The Birth of the Village of Liberta, Antigua

Book excerpt: Antigua: a tiny island in the Caribbean. Like so many others, it was host to slavery. This is the true story of the Africans enslaved on Antigua, on the plantations in and around the village of Liberta before it was formed. Dehumanized, unchurched, and worked like animals, they suffered like all other slaves in the New World.There came to the island a group of Moravian missionaries, who worked with the slaves of the plantations in the years of their oppression. While teaching Christianity, these missionaries strived to create better conditions for the blacks. Then, in 1834, came emancipation, and the village of Liberta was born. This is the story of black Antiguans' progress from slavery to freedom, and the transformation of a slave culture into a free society--a culturally, socially, and economically thriving community. With details on many of the historical sites, this is a story of survival, hope, and liberation.ABOUT THE AUTHORHewlester A. Samuel was born in Liberta Village, Antigua. He has always had an avid interest in history, in particular the history of his home island. He has scoured many history books and researched artifacts that date back to the beginning of slavery.Samuel attended Libertan public schools, then attended the West Indies School of Theology in Trinidad. He currently resides in Miami, Florida with his wife Anita and their three children. A retired real estate broker, he also served as a pastor for over fifty years.