Whiteness and the Great Houses as “symbols of slavery”

Abstract

   The Great Houses, which were residential mansions for the colonial white elites, were regarded as by-products of slavery as they were built with the enormous funds acquired from forced labour in the former British colony of Trinidad. This paper seeks to show what these colonial buildings mean to the modern-day whites who are labelled as abusers and oppressors by the non-white members of society. According to the interviews conducted with the white citizens in Trinidad, although the Magnificent Seven does not hold much significance for them, the Country Club sits at the core of whiteness in Trinidad. The prestigious membership club still works to strengthen the ties amongst the white society in 21^st century Trinidad.