Barbados Identity: The History of the Chattel House

The Elder's Last Word.The old man increased gradually, dusting sand from his pants. He turned toward the little wood house as though looking at an old pal.
" One day," he stated, "people gon' forget what this home really imply. They gon' believe it was just pretty wood and bright paint. However you-- you compose the story now. Ensure they remember.".
He paused, letting the sea-grape leaves rustle in the stillness.
" This house is we. All the shifting, all the surviving, all the dreams we pack up and bring from one place to the next. When you understand that, you comprehend Barbados.".
And with that, he left-- sluggish, stable, calm-- like a man who brought his own house inside him.
This story is part of the much deeper cultural journey explored in Rogues in Paradise and the RoguesCulture Identity Series.

If you 'd like to check out more stories like this-- stories of durability, humour, disobedience, and belonging-- you're welcomed to the early pre-screening of the work that started everything.

From: Rogues in Paradise.

Caribbean identity