Scotish Slaves In Barbados

KNRX · **Posted:** Sat Apr 25, 2009 12:41 am

Quote:

Barbado'ed: Scotland's Sugar Slaves
Watch:
Next on:

Tomorrow, 20:00 on BBC Two (Scotland only)
Synopsis

The west coast of Barbados is known as a favourite winter destination for British tourists, ranging from the upmarket Sandy Lane resort to the all-drinks-included package holiday crowd arriving by economy class. Many will come from Scotland, but few will realise that just fourteen miles away on the rocky east side of the island live a community of McCluskies, Sinclairs and Baileys who are not, as might be expected, black Bajans bearing the family names given by slave owners centuries ago, but poor whites eking out a subsistence existence.

Known as the Redlegs, they are the direct descendants of the Scots transported to Barbados by Cromwell after the Civil War. Scottish author and broadcaster Chris Dolan went to meet them to discover why they are still here 350 years later, what they know about their roots, and what their prospects are today when they are the poorest community on the island.

Chris speaks to leading historians in Barbados and Scotland about how their ancestors were treated when they first arrived. Was their plight as severe as that of the black slaves from Africa? Nearly two centuries after emancipation, this Redleg community has yet to find a role on the island, where it is damned by association with the days of slavery, even though many of its forbears were victims themselves. In recent years, it has begun to come out of its racial isolation; could there yet be a hopeful future for this lost Scottish tribe?

Credits

Director Paul Arnott
Director Shane Brennan
Producer Lydia Conway

Broadcast

1.
Sun 26 Apr 2009
20:00
BBC Two (Scotland only)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k7t42

SUE · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2009 5:56 am

Thanks Frankie should be an interesting programme.

mgsteve56 · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:58 am

Well done Frank I shall be watching this one too,so the red legs did not just come from Ireland then.

Jackiee · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:12 pm

What an interesting program it was too. The things you learn never cease to amaze. What a hard life these people had and still have in many cases. I couldn't help but picture the plane loads of people arriving at the airport with not a clue about so much of the island and it's people.......me included.

mgsteve56 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:45 am

Watched the program ,best sunday nights viewing for a long time,seems like quite a lot of the descendants live near Bathsheba in the Newcastle ,st margarets area,makes you realize how much suffering has gone on in days gone by.

KNRX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:01 pm

Glad to hear you enjoyed the show Jackiee & Steve. Hope I am not putting you on the spot, but for the benefit of the rest of us who did not have access to it, I was wondering if you could say a little more about it - like what were its highpoints, what you learned, etc. I know you are busy but if you do get a chance it would more than be appreciated.

Btw, I learned about this through Twitter - turning out to be quite a useful tool after all.

SUE · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:20 pm

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00k7t42

Frankie we can get the whole programme throught his link don't know if you can.
BB2 Scotland Sugar Slaves

KNRX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:04 pm

Sadly, we get the following in Barbados:

Quote:

Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only, but all BBC iPlayer Radio programmes are available to you. Why?

If you are in the UK and see this message please read this advice.

Go to Radio channels home page

SUE · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:14 pm

That's a shame

mgsteve56 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 2:22 pm

I had the same problem ,when in Bim in January,thought wed be able to watch our favorite soaps on the laptop,but couldnt ,I think its to do with the fact that the uk tv bbc licence only allows their progs to be watched lawfully in the uk.
I am actually downloading the programme on to my pc as I speak ,but its via the bbc iplayer desktop.when Ive got it on the pc ,will have a look to see if I can get it on to a disk.but theres probably some blocking mechanism in the software to stop you.
Frank if I could get it onto disk ,Id be more than happy to post it to you.but Ill let you know what happens.

KNRX · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:51 pm

Thanks for the offer, Steve. Sure, I would be interested in something like that if you can pull it off. You are correct that the file is encrypted but there is a Youtube video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5OgiAXxFLo - which explains how you can still burn it to DVD. No biggy if this is something you cannot manage or are not comfortable with. Thanks all the same.

Jackiee · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:55 pm

Steve, that would be better than trying to write about it. That said, I'll mention a few bits that stood out for me. Maybe you can add a few more.

Redlegs were from all over the UK but seemed to be mainly Scottish. They were so-called because their white legs turned red in the heat of Barbados. Sent on ships that took 8 - 10 weeks to reach their destination, they were in no fit state to work, many not making it. When slaves became 'free' the black slaves were given money by the Barbados government but the white slaves weren't. They lived by any means possible and were like the forgotten people, even to this day. As mentioned they were really white slaves who eventually were of no more use so were thrown out by their 'owners' with no means of support.

Most don't know exactly who their descendants were but have heard stories from down the years. They are still looked down on by bajans even today. Many have not even travelled as far as Bridgetown. They stay in their communities making a living as best they can.

I know I have missed lots out but it's an overview.

mgsteve56 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:06 pm

Hi ,just finished downloading just had a look at the actual file type and have the option to burn to disc ,need to get my beauty sleep now, work tommorow, but will have a look at it tommorow evening,keep you posted, Frank, Jackiee.

happydays · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 7:27 pm

Just watched the program on BBC Iplayer - what an amazing program.
As Jackiee

Sunniebgi · **Posted:** Mon Apr 27, 2009 9:33 pm

there is another thread on here about this (i'm pretty sure..).

My husbands family - Layne - is said to be decendant of some of those who were Barbado'ed, indentured servants from Scotland and Ireland. He has been able to trace his fathers family back only to the late 1800 in St. Joseph.. His grandfather (fathers father) went to American with other family members, but he returned shortly after. the rest stayed. His family home is currently in Newcastle St. John. there are many poor whites in the area who, quite frankly, could possibly get out of their conditions, but like many, choose not to. I'll see if somehow I can get to watch this program. Should be interesting.

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Scotish Slaves In Barbados

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