"Their first move toward overthrowing the White slave owners was a highly effective campaign of Poisoning. It began in the mid-18th Century. So well organised was the” Poisoned Network," that barrels of Ale straight off ships from Europe were already rendered deadly.
As the tide turned in favour of the rebels, the Revolution proper was launched in 1791 with a Voodoo ritual involving the sacrifice of a "black Pig."
According To Multimedia Grolier Encyclopaedia:
"Inspired By The French Revolution (1789) The Slaves In The Colony, Under The Leadership Of Francois Toussant L'ouverture, Rebelled (1791) And Gained Control Of The Colony But Did Not Declare Independence.
In 1802, Napoleon I Sent A French Army Under General Charles Leclerc To Subdue The Haitians. Leclerc Captured Toussaint, But The Haitian Force Under Jean Jacques Dessalines And Henri Christopher Defeated The French. The Whole Island Was Declared Independent On Jan. l, 1804 And Given The Name Of Haiti."
Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture (1743-1803 AD)
Toussaint L'Ouverture is heralded for his shrewd abilities to mobilise and command thousands in an unseen army.
He demanded discipline, loyalty, and allegiance to the cause of liberty. John Hope Franklin states in From Slavery to Freedom: A History of Negro Americans, "Haiti was the first of the New World countries to sweep slavery aside."
Without the military genius of L'Ouverture, Haiti would never have defeated the French for her freedom. Toussaint L'Ouverture spent most of his life as a model captive working as a carriage driver on the Breda plantation in Haiti. Left the true Image of Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture
He was married to Suzanne and they had two sons. L'Ouverture was a devout Roman Catholic, self-educated and literate in French. He had extensive knowledge of the usage of medicinal herbs and used this skill in 1791, when the revolution began, as a physician for the rebel troops. He quickly rose through the ranks and became responsible for training the men.
He turned them into a well- disciplined military force with the ability to use maneuvers conducive for guerilla warfare or regular land-force fighting. For ten years he outmanoeuvred the Spanish, the English, the French, and a small rebellious force of mulattoes.
Toussaint L'Ouverture |
He used his influence and charisma to restore the country to peaceful growth. Bridges were built, schools were encouraged with awards for the best scholars. L'Ouverture also encouraged the minority White population to contribute their talent toward the development of Haiti. L'Ouverture was too successful and Napoleon knew that he needed the island to forward his plans for the Louisiana Territory.
Napoleon sent his brother-in-law, Le Clere, with an additional 25,000 soldiers to recapture the tiny island. Betrayed by one of his aides, L'Ouverture was captured and taken to France. He was accused of conspiracy, imprisoned, and died the next year in a cold prison cell, far from his native island. After his capture by the French, a major revolt occurred. The French forces were defeated by the heat, malaria, yellow fever, and tenacious cunning of the officers and captives trained by L'Ouverture.
Lerone Bennet, Jr. states in Before the Mayflower, "The French lost some 60,000 men and a rich colony and Napoleon soured on the Western Hemisphere and sold the Louisiana Territory to America for four cents an acre - the biggest real estate bargain in history," in 1803. Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture is revered and praised today as one of the courageous founders of Haiti.
Napoleon Bonaparte |
The philosophy and
culture of the Haitian people strongly mirrored many other cultures
pertaining to the historicity of People of Colours. If Francois Dominique Toussaint L'Ouverture was of Caucasian origin, there would have been a few series of Hollywood movies dedicated to him already. Instead we are left with 'Roots', from those Negroes, who does not know their own history or chose to ignore it. Haitians were
severely punished for their heroism by USA, France, Spain and
England, via vicious trade sanctions that went on for centuries.
The Lord is
enshrined in the hearts of all. The Lord is the supreme reality.
Rejoice in him through renunciation. Covet nothing. All belongs to
the Lord. Thus working may you live a hundred years. Thus alone can
you work in full freedom. Those who deny the Self are born again
Blind to the Self, enveloped in darkness, Utterly devoid of love for
the Lord.
The Self is one.
Ever still, the Self is Swifter than thought, swifter than the
senses. Though motionless, he outruns all pursuit. Without the Self,
never could life exist. The Self seems to move, but is ever still. He
seems far away, but is ever near. He is within all, and he transcends
all. Those who see all races in themselves And themselves in all
races know no fear. Those who see all races in themselves And
themselves in all races know no grief. How can the multiplicity of
life Delude the one who sees its unity? The Self is everywhere.
Bright is the Self, Indivisible, untouched by sin, wise, Immanent and
transcendent. He it is Who holds the cosmos together.
In dark night live
those For whom the world without alone is real; In night darker
still, for whom the world within Alone is real. The first leads to a
life Of action, the second of meditation. But those who combine
action with meditation Go across the sea of death through action And
enter into immortality Through the practice of meditation. So have we
heard from the wise. In dark night live those for whom the Lord Is
transcendent only; in night darker still, For whom he is immanent
only.
But those for whom
he is transcendent And immanent cross the sea of death With the
immanent and enter into Immortality with the transcendent. So have we
heard from the wise. The face of truth is hidden by your orb Of gold,
O sun. May you remove the orb So that I, who adore the true, may see
The glory of truth. O nourishing sun, Solitary traveller, controller,
Source of life for all creatures, spread your light, And subdue your
dazzling splendour So that I may see your blessed Self. Even that very
Self am I! May my life merge in the Immortal. When my body is reduced
to ashes!