7 Shocking Facts About The Black Jacobins That Will Change How You See History

History is often sanitized, but The Black Jacobins strips away the veneer to reveal raw truths about the Haitian Revolution. Here are seven facts that might surprise you:

1. Over 20% Mortality in Slave Holding Pens: Before even boarding ships, many Africans died in overcrowded 'trunks' where they were held in appalling conditions. This early suffering is rarely highlighted but was a grim reality.
   
2. 128 Racial Classifications in San Domingo: The colony’s obsession with racial purity led to an elaborate system dividing mixed-race people into 128 categories, reflecting deep social anxieties.
   
3. Mulatto Slave Owners: Contrary to simplistic narratives, many free people of color owned slaves and plantations, complicating the social fabric.
   
4. Slave Ship Captains’ Cruelties: Some captains poisoned slaves or killed some to feed others during long delays, showcasing the extreme inhumanity of the trade.
   
5. Voodoo as a Revolutionary Force: African spiritual traditions unified and inspired slaves in their fight, providing strength beyond physical weapons.
   
6. Destruction of a 60,000-Strong British Army: The revolutionaries’ guerrilla tactics and tropical diseases wiped out an entire British force, a staggering military feat.
   
7. Legacy Beyond Haiti: The revolution hastened the end of the Atlantic slave trade and inspired global movements for black liberation and Pan-Africanism.
   

These facts reveal a revolution far more complex and impactful than often taught. They challenge us to rethink history and honor the agency of those who fought for freedom under unimaginable odds.

Sources: 1 , 3 , 4