Day 5: On Black Liberty and Equality: Happy Black History Month from Toussaint L’Ouverture (Haiti)

“Proclamation: 29 August 1793

Brothers and Friends,

Remember the brave Oge, dear comrades, who was killed for having defended the cause of liberty! Yes, he died: but those who were his judges are now his defenders. I am Toussaint L’Ouverture; perhaps my name has made itself known to you. You know, brothers, that I have undertaken this vengeance, and that I want liberty and equality to reign in St-Domingue. I have worked since the beginning [of the revolt] to make that happen, and to bring happiness to all. Unite yourselves to us, brothers, and fight with us for the same cause. […] You say that you are fighting for liberty and equality? Is it possible that we could destroy ourselves, one against the other, and all fighting for the same cause? It is I who have undertaken [this struggle] and I wish to fight until it [liberty] exists […] among us. Equality cannot exist without liberty. And for liberty to exist, we must have unity.”

Source: “Toussaint L’Ouverture: The Haitian Revolution” Introduction by Dr. Jean-Bertrand Aristide, edited by Nick Nesbitt (Verso, 2008).