The only truly successful slave uprising in the Atlantic world; the Haitian Revolution gave birth to the first independent black republic of the modern era. Inspired by the revolution that had recently roiled their French rulers; black slaves and people of mixed race alike rose up against their oppressors in a bloody insurrection that led to the burning of the colony’s largest city; a bitter struggle against Napoleon’s troops; and in 1804; the founding of a free nation.Numerous firsthand narratives of these events survived; but their invaluable insights into the period have long languished in obscurity—until now. In Facing Racial Revolution; Jeremy D. Popkin unearths these documents and presents excerpts from more than a dozen accounts written by white colonists trying to come to grips with a world that had suddenly disintegrated. These dramatic writings give us our most direct portrayal of the actions of the revolutionaries; vividly depicting encounters with the uprising’s leaders—Toussaint Louverture; Boukman; and Jean-Jacques Dessalines—as well as putting faces on many of the anonymous participants in this epochal moment. Popkin’s expert commentary on each selection provides the necessary background about the authors and the incidents they describe; while also addressing the complex question of the witnesses’ reliability and urging the reader to consider the implications of the narrators’ perspectives.Along with the American and French revolutions; the birth of Haiti helped shape the modern world. The powerful; moving; and sometimes troubling testimonies collected in Facing Racial Revolution significantly expand our understanding of this momentous event.
#378629 in Books Leon F Litwack 1965-04-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .83 x 5.25l; .70 #File Name: 0226485862325 pagesNorth of Slavery The Negro in the Free States
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. More than just an expose of the received narrativeBy Beth ElliottAlthough it was published in the 1960s; this book appears to be somewhat obscure; at least to this San Francisco Bay Area-born and bred reviewer. I am tempted to jump to the conclusion that it suffered in popularity because it contradicted the received narrative of those times; as well as subsequent times; that horrendous racism was a Southern phenomenon Northerners could congratulate themselves on being above.There are now other books covering this ground; and they are very much needed. What makes this book stand out in my mind are the delineations of self-directed emancipation and upward mobility activity by African-Americans themselves. While white people were arguing among themselves about what to do with America's Black population (Northern ethnic cleansing via emancipation and colonization; Southern paternalism of slavery as a jobs program with some room for commercial exchange with free people of color); African Americans were debating such issues as the value of integration versus segregation; staying in America versus finding somewhere to emigrate other than where white abolitionists hoped to ship them; and the very key issues of self-uplift. This self-agency; of course; undercuts both Northern and Southern underestimations of Africans' capability of becoming Americans. I appreciated having that history fleshed out by reading this book.4 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Still Important; Still UnsettlingBy GioNo one could take pleasure from reading the disgraceful statistics of racism in America; but sometimes one must read unpleasant truths. Honest recognition of our national guilt is; I think; a necessary preliminary to becoming the beacon to the world that we proclaim ourselves to be.I read this book decades ago in college; and again this week. It's still a classic; a starting point for more recent studies in African-American history.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Gina J.Great price and the item is better than described.
