"The Total Subversion of All Rule": Countering Slavery in Colonial and Imperial Contexts.

This article delves into the theme of subversion and counter-subversion during colonial slavery, shedding light on the violent methods overseers used to suppress resistance and the fear among enslavers of a potential overthrow. It explores various forms of subversion, from individual escapes to collective uprisings, and how enslaved individuals resisted through everyday practices and expressions of freedom. The article also examines the role of counter-subversive forces, such as white civil society and proto-police, in maintaining white dominance. It concludes by discussing the global struggle against slavery and the ongoing challenges to colonial and racial regimes. Additionally, the text discusses the connection between free womb laws and whitening in Brazil and Argentina, highlighting the need to re-examine enslaved resistance beyond revolts and rebellions, and the importance of considering Black feminist perspectives and the experiences of enslaved women. It also explores the expansion of subversive activities into geographic and spatial fugitive spaces, as well as the role of sexuality and intimacy in defining emancipated Black womanhood. The text emphasizes the necessity for further exploration of subversive actions within the history of colonial slavery and freedom. [Extracted from the article]