Jean-Jacques Dessalines - Haiti Observer Blog

In 1758, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was born in Central West Africa. He was enslaved in the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti). His biography is a mix of legend and history. However, most historians believe that he was born in Saint-Domingue as Jean-Jacques Duclos, the name of his father was adopted it from his owner. Dessalines started his career as a field hand, rose up to the role of foreman. When he was around age 30, he was sold to a free black man named Dessalines and his surname was changed again. Dessalines served as an officer in the French army when the colony was trying to resist the Spanish and British invaders. In 1791, he joined the slave revolution that broke out in the colony and met the rising military commander Toussaint Bréda (later known as Toussaint L'Ouverture). Gradually, in the decade that followed, Dessalines established himself as a lieutenant of the black leader Toussaint L'Ouverture, who became the governor-general of Saint-Domingue with French support as a reward for his loyalty to France.

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Here is a report of the activities that took place in Pont Rouge on Saturday, October 17, 2015 to commemorate the 209th anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. We also witnessed the unveiling of the inaugural plaque of Memorial Jean Jacques Dessalines.

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The 209th anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines

On Saturday, October 17th, 2015, as part of the commemoration of the 209th death anniversary of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, President Martelly went to Pont Rouge in Port-au-Prince, to pay special tribute to the Founding Father of the Nation. The first part of the official commemoration ceremony was lying of a wreath at the foot of the monument of Jean-Jacques Dessalines and remembering his contribution to the nation. Thereafter, the President proceed to unveil an inaugural plaque of Memorial Jean Jacques Dessalines. Before the commemoration ceremony ended at Marchand Dessalines which was the former capital of Dessalines, the President attended a requiem mass followed by the Te Deum and made a floral offering at the foot of the Monument of the Father of the Nation.

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Ordered by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's first ruler, it aimed to rid Haiti of the mulatto elite. In 1804, he sent battalions of soldiers to slaughter approximately 3,000 to 5,000 white men, women, and children. The reason for the genocide was retaliation against the French occupiers for crimes against African blacks.

The Perfect Ship Massacre. Occurred in 1758 on the British eponymous ship, which carried African slaves. Three hundred African revolutionaries formed a blockade around the ship. Armed, they got aboard and slaughtered British Captain William Potter, along with his crew, freeing the black slaves.

The 1865 Jamaican Morant Bay Uprising. Provoked by the unjust rule of the British colonial government, leader Paul Bogle and his comrades torched the Court House, taking over the city.

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Born a member of the gens de couleur libres, Alexandre Sabes Petion (1770 - 1818) began life between two worlds. It is a dichotomy he would continue, further marking his legacy as an instrumental force behind the struggle for independence of two lands, his own beloved Haiti, and the republic of Gran Colombia.

Alexandre Petion began his career, after an expensive education in France, by joining the fight to force the British out of Saint-Domingue between 1798 and 1799. He would subsequently fight on the side of the mulattos against Toussaint L'Ouverture and the blacks, and was exiled to France when the rebellion ended; he returned soon after with General Leclerc and his assemblage of warships and troops. In 1802, he joined the nationalist force and gave his support to Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the future proclaimer of the Haitian Independence and self-declared ruler for life of the newly formed country.

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This is the phrase that I have been hearing all this week regarding the protest that took place last Thursday in Petion-Ville where several thousands of people were asking for the removal of President Michel Martelly from office. Actually the notion "Dessalines visiting Petion" was used to refer to the Race issue in Haiti once again. In a sense, Dessalines represents the Black, poor, uneducated Haitians while Petion, represents the elite, mulato, educated, affluent Haitians.

The anti-government protest got out of control after demonstrators made a rare trip to Petionville. Some opposed to the demonstration threw stones at the marcher and Police fired tear gas to break it.

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Haiti has a lot of popular cities and municipalities, one of which is the town of Arcahaie in the Arrondissement of Arcahaie. This town is one of the two that make up the entire arrondissement, while Cabaret is the other municipality. It houses more than 106,500 people and is a recognized town.

Arcahaie nan awondisman Arcahaie. Vil sa a se youn nan de a ki fè moute awondisman an tout antye, Cabaret se lòt minisipalite a. Plis pase 106.500 moun Ap Viv ladan-Li.

Arcahaie's popularity is mainly attributed to its historical heritage, as a lot of significant incidents in the past occurred here. One of them is the memorable 1803 Congress, wherein the unity if Haiti's black people and mulattos was signified. It can be recalled that the country's founding father, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, replaced the French flag with a blue and red flag after tearing it apart during the Congress. It was the first time in three years of revolution that Haiti's unity had been symbolized.

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Michel Cincinnatus Leconte, descendent of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first head of state of the new Republic of Haiti, assumed the office of the presidency, backed by Parliament in August 1911. Prior to his ascendency, Leconte had been appointed Minister of the Interior by President Pierre Nord Alexis, but was pressured to flee to Jamaica when a coup ran Alexis out of office in 1908. François Antoine Simon then held the office.

By 1911 Cincinnatus Leconte returned, amassing an army to remove Simon from office by force. He was successful, arriving in Port-au-Prince a hero. In gratitude, Parliament ushered him into office, with an unprecedented seven-year term.

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As a reminder, Independence day in Haiti is an important holiday. we are fortunate to celebrate two important events on this day: On January 1, Haitians all over the world celebrate both New Year's Day and Independence Day.

This little nation made history on January 1, 1804 by becoming the first Black Country to gain its independence. At the same time we change the name of the country back to its original name "Ayiti", name given by the original inhabitants and before Christopher Columbus so called discovered the Island in 1492. At that point the island was named "Hispaniola"

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Haiti has historically been besieged by violent upheavals against its governing systems. Securing independence from its status as a slave possession in 1801, ex-slave Toussaint Louverture led the Haitian Revolution, making a conquest of Haiti, and naming himself Governor-General.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines succeeded Louverture in 1804, ruling until his assassination in 1806. Haiti then became a black-dominated northern region and mulatto elite-governed southern region. In 1915, the U.S. began occupying Haiti as a result of another conflict between mulatto elites and blacks. The U.S., concerned about its business interests, stayed until 1934.

When U.S. occupation ended, coup d'etats and provisional presidencies marked the period 1934-1971, until dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier came to office. By 1986, mass uprisings against Duvalier forced him into exile. Henri Namphy, lieutenant general in the Haitian Army, became president after Duvalier's exit.

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After two years when relations with France were restored, Michel Martelly, President accompanied by Laurent Lamothe, Prime Minister, Didier Lebret, France Ambassador and Jean Mario Dupuy, Minister of Culture, all got together last Friday to welcome the Serment des Ancêtres painting

Symbolism of the Painting

They were welcomed to the table on which lay 'Serment des Ancetres' at the airport Toussaint Louverture's diplomatic lounge. The 'Serment des Ancetres' is the painting work of Guillaume Guillon-Lethiere (1760 -1830) painter in the year 1822.

The painting symbolizes the historical meeting between Lieutenant Toussaint Louverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Black General, Alexandre Petion and Saint Domingue, the head of mullattoes. In November 1802, the Lieutenant Toussaint Louverture sealed an alliance to get the French troops ousted.

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