White Barbadians or European Barbadians are Barbadian citizens or
residents of European descent. The majority of European Barbadians are
descended from English, Portuguese, and Scottish settlers and Irish
forced indentured servants and transported prisoners, who arrived
during the British colonial period. Other European groups consisted of
the French, Germans, Austrians, Spaniards, Italians, and Russians. In
addition, some of those considered to be European Barbadians are of
partial black ancestry and vice versa. CIA World Factbook estimates
that there are some 20,000 white Barbadians in the country.At first,
Indigenous constituted the majority of the Barbadian population.
Post-colonization Europeans constituted the majority, with the island
being used as a penal colony much as Australia would be later, until
the transition of the Barbadian economy to one based on sugarcane
production; importation of African slaves to the island altered the
demographics of the island, making European Barbadians a minority.
During much of the colonial period, whites formed the island's
political and economic elite. Since independence from Britain in 1966
when most European Barbadians left for the United Kingdom, most
political power has shifted to the black majority; however, whites
still retain significant economic influence, with many businesses on
the island being owned by European Barbadians.Among European
Barbadians, there exists an underclass known as redlegs; the
descendants of indentured servants, and prisoners imported to the
island, redlegs have historically formed a disadvantaged group within
Barbadian society.
residents of European descent. The majority of European Barbadians are
descended from English, Portuguese, and Scottish settlers and Irish
forced indentured servants and transported prisoners, who arrived
during the British colonial period. Other European groups consisted of
the French, Germans, Austrians, Spaniards, Italians, and Russians. In
addition, some of those considered to be European Barbadians are of
partial black ancestry and vice versa. CIA World Factbook estimates
that there are some 20,000 white Barbadians in the country.At first,
Indigenous constituted the majority of the Barbadian population.
Post-colonization Europeans constituted the majority, with the island
being used as a penal colony much as Australia would be later, until
the transition of the Barbadian economy to one based on sugarcane
production; importation of African slaves to the island altered the
demographics of the island, making European Barbadians a minority.
During much of the colonial period, whites formed the island's
political and economic elite. Since independence from Britain in 1966
when most European Barbadians left for the United Kingdom, most
political power has shifted to the black majority; however, whites
still retain significant economic influence, with many businesses on
the island being owned by European Barbadians.Among European
Barbadians, there exists an underclass known as redlegs; the
descendants of indentured servants, and prisoners imported to the
island, redlegs have historically formed a disadvantaged group within
Barbadian society.
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