The book begins with the story of the first freed slaves who following their emancipation acquired land that led to the creation of Sligoville the first Baptist Free village in Jamaica. For the ex- slaves, Sligoville represented a place where they could belong, hold citizenship and establish autonomy in the post-emancipation era. In addition, the work explores how these freed settlers drew on their lived experiences, before and after emancipation to adapt and create new ways of being. These new ways of being were often forged in response to socio-economic and cultural forces that marginalised them and militated against their hope for dignity and security in freedom. This book is written primarily for academics and students interested in anthropology, especially cultural identity formation and religious development in the Caribbean region. It provides insightful research from a native anthropologist, whilst appreciating the anthropological focus on objectivity/subjectivity. My target group is primarily students of Anthropology or those who are interested in the views and opinions of the studied as recorded by a native.
