Religion, Race, and Culture in:

The Biography of a Runaway Slave

Written for a history seminar at McGill, this essay explores Esteban Montejo’s account of life as a runaway slave in 19th-century Cuba, as recorded by Miguel Barnet. I examine how Montejo’s views on African religions and Catholicism reveal both the resilience of cultural traditions and the deep racial and political divisions of Cuban society. Montejo’s reverence for African spiritual practices — and his sharp critique of the Catholic Church — shed light on religion’s role as both resistance and oppression.