Haiti, Her History and Her Detractors (1907) by Jacques Nicolas Léger
This book is a remarkable defense of Haiti’s legacy, written by a Haitian diplomat and intellectual at a time when the young republic was often misrepresented abroad. It combines historical narrative with political argument, aiming to show Haiti’s dignity and resilience in the face of colonial prejudice
Although at a comparatively short distance from the United States, Haiti is nevertheless very little known in this country, where in most cases books written in English by unscrupulous travelers or authors are their only source of information.
In this manner errors and prejudices became rooted in the minds of many Americans, who believe that my fellow-countrymen are addicted to all kinds of gross superstitions and are reverting to barbarism instead of progressing in civilization.
This rather severe arraignment of my fellow countrymen is founded upon slanders which everybody repeats without taking the trouble of examining facts in order to ascertain the truth. One cannot pass judgment upon a nation at first sight. In order to form an impartial appreciation of a people one must be acquainted with its origin and customs; it is necessary to make a study of the causes which have hindered or facilitated its evolution ; and to look carefully into the various phases of this evolution ; one must even be acquainted with the telluric and climatological conditions, which exert a certain influence over the successive changes of a country. A foreigner who spends but a few days in a country cannot be in a position to speak with the accuracy of thorough knowledge.
Some content from HISTORY OF HAITI
CHAPTER I
Quisqueya or Haiti — Geographical position — The first inhabitants: their manners, religion and customs — Divisions of the territory. 19
CHAPTER II
Christopher Columbus — His arrival in Haiti — Behavior of the Spaniards toward the aborigines — Their cupidity — War — Caonabo — Anacaona — The Spanish domination — Cacique Henry. 22
CHAPTER III
The French freebooters and buccaneers — Their customs — Their settlement at La Tortue (Tortuga Island) — Little by little they invade Hispafiola, now known as Saint-Domingue — Continual wars with the Spaniards — Treaty recognizing the French occupation 31
CHAPTER IV
The French part of Saint-Domingue — Its prosperity — Its different classes of inhabitants: their customs — The color prejudice — The colonists: their divisions; their jealousy of the Europeans — Their desire to be in command — Their contempt for the affranchis (freedmen) — their cruelty toward the slaves — The maroons. ... 35
CHAPTER V
Number of inhabitants of Saint-Domingue — Savannah — The French revolution — Efforts of the colonists to take advantage of it — The affranchis claim their rights — The first conflicts — Atrocities committed by the colonists — Vincent Oge" and Chavannes — Uprising of the slaves — The first Civil Commissioners — Decree of April 4, 1792 41
CHAPTER VI
Arrival of the new Civil Commissioners, Sonthonax, Polvgrel and Ailaud — Application of the Decree of April 4, 1792 — The Intermediary Committee — Resistance of the colonists — Fighting at Port-au-Prince and Cap-Frangais — The English land in SaintDomingue — The Spaniards conquer a portion of the French territory— General freedom is granted to the slaves — The colored men are in power 58
Jacques Nicolas Léger wrote Haiti, Her History and Her Detractors (1907) with love because he was Haitian himself, deeply invested in defending his country’s honor.
His book is both a history and a passionate rebuttal to outsiders who misrepresented Haiti.