00:00 The podcast episode discusses the life and role of Tacky, a leader of a slave revolt in Jamaica in 1760, who was likely a headman on a sugar plantation and had authority over other enslaved people.

04:59 The division of labor on sugar plantations involved women being equally involved in planting sugarcane, but men were more likely to be drivers, although there were some women drivers, especially over the lesser gangs, and women were involved in cleaning up after labor; drivers had authority and special concessions but also had to negotiate to maintain their authority and avoid rebellion; the enslaved people came from different regions of Africa, spoke different languages, and had different religious beliefs, with some exposure to Christianity in West Central Africa; Christianization among the enslaved in Jamaica didn't happen until the second half of the 18th century.

09:04 The spiritual life on the plantation involved a mix of African and Christian traditions, with African spiritual practices being remixed and reformulated in the Americas; Tacky's decision to rebel against the plantation owners is a risk that comes with granting someone authority, as they may use that authority against you; Tacky and his followers overwhelmed a lightly defended fort at Port Maria, coalesced, and began attacking and burning plantations, liberating several hundred enslaved people in the process; the revolt was well-coordinated and involved intention, strategy, and tactics.

13:19 Enslaved people pass on the word about the revolt through daily conversations, coded messages in music and song, specific dates, phases of the moon, and events like the departure of the fleet; Tacky's military strategy involves forming small bands, skirmishing with British forces, and burning plantations to signal the uprising; The overarching aim of the revolt is not certain, but the strategic intentions can be discerned by mapping their movement across the landscape; The maroons, who have been fighting the British since the 17th century, play a role in the revolt and have their own autonomous existence in mountainous encampments.

17:28 The maroons, who have been obligated by treaty to help suppress slave revolts, come down from the mountains to assist in suppressing Tacky's Revolt, which lasts less than two weeks in the parish of St. Mary; the militia attacks are generally unsuccessful due to the Africans' military experience and familiarity with the terrain, while the British army forces are more successful; defeated forces are subjected to revenge, including summary executions and extreme tortures, and many fighters take their own lives before being captured.

21:33 Tacky's death is surrounded by legend and folklore, with some claiming that he escaped and may return to liberate Jamaica; however, as a historian, the documentary record is relied upon, which suggests that Tacky was killed and his head was displayed on a pole; the revolt is not yet over, and the capture of rebels reveals that women were also involved in the violent uprising.

25:54 The revolt led by a pongo in the parish of Westmoreland is much more extensive and lasts longer than Tacky's revolt in St. Mary, indicating a widely laid plan and a network of information and planning among the rebels.

30:17 The revolt led by Aponga lasts several weeks before he is captured, and another rebel named Simon conducts a long march before being captured in 1761, leading to an outpouring of empathy and awareness as well as fear and anti-immigration measures in the colonies.

34:49 Slavery in Jamaica doesn't end until the 1830s, with the slave trade being abolished in 1807 and slavery continuing for another 30 years until legislation is passed in 1834, followed by a period of apprenticeship until 1838; Tacky's revolt is being used as a campaign to make him a national hero in Jamaica, with activists and politicians supporting the cause.

39:18 The importance of discussing empire lies in its ability to teach us about the interconnectedness of human history and the impact of colonialism on various societies, as well as the need to understand the past in order to comprehend the present.