Scott, explains what people did to claim their freedom and what freedom meant to them. Slavery in Cuba ended in 1886, but labor was still needed on the plantations. There were ways a former slave could avoid having to work on the plantation again. Scott states: “A former slave might attempt to undertake small-scale farming on his own account, thus avoiding the need to perform year-round wage labor on a plantation.” Another way a former slave could have joint custody of land was if he owned a mule. Obtaining a mule was difficult, because former slave owners would take care of the mule and would not allow former slaves to own such an animal. However, it was difficult for a former slave to avoid these circumstances which forced many to begin rebelling against colonial rule. Nonetheless, this did not stop the Cuban people from seeking justice and began to find ways to get closer