Indentured Servitude and the Emergence of Racial Tensions between Indians and Africans in Trinidad

This paper focuses on the histories of the East Indians and their experience as indentured servants in Trinidad and To-bago, as well as how the African peoples, who were previously enslaved, reacted to the implementation of this system. East Indians and Africans in Trinidad have, to a degree, developed racial tensions among themselves, which originate from the era of colonialism and slavery, as well as post-emancipation and indentureship. This article seeks to analyze how these tensions arose and how the colonists were able to capitalize on the differences between each group, discour-aging unity among them through gender discrimination and colourism. It aims to explain how the current political and racial climate that still permeates Trinidadian society to this day can be traced back to the 19th century and why such tensions continue to persist.