticeship Period | Jamaica-guide.info." Jamaica Guide - Culture, History, Vacations, Travel, and More | Jamaica-guide.info. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. <http://jamaica-guide.info/past.and.present/history/apprenticeship.laws/>.

Google Images

Stewart, Robert J. Religion and Society in Post-emancipation Jamaica. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee, 1992. Print.

Jamaicanisms:

Jerk chicken recipe (from jamaicatravelandculture.com) 

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to prepare enough jerk chicken for 4 people:-
 One 3 1/2 lb chicken (3lb of chicken breasts may be used if preferred)
 6 sliced scotch bonnet peppers (jalapenos may be used if scotch bonnet peppers are unavailable)
 2 Tbsp. thyme
 2 Tbsp. ground allspice
 8 Cloves garlic, finely chopped
 3 Medium onions, finely chopped

2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
2 Tsp. ground black pepper

1 to 2 Tsp of the following (to taste)
-ground cinnamon
-nutmeg
-ginger

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup soy sauce
Juice of one lime
1 cup orange juice
1 cup white vinegar

Preparation

 Chop the onions, garlic and peppers. These do not need to be chopped too fine as they will be liquidised by the blender.









 Blend all of the ingredients (excluding the chicken) in a blender to make the jerk sauce.










 Cut the chicken up in to 4 pieces.










 Rub the sauce in to the meat, saving some for basting and dipping later.
 Leave the chicken in the fridge to marinade overnight.

Cooking

 Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, turn the meat then bake for a further 30 minutes.

 or

 Grill the meat slowly until cooked, turning regularly. Baste with some of the remaining marinade whilst cooking. For best results, cook over a charcoal barbeque (ideally over a rack of pimento wood).

Serving

 Chop each quarter chicken portion in to 5 or 6 smaller pieces using a heavy cleaver.

 Use a wooden spoon (or something similar) to hold the chicken in place whilst chopping and NOT YOUR HAND (you will be chopping with enough pressure to cut through bone!!!)







 Serve with festival and salad or rice and peas or hardo bread and the jerk sauce left over for dipping.