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Images: The Maroons
A maroon was a slave who managed to escape from his or her master
and from plantation life. They would often gather together in bands and live wild on
the islands. In Barbados, there were few maroon camps because much of the land was
cultivated and cleared of the forests that would protect the maroons. In Jamaica,
however, the natural foresting was left standing in several places and gave the slaves a
place to hide.
Often, the independent maroons waged war against the plantations in
attempts to free their families and friends. If they were caught, the plantation
owners would brutally execute them as an example for the remaining slaves. Several
maroon folkheroes, such as Nanny and Ti-Noel, have emerged in legends and songs.
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