Puerto Rico's slaves were unable to launch large-scale insurrections that could have overthrown slavery. During the 18th and 19th Centuries, when slavery reached its peak, the slave population represented a small proportion of the general population (no more than 10-11%). What is more important, Puerto Rican slaves rarely had access to the type of weapons that would allow them to face seasoned and well trained local Disciplined Militias or professional army battalions stationed in the Capital. It was very courageous of leaders like Marcos Xiorro, Mario, Juan Bautista Texidor, or Cornelio (Bembé) and the men and women who followed them to fight the system head on and risk death for their freedom, and we should remember them for it.
But we must not forget the daily struggle of countless other slaves for their dignity or the survival of loved ones. They used other weapons, which may seem less glamorous. Each time they dared to disobey an order, ran away or took their masters to court, they were defying the system. Through these actions they disrupted a structure that aimed at destroying any type of initiative on the part of men and women in bondage. No matter how small-scale we may consider these actions today, they demonstrated that slaves were human beings capable of independent action, no matter how limited this action may be; that they could feel disappointment and joy, and also had the will to strive for a better life where their dignity was recognized.
