From slavery to freedom: Chinese coolies on the sugar plantations of nineteenth century Cuba

IF 0.6 4区 历史学 Q3 Arts and Humanities Labour History Pub Date : 2017-11-01 DOI:10.5263/LABOURHISTORY.113.0031
E. Hu-deHart
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引用次数: 9

Abstract

To supplement a dwindling slave labour force on their sugar plantations, Cuban planters turned to south China's Fujian and especially Guangdong provinces. From 1847 to 1874 they recruited 141,000 male labourers (125,000 of whom arrived in Cuba alive). Slave-like work and living conditions on plantations, with proximity to large numbers of slaves notwithstanding, Chinese coolies were not permanent or lifelong slaves. The main question asked is not whether Chinese coolies were slaves - a well-worn argument that is not re-hashed here - but whether as contract labourers they constituted the early stages of the transition from slave to free labour. The article examines the respective and divergent framing of the bilingual Spanish and Chinese contracts, and the series of regulations designed to control the Chinese workers. Based largely on these primary documents it follows the trajectory of their work history in Cuba from indenture to freedom by way of specific life experiences.
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从奴隶制到自由:19世纪古巴甘蔗种植园的中国苦力
为了补充甘蔗种植园日益减少的奴隶劳动力,古巴种植园主转向中国南方的福建,尤其是广东省。从1847年到1874年,他们招募了141,000名男性劳工(其中125,000人活着抵达古巴)。尽管中国苦力的工作和生活条件与种植园里的奴隶差不多,但他们并不是永久或终身的奴隶。主要问题不在于中国苦力是否为奴隶——这是一个老生常谈的论点,这里不再赘述——而是作为合同工,他们是否构成了从奴隶向自由劳动力过渡的早期阶段。本文考察了西班牙语和中文双语合同的各自和不同的框架,以及旨在控制中国工人的一系列法规。本书主要以这些原始文件为基础,通过具体的生活经历,讲述了他们在古巴从契约到自由的工作历程。
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来源期刊
Labour History
Labour History Multiple-
CiteScore
0.50
自引率
16.70%
发文量
5
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