"In 1800, his army defeated the Spanish army on the eastern half of the island. By then, Toussaint commanded an army of 55,000 veteran fighters. (George Washington never commanded more than 20,000.)
In 1801, Haiti declared independence--a republic of self-emancipated slaves."
Haiti - a history of intervention, occupation and resistance
"These 'Maroon' communities continued to resist the Spanish, by the 1530s Plantation owners had to travel in large armed groups.
They referred to the communities as Cimarrones or 'wild animals', a striking similarity to Time Magazine's use of the term "human rats" for Haitians today."
(See Part 1 of this at Solidarity With Haiti a Continuing Travesty - Corrected link).
Toussaint L'ouverture and the Haitian Revolution
Thanks to the continued service to the community that is RGB Tube.
Toussaint L'Ouverture
"Every part of his conduct was marked by judgment and benevolence... in person, Toussaint was of a manly form, above the middle stature, with a countenance bold and striking, yet full of the most prepossessing suavity - terrible to an enemy, but inviting to the objects of his friendship or his love."
"In overthrowing me, you have cut down in San Domingo only the trunk of the tree of liberty," he told his French captors as he was led away. "It will spring up again by the roots for they are numerous and deep."
"The revolt (1791-1803) is the only successful slave revolt in history, and the odds which it had to overcome is evidence of the magnitude of the interests that were involved.
The transformation of slaves trembling in hundreds before a single white man, into a people able to organise themselves and defeat the most powerful European nations of their day, is one of the great epics of revolutionary struggle and achievement."
"St. Domingue's African-born slaves not only were not yet broken psychologically, but they were also in possession of significant military training and experience gained on the other side of the Atlantic.
And they combined with brilliant, indefatigable, St. Domingue-born blacks like Toussaint L'Ouverture and Dessalines to create a black revolutionary juggernaut the likes of which Europe and the United States had not seen before - or since."
General Toussaint Louverture." Le premier des Noirs"
"Afraid of Toussaint and jealous of him, (he was a general with skills rivaling Napoleon's), that French dictator Napoleon had him shipped in chains to France where he died in prison at Fort de Joux on April 7, 1803."
Crushing Victory for Aristide -- Despite Bazin's maneuvers
"With redoubled energy, confidence and joy the popular organizations and all progressives are now going to roll up their shirt sleeves to get on to the second stage of the struggle: the realization of this "civilization of love" that Fr. Aristide proposes to build with the Haitian people."
"We are in deep sympathy with the indignation of the people of Haiti in the matter of the rape of the country through a forcible occupation by an alien race.
We shall work along with the patriots of Haiti to free her from the yoke of exploitation."
"Each of the fifteen panels, with their flat, sharply defined forms and their variations in a consistent color pattern, are charged with tremendous feeling and movement . . . "
(To make these images larger, click on them, and then press control and the plus sign on your computer).
"Haiti was reviled and feared by all the rich nations of the world precisely for its successful slave revolt which represented a threat not only in nations where slavery was legal, but in all countries, because of their large under-classes living in economic servitude.
The strategy of the nations primarily affected, including the U.S., was to further impoverish Haiti, to make it an example.
Racism in the hemisphere added a painful edge to the treatment of Haiti, which has remained the poorest country, with the darkest skin, the most isolated nation in the Americas.
Even its language, spoken by so few beyond its borders, made Haiti the least accessible of countries and peoples."
"The Black Jacobins, performed in London with the African American actor and radical Paul Robeson in the role of Toussaint L'ouverture, the slave leader of the revolution."
"C.L.R. James sadly concludes that Toussaint L´Ouverture, Haiti´s revolutionary leader, was in fact a Black Jacobin, a Caribbean Robespierre, radical but authoritarian, not inclined to listen to his people."
"Louverture Films is dedicated to the development and production of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity."
(Incredible knowledge in this presentation. So many similarities, including "the mounting," as it is termed, as it so similar to the notion of being "happy" in a Baptist church).
'Baton Twirlers'
Part 2
"Voodo salutes woman as the divinity of the dream . . . . the Goddess of love . . . the muse of beauty. She is identified with the Virgin Mary . . " (or the Black Madonna) . . "as Mother of man's myth of life . . . a perfume of refinement . . . her arrival pervades the very air . . . all anxieties all, urgencies vanish. The temple of movements becomes more leisurely . . . tensions dissolve . . . and the voices soften . . . "
Haitian Work Song
This website is serious about honoring a wide variety of spiritual beliefs of African people.
Napolean's Secret Instructions
"During the first period, one will disarm only the blacks who would be rebels.
During the third, one will disarm all the blacks.
During the first period one will not be exacting: one will negotiate with Toussaint, one will promise everything he may ask for, in order to take possession of the places and to get in the country."
Closeup image is of a drawing of Toussaint L'Ouverture. Thumbnail is of the work of an unknown Haitian artist who brought to life our dreams of a dreadlocked African mermaid, and who may very well be dying for some food, water and medical care.
(Mention which box, and your comment will hyperlink people back there)
Terryhowcott.com
has made every effort to ascertain the origin of all photos, and is eager
to cite all work.
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