A History of Coffee
BONUS: Decolonising Coffee History
Jun 22, 2021
In this thought-provoking discussion, historian Jonathan Morris, author of *Coffee: A Global History*, and Peter D'Sena, a key figure in the decolonising academic movement, unpack the dark colonial roots of coffee. They reveal how colonial exploitation shaped the coffee industry and its lingering impact on racial identities today. The conversation delves into the legacies of indentured labor and the need to rethink our coffee consumption, urging a reconsideration of historical injustices and a path toward decolonising this beloved beverage.
48:05
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Quick takeaways
- The colonial history of coffee is marked by exploitative labor practices, which continue to affect socio-economic conditions in producing countries today.
- Decolonizing coffee involves acknowledging historical injustices and committing to equitable systems that restore indigenous voices and cultural identities.
Deep dives
Colonial Roots of Coffee Production
The history of coffee is deeply intertwined with colonialism, leading to exploitative labor practices and economic disparities that persist today. Colonial powers established coffee plantations primarily in the Caribbean, utilizing enslaved Africans to meet the growing European demand for coffee. The maintenance of the coffee economy was built on a system of racial hierarchies, created to justify the exploitation of human labor and resources. Consequently, the benefits of coffee production accrued largely to colonial powers, while the originating countries continued to grapple with socio-economic challenges rooted in this historical exploitation.
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