I knew that I was going to like this book when I opened the inside leaf and saw a quote from Alice Walker's "Possessing the Secret of Joy." As began working my way through "Thirteen Chapters of A History of Belize," I realized that the book is different from most historical texts because it presents the history of a people from the perspective of the common man--and even more rare--the common woman. In his Introduction, Shoman makes pointed reference to an old African proverb: "Until lions have their own historians, histories of the hunt will always glorify the hunter. I have tried to tell the story with the lions in mind, the majorities who endured oppression and exploitation and survived and passed on to their children the will to struggle. Wherever possible, I have used their own voices and always I have tried to show that whatever glory there is is theirs." The book demonstrates that this promise was kept. It eloquently combines broad-based themes with detailed factual accounts, including an extensive resource list and numerous footnotes.

The underlying theme of "Thirteen Chapters" is the impact of colonialism on the cultures and peoples of Belize, beginning with the Spanish conquest of the ancient Mayan civilations. Shoman discusses how, contrary to popular belief, Mayan resistance to the Spanish, and later, the British occupiers of what is now modern Belize continued for several hundred years.

"Thirteen Chapters" includes detailed discussions of the brutality of the colonial slave society built by the British pirates and their descendants in Belize. A substantial section of one chapter presents a graphic description of several lawsuits brought--unsuccessfully--against wealthy slave owners for the torture and murder of their female slaves. Shoman does not spare the sensibilities of those who prefer myth to reality--including the myth of "benign" slavery and slaves who worked and even fought "shoulder to shoulder" with their wealthy white owners. Rather, as Shoman demonstrates, the enslaved people resisted in every possible way--sometimes by fleeing and often with armed struggle against a cruel, oppressive and racist system. Shoman introduces the reader to a lengthy list of individuals and organizations who participated in such resistance.

The Mayan peoples who originally populated Belize and the African peoples taken to Belize to work as slaves viewed the land as belonging to the community as a whole, to be preserved for future generations. In contrast, the Spanish and British colonizers viewed land as something to take, to "own" and to plunder for immediate personal gain. Shoman believes that these strikingly different attitudes towards the land had, along with the institution of slavery, a continuing and negative impact on Belize and elsewhere in the formerly colonial world; since they are the root of the grossly disparate systems of labor and ownership that persist to this day.

Several of the "Thirteen Chapters" are devoted to a description of the Belizean workers'and social movements of the late nineteenth and twentieth century. Shoman's discussion of those movements include the importance of women's organizations in the struggle of Belizeans for economic, social and political justice. The book offers a detailed discussion of the interrelationships between workers' movements and the nationalist movement that ultimately resulted in Belize becoming an independent nation in 1981; as well as the development of modern Belizean political parties.

Assad Shoman, a former legislative representative, senator and minister who is no longer active in party politics, believes in the importance of history. In the "thirteenth chapter" that concludes this book, he states that: "historical amnesia, imposed and to a large extent inernalized, is that mind-set which allows people to forget those things in their past which are most capable of providing them with the intellectual, spiritual and emotional tools needed for present struggles." This book is evidence of his determination that they will not be forgotten.

"Thirteen Chapters of A History of Belize" is an educational experience that should not be missed by anyone who is interested in history, politics, economics or sociology, not only of Belize, but of Central America, the Caribbean, or elsewhere in the developing world, including Belizeans in and out of Belize, visitors, scholars, educators and of course, those who are active in the struggle for social, political, economic, environmental, racial and gender justice.

This book review written by: Susan G. Garcia

How to obtain a copy of "Thirteen Chapters of A History of Belize," by Assad Shoman:

"Thirteen Chapters" is available in most bookstores and giftshops in Belize.

Copies can be obtained from The Angelus Press, Ltd. (ISBN: 976-8052-10-8) 1994, 1995

P.O. Box 99, Belize City, Belize, Central America

Telephone: (501) 23-5777

Fax: (501) 27-8825

Cost: $24.95 BZ or $12.50 US

Plus Shipping and handling: In Belize: $5 BZ, to US: $6 US, to other countries: $10 US per copy.

American Express and VISA cards are accepted.

Quantity price breaks are available

For other books by Assad Shoman or about Belize, visit the Booklist page.

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