
José Antonio Aponte (c. 1760 - 9 April 1812) was an Afro-Cuban military officer who led the Aponte Conspiracy, the largest slave rebellion in Cuban history, with the aim of obtaining Cuba's independence from Spain and ending slavery in Cuba.
Biography[]
Aponte, a Cuban of West African (Yoruba) descent, is thought to have been born around 1760 in Havana, Cuba, then under the control of the Spanish Empire. Both his father and grandfather were members of the free black militia in Havana, a fact of which Aponte was immensely proud. Following in this legacy, Aponte joined up with the free black militia and participated in the capture of the Bahamas from the British Empire in 1782. He also educated himself about politics, history and African culture, learning several African and Creole languages, and was regarded as a liaison between Havana's different political and racial groups.
In the 19th Century, a massive importation of slaves by the government began to transform Cuban society, dividing social class more along racial lines. This resulted both in a loss of rights for people of African descent and in increased solidarity between enslaved Africans and free blacks. It was in this context that Aponte began plotting to overthrow the system of slavery and establish a new society independent from Spain and free of racial discrimination.
Inspired by the Haitian Revolution, when slaves in Haiti overthrew French colonialism and established a black republic, Aponte assembled a group of slaves and free blacks and began plotting slave rebellions across Cuba. He planned to launch attacks on sugar mills and plantations where slave labour was used and seize control of the armoury in Havana, allowing him to arm the slaves and overthrow the Spanish. However, the plot was discovered in March 1812 and violently suppressed, with 50 of the leaders, including Aponte, being put on trial. Aponte was hanged and beheaded on 9 April 1812 and his severed head was publicly displayed in an iron cage at the entrance to Havana as a warning against future uprisings.