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Grenada, is one of the largest countries in the Caribbean Sea and consists of several small spice islands. It lies north of Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela and is approximately 120 square miles. Its capital city is St. George. Class tensions have long been a part of its social make up and as Lewis remarks that it was known for "social injustice, not social community." (p.8). Its long history of rebellion and violence began with the indigenous Arawak Amerindians whose presence on the island was documented between 1 - 500 C.E. (Africana, p. 874). The Arawak were decimated by the Caribs by 1,000 C.E. and by the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1498, who named the region Concepci there was only Caribs living there. The name Grenada eventually was given to the island by Spanish colonizers after the city of Granada in Spain. By the 17th century, the Caribs were facing oppression as well. After resisting British and French efforts to control and colonize, in 1654, according to historical records and island folk culture, they committed mass suicide by throwing themselves off the island's northern cliffs known as Les Sauteurs or Le Morne de Sauteurs (Leapers Hill). rather than submit to French rule.With the island in their possession, the French introduced a system of chattel slavery to maintain their newly established tobacco, cotton, coffee and sugar crops. Over time, the presence of French enslavers and enslaved Africans generated a color caste system of white, creole and black. In the late 18th century, Jules F餯n, considered a creole or mulatto in Grenada's strong caste system, led all members of Grenadian society -- enslaved blacks, creoles and the French elite -- angered by attempts of the British to take over the island. In the period from 1795 until 1796, this army made many gains before being defeated. Grenada remained a British possession until emancipation in 1834. Grenada came to the limelight in 1970s when the United States invaded it.
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