Ep 1. Breaking Chains

The Cuba Libre Story is a historical documentary series that takes a deep dive into the tumultuous history of Cuba. In season 1 episode 1, titled Breaking Chains, viewers are taken back to the early 19th century when Cuba was still a Spanish colony heavily dependent on the cruel and inhumane practice of slavery.

Narrated by actress and writer Daisy Ridley, the episode first introduces us to Francisco de Arango y Parreño, a wealthy Cuban landowner, slave trader, and philosopher who championed Cuban independence from Spain. Throughout the episode, we hear snippets of his writings and speeches, which provide a thought-provoking commentary on the racist and exploitative system of slavery that dominated Cuban society at the time.

We are then introduced to a number of enslaved people who provide personal stories of their lives and experiences on the plantations. Through their accounts, we get a powerful sense of the brutality and indignity of slavery. Women were regularly subject to sexual violence, while men were forced to work grueling hours in the fields.

Despite these horrors, many enslaved people found ways to resist their oppression. We hear of the various forms of resistance, from running away and forming communities in the mountains, to acts of sabotage and rebellion on the plantations themselves. In one particularly moving segment, we hear the story of a group of enslaved people who managed to escape from their plantation and make a dangerous journey to the US where they were granted freedom.

The episode also explores the role of religion in the lives of enslaved people. We hear how some slave owners used Christianity as a means of controlling their slaves, teaching them that it was their duty to obey their masters and work hard in order to earn their salvation. However, we also hear how enslaved people often incorporated their own spiritual beliefs and practices into their Christian rituals, creating a unique blend of African and European spirituality that helped sustain them in the face of oppression.

As the episode progresses, tensions between the enslaved population and their masters begin to boil over. We hear of a number of uprisings and rebellions, including one led by the famous freedom fighter José Antonio Aponte. Although these uprisings were often brutally suppressed, they served as a powerful reminder of the potential for change in Cuba.

Overall, Breaking Chains offers a powerful and moving insight into the lives of enslaved people in Cuba and the various forms of resistance they employed in the face of oppression. Through the personal stories of these individuals and the broader social and political context of the time, the episode provides a thought-provoking exploration of the legacy of slavery in Cuba that continues to be felt to this day.