%0 Journal Article
%T Anton de Kom and the Formative Phase of Surinamese Decolonization
%A Peter Meel
%J New West Indian Guide
%D 2009
%I Brill
%X Wij slaven van Suriname (We slaves of Suriname) by Anton de Kom (1898-1945) stands out as one of the classics of Surinamese historiography and one of the most debated books among contemporary scholars involved in Surinamese studies. In this article I argue that Wij slaven van Suriname marks a new stage in Surinamese history writing and a novel way of dealing with the Surinamese past. To determine the characteristics of the book and its contribution to Caribbean historiography I juxtapose Wij slaven van Suriname with two other groundbreaking works in Caribbean political thought: Capitalism and Slavery by Eric Williams (1911-81) and The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James (1901-89). The three works display many similarities, but also important differences. In my opinion De Kom¡¯s hitherto surprisingly weak Caribbean profile is not justified given that his work represents the formative phase of Surinamese decolonization. It therefore deserves a prominent place in twentieth-century Caribbean history writing.
%K Suriname
%K Netherlands
%K decolonization
%K political history
%K social history
%K race relations
%K nationalism
%K intellectuals
%U http://www.kitlv-journals.nl/index.php/nwig/article/view/3664