8 The Role of Women in the Haitian Revolution
McKenna Likins
The coloniality of being and knowledge, as examined by Nelson Maldonado-Torres and Anibal Quijano, encompasses the enduring legacy of colonialism, which goes beyond physical occupation and governance. It involves the imposition of Eurocentric values, beliefs, and norms on colonized peoples, often resulting in the erasure or suppression of indigenous knowledge systems, languages, and cultural practices. In the context of the Haitian Revolution, this coloniality manifested in the dehumanization and exploitation of enslaved Africans, who were stripped of their cultural heritage and forced into servitude under the French colonial regime. The revolution aimed to challenge and overturn these entrenched systems of oppression, asserting the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals, irrespective of race or status, and reclaiming sovereignty over their own identities and knowledge systems. The coloniality of being and knowledge refers to how colonialism shapes not just political and economic structures, but also cultural, social, and psychological aspects of people’s lives, as well as knowledge systems. In the context of the Haitian Revolution, it was about challenging and dismantling these colonial structures that defined the identity and knowledge of Haitian society under French rule. The Revolution sought to assert the agency and autonomy of enslaved Africans and their descendants, challenging the coloniality of their existence and reclaiming their knowledge and identity. The Haitian Revolution also contributes to the decolonization of knowledge by challenging colonial epistemologies and ideologies. It challenged the prevailing hierarchies of power that existed during colonial times, demonstrating that former enslaved peoples were capable of overthrowing global powerhouses. It highlights that alternative forms of knowledge, resistance, and social organization exist outside Eurocentric frameworks. Spiritual knowledge and resistance played a key role in the success of the revolution. The revolution inspired anti-colonial movements worldwide and contributed to the emergence of alternative ways of thinking about development, modernity, and progress.
Manisha Desai’s paper “Critical Cartography, Theories, and Praxis of Transnational Feminisms” offers a theoretical framework for analyzing the Haitian Revolution that transcends traditional borders and centers the experiences of marginalized communities. Desai’s work emphasizes the importance of understanding feminism as a transnational movement that acknowledges the interconnectedness of struggles across different contexts. When applied to the Haitian Revolution, this perspective allows for a deeper examination of the intersecting oppressions faced by Afro-descendant women in the Caribbean. According to Desai, “Third World women had been challenging feminist theory to go beyond the trinity of race, class, and gender and to include other structures of power such as nationalisms, religion, and development that impacted their daily lives.” By adopting a transnational feminist lens, scholars can explore how women in Haiti played pivotal roles in the revolution, as active participants and as agents of change in shaping post-revolutionary society. Desai recognizes the complexities of power dynamics, resistance strategies, and liberation struggles within the broader context of colonialism and imperialism—the same power dynamics that support a master narrative. The master narrative perpetuates and legitimizes these power differentials, often erasing the experiences and voices of those marginalized by colonialism and imperialism. In the context of the Haitian Revolution, women played pivotal roles that intersected with the dynamics of power, resistance, and liberation within the broader framework of colonialism and imperialism. Despite facing intersecting forms of oppression based on gender, race, and social class, women actively engaged in resistance against colonial rule and slavery. Their participation ranged from direct involvement in armed uprisings and guerrilla warfare to providing essential support through acts of sabotage, espionage, and community organizing. Women’s contributions to the revolution challenged traditional gender roles and norms, asserting their agency and leadership in the struggle for freedom and independence. However, historical narratives often overlook or minimize the roles of women in the Haitian Revolution, reflecting broader patterns of erasure and marginalization in master narratives of history
In “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House,” Audre Lorde’s call for marginalized groups to forge their own paths to liberation emphasizes the need for radical approaches and alternative frameworks that dismantle oppressive structures and create meaningful change. In the case of the Haitian Revolution, women’s participation represented a rejection of the master’s tools— the oppressive systems of colonialism and slavery— as they actively worked to dismantle these structures from within. Women in the Haitian Revolution faced intersecting forms of oppression and recognized that liberation could not be achieved by simply replicating the methods and ideologies of their oppressors. Instead, they forged new paths of resistance that challenged the very foundations of colonial power. By rejecting traditional gender roles and asserting their agency in the struggle for freedom, women in Haiti exemplified Lorde’s call to seek alternative tools and strategies for liberation. Lorde resonates in the broader context of the Haitian Revolution as well, where enslaved Africans and Afro-descendants rejected reliance on the oppressive systems of their European colonizers to achieve liberation. They embarked on a radical transformation, challenging the entrenched colonial order and asserting their humanity and agency. The revolution exemplified principles of self-determination, as marginalized communities seized control of their destinies and fought for freedom on their own terms, refusing to rely on the benevolence of their oppressors.
Finally, Anibal Quijano’s concept of coloniality of power elucidates the enduring legacy of colonialism in shaping social, economic, and cultural structures, highlighting how the Haitian Revolution was a response to centuries of European domination and exploitation in the Caribbean. The coloniality of power refers to the enduring legacy of colonialism in shaping contemporary systems of power and domination. Quijano argues that colonialism not only involved the subjugation of colonized peoples but also established enduring patterns of social, economic, and cultural hierarchies that continue to operate even after formal colonial rule has ended. This coloniality of power encompasses various forms of oppression, including racial hierarchies, economic exploitation, and cultural marginalization, which continue to structure social relations and perpetuate inequality in postcolonial societies. The plantation economy of Saint-Domingue, based on the exploitation of enslaved labor, was central to the global capitalist system of the time. The wealth extracted from the colony fueled the development and industrialization of Europe. The Haitian Revolution, by disrupting this economic model and abolishing slavery, directly opposed the colonial logic of development built on the exploitation of non-European territories and peoples. Moreover, Quijano’s analysis of Latin America situates the Haitian Revolution within a broader regional context, emphasizing its significance as a catalyst for anti-colonial struggles across the Americas.
The Haitian Revolution commenced in 1791 with the eruption of a slave rebellion in the northern region of Saint-Domingue, a French colony renowned as the most prosperous in the Caribbean by the late 18th century. Its wealth stemmed from the cultivation of sugar, coffee, and indigo, heavily reliant on brutal slave labor with a mortality rate surpassing the birth rate due to severe conditions. Despite the enslaved populace comprising ninety percent of the population, French authorities maintained control through a rigid caste system and stringent legal regulations. At the top of the hierarchy were the grand blancs, consisting of white plantation owners born locally or in France, followed by the petit blancs, impoverished whites. Below them were the affranchis, people of mixed heritage or free Blacks, with enslaved individuals occupying the lowest tier. The Code Noir governed life in Saint-Domingue, affirming the enslaved Africans’ status as property, delineating slave owners’ rights and duties, specifying slavery conditions, and prescribing penalties for disobedient slaves. “The racist distribution of new social identities was combined, as had been done so successfully in Anglo-America, with a racist distribution of labor and the forms of exploitation of colonial capitalism. This was, above all, through a quasi-exclusive association of whiteness with wages and, of course, with the high-order positions in the colonial administration.” pg 537. This is part of what makes the Haitian Revolution especially notable, it was unthinkable even as it occurred. They didn’t just revolt for independence but for the complete rejection of the colonial order at every level.
Colonialism not only imposed political and economic control but also sought to erase indigenous cultures and impose European norms and values. In Haiti, the revolution was a political upheaval and a cultural renaissance, as Haitians drew on their African heritage and indigenous traditions to forge a new national identity. The revolution revitalized Afro-Caribbean culture, including the Vodou religion, which was central in mobilizing resistance against colonial rule. During the revolution, Vodou ceremonies served as sites of resistance and solidarity, where enslaved individuals could draw strength from their shared cultural heritage and commune with ancestral spirits for guidance and protection. These ceremonies became spaces of empowerment, where enslaved people could assert their agency and envision a future free from oppression. Vodou itself, with its syncretic blend of African, Indigenous, and Christian elements, became a symbol of resistance against colonial domination and a source of pride and identity for Afro-Caribbean communities. The path towards the 1791 revolution began in 1757 with François Makandal, a revered religious figure regarded as a prophet-messiah. Religion acted as a foundation for community cohesion and a potent force for mobilizing enslaved individuals against Western hegemony, colonialism, racism, and oppression. Makandal initiated one of the earliest slave revolts, espousing the concept of therapeutic violence—a belief in the necessity of violence for decolonization and Black liberation. Thirty-four years later, Dutty Boukman, another religious leader, further developed a Black theology of liberation, drawing inspiration from Enlightenment ideals while directly challenging colonial powers and advocating for enslaved blacks’ emancipation. While these men were the famous leaders of the revolution, it was women who played the key role in spreading and creating support. Women often held significant positions within Vodou communities as priestesses, healers, and spiritual leaders. During the revolution, women leveraged their roles within Vodou to mobilize resistance and foster unity among enslaved communities. Vodou ceremonies served as spaces of empowerment and solidarity, where women could assert their agency, commune with ancestral spirits, and transmit cultural knowledge to future generations. Furthermore, women were the bearers of cultural traditions and guardians of community memory, and as such women played key roles in preserving and transmitting Afro-Caribbean cultural practices, including Vodou, music, dance, and oral storytelling.
The contributions of Haitian women were instrumental to the success of the revolutionary movement. Cécile Fatiman was a Vodou priestess of considerable influence in the early stages of the revolution. She is famously associated with the Bois Caïman ceremony, which took place in August 1791 and is considered a catalyst for the Haitian Revolution. During this ceremony, Fatiman is said to have prophesied the overthrow of colonial rule and encouraged enslaved individuals to rise up against their oppressors. While women were the key mobilizers for the revolution their role didn’t end there. Many women fought alongside the men during battles as both healers and warriors. One of these women, Sanite Belair, was known for her leadership and military prowess. Belair fought alongside her husband in the revolutionary army and played a significant role in organizing and mobilizing resistance against French forces. She is celebrated for her courage and dedication to the cause of liberation. After the revolution ended women continued to play key roles in shaping both politics and social attitudes. Marie-Claire Heureuse Félicité – wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, one of the leaders of the Haitian Revolution and the first ruler of independent Haiti – was known for her philanthropy and advocacy for the rights of formerly enslaved individuals. She worked to promote social justice in post-revolutionary Haiti, ensuring that the colonial order would not be replicated. This is notable because it represents a departure from the typical post-colonial trajectory observed in many other states. In numerous instances throughout history, newly independent nations have replicated or perpetuated colonial structures of power, often leading to continued oppression, inequality, and social unrest. However, in the case of post-revolutionary Haiti, the efforts of women to promote social justice and prevent the replication of colonial order demonstrate a commitment to transformative change and genuine liberation. Furthermore, the efforts to prevent the replication of colonial order in post-revolutionary Haiti highlight the agency and resilience of the Haitian people in shaping their own destiny. Despite facing immense challenges and external pressures, they remained committed to the principles of freedom, equality, and justice that drove the revolution.
These women’s leaders were important for several reasons; firstly, they provided spiritual guidance and inspiration to enslaved communities, fostering a sense of unity, resilience, and collective action. Their leadership within Vodou communities helped to mobilize resistance against colonial rule and sustain the revolutionary movement during its most challenging moments. Additionally, women like Sanite Belair demonstrated that women could be effective military leaders and strategists, challenging traditional gender roles and contributing to the revolutionary cause in significant ways. Despite their importance, women leaders in the Haitian Revolution are often overlooked or marginalized in historical narratives. This oversight speaks to the coloniality of knowledge and power as well as patriarchal biases within historical scholarship, which has traditionally focused on the roles and contributions of male leaders. Additionally, the marginalization of Vodou and other Afro-Caribbean religious traditions in mainstream historical discourse has contributed to the erasure of women religious leaders from the narrative of the Haitian Revolution.
The Haitian Revolution’s significance is often overshadowed by bourgeois revolutions, perpetuating the continuation of exploitative systems. This occurs for several reasons. Firstly, historical narratives tend to be Eurocentric, prioritizing the experiences and achievements of European societies, which leads to revolutions in non-European contexts receiving less attention and recognition. Secondly, the Haitian Revolution posed a direct challenge to colonial powers like France, threatening their economic interests and ideological foundations. Consequently, these powers downplayed or marginalized the revolution in historical narratives under their control. Additionally, the Haitian Revolution was unique in that it was led by enslaved Africans and Afro-descendants seeking not only political independence but also the abolition of slavery and the dismantling of racial hierarchies. This challenge to entrenched systems of exploitation made the revolution inherently threatening to the interests of the global bourgeoisie, who benefited from the exploitation of enslaved labor. Furthermore, the success of the Haitian Revolution had far-reaching implications for global power dynamics, inspiring enslaved peoples and oppressed groups worldwide to resist their oppressors. The intentional marginalization of the Haitian Revolution reinforces existing power hierarchies and maintains the status quo, hindering efforts to achieve decolonial social justice and equality. The Haitian Revolution is a powerful illustration of the coloniality of development and modernity by challenging the Eurocentric narratives underpinning these concepts. Traditional development narratives often portray progress and modernization as linear processes originating from Europe and spreading to other parts of the world. These narratives typically marginalize the agency and contributions of non-Western societies. Colonial powers justified their domination over non-European peoples by portraying them as inferior and needing civilizing influence. The Haitian Revolution disrupts this narrative by demonstrating that a formerly enslaved population in a colonized Caribbean territory could assert their agency and independence, challenging the Eurocentric notion that development and progress originate solely from the West. The Black-led revolution simultaneously challenged the origination of development and the notion that modernity and progress were the exclusive domain of white Europeans. It showed that marginalized and oppressed groups could actively shape their own destinies and challenge colonial oppression.
In Saint-Domingue, the French “forced the colonized to learn the dominant culture in any way that would be useful to the reproduction of domination, whether in the field of technology and material activity or subjectivity, especially Judeo-Christian religiosity.” pg 541. This is a crucial reason why Vodou and religious figures were so important in crossing racial hierarchies and building the solidarity necessary for the revolution’s success. Vodou provided a cultural and spiritual framework through which enslaved Africans and Afro-descendants could assert their identity, preserve their cultural heritage, and mobilize for collective action. The syncretic nature of Vodou, which incorporates elements of African spirituality, Catholicism, and indigenous beliefs, allowed for a unique form of resistance that defied the imposition of European religious norms and values. By embracing their ancestral faith and using it as a tool for liberation, Haitians challenged the religious hegemony of colonial powers and asserted the validity of their own religious practices and beliefs. Women’s contributions, particularly regarding religion, to the revolution also challenged traditional gender norms and demonstrated Black women’s agency and leadership capabilities in the struggle for liberation. By refusing to be confined to traditional colonial gender roles and actively engaging in the fight against colonial oppression, women subverted the patriarchal structures that underpin colonialism and asserted their right to autonomy and equality.
In conclusion, the Haitian Revolution stands as a powerful testament to the direct challenge of the coloniality of being and knowledge and exemplifies decolonial feminism when examining the pivotal roles played by women in the revolutionary struggle. By interrogating traditional power structures and disrupting colonial systems of oppression, women in Haiti actively reshaped social, cultural, and political narratives, challenging the hegemony of colonial powers and asserting their agency in the fight for liberation. Through their leadership, resilience, and contributions to Afro-Caribbean culture, women in the Haitian Revolution not only defied gender norms but also laid the groundwork for transformative change in post-colonial societies. Their voices and experiences serve as a reminder of the importance of centering marginalized perspectives in historical narratives and advancing decolonial feminist frameworks that prioritize justice, equity, and liberation for all. In this way, the Haitian Revolution offers valuable insights into the intersections of gender, race, and power, and serves as an inspiration for ongoing struggles against coloniality and oppression worldwide.
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