Killing Mapepe: Race, Sex, and Colonial Politics in Cold War Vieques

Katherine T. McCaffrey; Bonnie Donohue

doi:10.1057/978-1-137-58014-6_7

Killing Mapepe: Race, Sex, and Colonial Politics in Cold War Vieques

Katherine T. McCaffrey
, Bonnie Donohue

Anthropology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This essay explores the killing of an elderly civilian by U.S. servicemen on leave in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico in the 1950s, the subsequent general courts-martial of two marines who were charged with his killing, and the men’s stunning acquittal. For over sixty years, Vieques hosted a major U.S. military installation and large scale war game maneuvers that created considerable tension between residents and the military. A culture of sexual conquest prevailed, and racial tensions emanated from the newly desegregated armed forces. Our case study considers the intersection of race, sex and violence that eventuated in murder, and the complex colonial politics that interfered with justice.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	New Caribbean Studies
Publisher	Palgrave Macmillan
Pages	113-145
Number of pages	33
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58014-6_7
State	Published - 2017

Publication series

Name	New Caribbean Studies
ISSN (Print)	2691-3011
ISSN (Electronic)	2634-5196

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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10.1057/978-1-137-58014-6_7

Cite this

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AB - This essay explores the killing of an elderly civilian by U.S. servicemen on leave in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico in the 1950s, the subsequent general courts-martial of two marines who were charged with his killing, and the men’s stunning acquittal. For over sixty years, Vieques hosted a major U.S. military installation and large scale war game maneuvers that created considerable tension between residents and the military. A culture of sexual conquest prevailed, and racial tensions emanated from the newly desegregated armed forces. Our case study considers the intersection of race, sex and violence that eventuated in murder, and the complex colonial politics that interfered with justice.

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ER -

Killing Mapepe: Race, Sex, and Colonial Politics in Cold War Vieques

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