History of the Sugar Islands

 

History of the Sugar Islands is a proposed five-part documentary which will chronicle the history of the Caribbean from the early 16th century through the mid19th century. African slavery spread very quickly from the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic) to the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, etc. We want to chronicle this three and a half centuries of history on film, detailing the fate of these captive Africans and their progeny as they were sold as human cargo across the Atlantic by European traders. We also want to bridge the gap of Caribbean history in our global society today.

  This five part documentary will provide information about the 

  following topics:

• The Origins of the African/Caribbean Peoples
  

• The World of Work
  

• African Cultures in the Caribbean
  

• The Worlds of Religion
  

• The Struggle Against Slavery
  

This project is an opportunity to bridge historical gaps and pin a perspective not often seen.

This is a pioneer effort that will bring to life an era in which an uprooted people coped with inhumanity by clinging to their humanity and forging a rich and expressive culture.

Already an excellent vehicle of information and entertainment, The History Of The Sugar Islands is enhanced via an educational supplement.  This is an opportunity to engage students by using creative, smart television.

Building upon precedents set by CBS, NBC, and ABC, components of the supplement will include terminology, teacher/parent lesson objectives, in-depth lesson plans, bibliographies, guidelines and worksheets, various references, and CD-ROM availability.

Utilizing a concrete marketing strategy endorsed by the National Endowment for the Humanities, The U.S. Dept. of Education and Caribbean dignitaries and officials, this project can only be a success.