'The Black Jacobins' by C.L.R. James is a riveting account of the Haitian Revolution, highlighting the struggle for freedom and equality against colonial oppression. Through the eyes of Toussaint L'Ouverture, a former slave who becomes a formidable leader, the narrative explores themes of race, class, and revolution. James masterfully intertwines historical analysis with rich storytelling, revealing the complexity of the revolution's impact on the world. As the first successful slave revolt, it sent shockwaves across the globe, challenging the very foundations of imperial power. This compelling work not only celebrates a significant chapter in history but also poses profound questions about justice and humanity's quest for liberation.
By C.L.R. James
Published: 1989
""The revolution was not an event, but a continuous struggle for freedom, identity, and justice; it was the awakening of a people against their oppression.""
A powerful and impassioned historical account of the largest successful revolt by enslaved people in history: the Haitian Revolution of 1791–1803 “One of the seminal texts about the history of slavery and abolition.... Provocative and empowering.” —The New York Times Book Review The Black Jacobins, by Trinidadian historian C. L. R. James, was the first major analysis of the uprising that began in the wake of the storming of the Bastille in France and became the model for liberation movements from Africa to Cuba. It is the story of the French colony of San Domingo, a place where the brutality of plantation owners toward enslaved people was horrifyingly severe. And it is the story of a charismatic and barely literate enslaved person named Toussaint L’Ouverture, who successfully led the Black people of San Domingo against successive invasions by overwhelming French, Spanish, and English forces—and in the process helped form the first independent post-colonial nation in the Caribbean. With a new introduction (2023) by Professor David Scott.
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“"The revolution was not an event, but a continuous struggle for freedom, identity, and justice; it was the awakening of a people against their oppression."”
The Black Jacobins
By C.L.R. James
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
C.L.R. James (1901-1989) was a Trinidadian cultural theorist, historian, and writer, celebrated for his profound contributions to literature, politics, and social theory. He is best known for his influential book, "The Black Jacobins," which explores the Haitian Revolution and its impact on the world. His other significant works include "Beyond a Boundary," an autobiographical account that uniquely intertwines cricket with social and political commentary, and "The Life of Captain Cipriani," which critiques colonialism. James's writing is marked by its rich, lyrical prose and incisive analysis of power dynamics, culture, and identity. He remains a pivotal figure in the fields of Caribbean literature and postcolonial thought.
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