The independence of Haiti and the preceding revolution that systematically overthrew slavery in that country was a crucial moment in world history that inspired anticolonialist and antislavery energy across the globe. Word of what the Haitians accomplished traveled far and wide across the Americas, Africa, and the rest of the earth. Their accomplishments struck fear in slave traders, enlightened European populations to some of the realities of the slave trade, and inspired oppressed people of the time. Though Haiti has never escaped the foreign influence that has plagued the country since its inception and plays a prominent role in its mass poverty, the story highlights some of humanity’s best and worst aspects.

Toussaint Louverture

The Central Figure of this story, Toussaint Louverture, had his faults but was undoubtedly one of the most talented generals and statesmen the world has seen. “If in 1788 anyone had [mentioned] that the thousand of dumb brutes who were whipped to labor at dawn and whipped back at midnight, who submitted to their mutilations, burnings, and other savageries, some of whom would not even move unless they were whipped, if these [people] had been told that in three years the blacks would shake off their chains and face extermination rather than put them on again, they would have thought the speaker mad.” (p. 376)

Louverture was responsible for organizing a massive amount of energy from transplanted people who came from a collection of different African tribes bound together by their collective captivity. It meant mobilizing large numbers of untrained laborers into an army and maintaining peace between former plantation owners and their brutalized slaves, mulattoes, and free blacks who also owned slaves and sometimes aligned with white plantation owners. He had to organize society, and he aligned his political policy more to the right and favored large corporations (the white establishment of the time) over social safety nets. He seems to have opposed raising workers’ wages and using the wealth of the government to start more local co-operatives. Louverture wound up executing the most influential pro-black left-wing leader in the country, Hyacinth Moise, which was one of his critical errors towards the end of his reign.

Foreign Policy

However, his foreign policy was masterful – he negotiated deals with foreign nations, kept the country’s economy going, and started building back a capitalist society with a black working class. The idea of liberty and inalienable rights of men from the revolutionary Jacobins of France gave Toussaint hope that those in the French government at the time were capable of that same level of honesty and dedication to human rights – this may have ultimately proved one of his biggest downfalls. Despite being born into slavery, he also experienced the beauty of French culture because of his unique situation. Unlike 99% of his peers then, his former enslaver chose to treat him better and educate him enough to run a plantation (management skills which would ultimately translate to him being a great leader of the country) and eventually freed him. Toussaint’s life experience, opinion of the structure and guidance France could provide, and a political partnership with the Jacobins caused him to keep Haiti’s allegiance to France throughout most of his political career, which ended before Haiti went independent.

Why You Need to Read This

The book helps readers understand the different classes of society which were not limited to race as the only factor. (although it was the dominant one). Some free blacks turned around and supported slavery right after earning their freedom. Many mulattoes separated themselves from darker people and aligned with their vision of Haiti as a country should aspire to be. Many books highlight the horrors of slavery, as does this one, but it also documents the growth of a polar opposite alliance between oppressed and oppressors. It shows them working together to overthrow an overarching oppressor and functioning in a better society under a black leader who began his life as a slave.

In my opinion, one of the most tragic aspects of the situation is that James shows us a few fundamental errors on Toussaint’s part that led to his demise and the subsequent downfall of the country into poverty and deprivation. Additionally, the betrayal by the French ruling class, which abolished slavery for convenient political reasons and then attempted to reinstate it and collaborated with foreign entities to oppress Haiti following their failure to do that, was also an unfortunate part of the book.

‘The Black Jacobins’ is an excellent read for anyone interested in familiarizing themselves with a key moment in black history, world history, the politics behind an initially successful revolution, and anyone interested in the story behind a great leader who faced a nearly impossible task. It describes the role the Haitian struggle for liberty played in the execution of what would become the start of democracy in the modern age – the French Revolution. As the final cherry on top, the author provides essential context, separates his opinion from fact, and cites a plethora of the best sources we have on the matter.