Toussaint Louverture

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This book presents the long-awaited English translation of Aimé Césaire's account of Toussaint Louverture, the iconic leader of the Saint-Domingue revolution—a slave revolt against French colonial rule that ultimately led to Haiti's independence. Saint-Domingue was the first modern nation to grapple with the complexities of colonialism. When Louverture emerged, various movements sought political autonomy, free trade, and social equality. The French Revolution introduced a powerful notion of universal liberty, particularly through the Declaration of Human Rights, which inspired wealthy free Black men in the colony to demand their rights. When these demands went unmet, enslaved Blacks rose in armed rebellion. This struggle for one class's liberation evolved into a broader revolution for equal rights for all. For true emancipation, Saint-Domingue required independence. Louverture actively embodied the Declaration's principles, proving that no race should be marginalized. He united disparate groups into a cohesive army, transforming a peasant uprising into a revolutionary movement that forged a nation-state. Césaire's profound historical and analytical insights illuminate Louverture's context and actions, making this work essential for students and scholars of critical theory, Latin American history, and those interested in colonialism and race.