Social stratification refers to the classification of people into hierarchical groups based on criteria like wealth, income, education that are important to a society. It is a universal trait that is passed down generations and involves both inequality and beliefs about social status. Social stratification divides society into an upper class, middle class, and lower class. Under slavery in the Caribbean, stratification was based strictly on race and color, with white Europeans at the top, mixed or light-skinned people in the middle, and black slaves at the bottom. This racial hierarchy continued even after the abolition of slavery.

2. What is Social Stratification?
 Social stratification refers to the classification of people
into groups according to one or more criteria deemed
important to society.
 It is based on four principles:-
Social stratification is a trait of society, not simply a
reflection of individual differences
Social stratification carries over from generation to
generation
Social stratification is universal but variable
Social stratification involves not just inequality but beliefs
as well

3. How is Social Stratification divided?
 Social stratification is divided into three categories.
They are:-
Upper class
Middle class
Lower class

4. Social stratification under
slavery/plantation society
 The plantation society in the Caribbean during the seventeenth,
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was a closed system of
stratification based on the criteria of race and colour.
 Race and colour were used to determine one’s occupation in society.
 Black or coloured persons were either slaves or free people of colour
and so it was evident just by looking at someone what his of her rank
in life was.
 White persons were not of low status. Among the whites, those who
were European by birth were of higher social standing however, the
creole whites were at the top of the social hierarchy.
 Persons of mixed ancestry and light-coloured skin were the most
fortunate by virtue of their appearance and so were rewarded with the
lighter work as domestic slaves.
 The coloureds worked as a buffer group between the whites and the
blacks.

6. Pyramid showing social
stratification

7. Table showing social stratification
CLASS COLOUR STATUS
Upper class/caste/ruling
elites
Traditionally white Own wealth, means of
production and political
power
Intermediate class/caste Mulatto/browns Usually educated ,own
some wealth, desire but
lack political power
Working class/caste Blacks Slaves, uneducated, lack
wealth and political
power

8.  The upper class in the Caribbean continues to be
considered whites. They continue to own and control a
significant proportion of the territory’s wealth, and as
such possess great economic, social and political
power. The non-white populations continue to be
situated at the lower end of the social strata. They
constitute the public servants and unskilled workers in
the society.