Game Changer Identity: Toussaint's Last Words

Introduction

"This gun is liberty; hold for sure that the day when you no longer have it you will be returned to slavery" (Fagg, 2018). I, Toussaint Louverture, leader of the Haitian revolution, leave behind words of encouragement for every soldier, a believer in the revolution and future generations to remember and live by these beliefs. It could be that in the future both the oppressor and oppressed will not need guns, and I pray that day visits you soonest, but for now we have to take the fight to the French oppressor gun in hand. I want my people to understand that freedom comes at an inevitable price. By dedicating oneself to this fight and even dying for the cause, the generations to come will know that it is better to die free than to live a slave. I anticipated that the French would betray, imprison and kill me, and hence I prepared these words for you my fellow loyal combatants and the letter will be delivered to you by a trusted friend and supporter of the fight when news of my death become confirmed. Consider it my last words. This paper assumes the identity of former slave Toussaint Louverture, of the Caribbean society to show how he brought change to the Caribbean slave society by forming the slaves into a united fighting force.

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A person born into slavery is not quite sure of who they are or what they want. The only thing they know is that they are slaves and they ought to act like one. I knew that the only way to get rid of slavery in Haiti was by uniting the slaves in Haiti against their oppressors. I understood that you could place thousands of guns on African hands, but if they do not have unity, then we will surely lose the fight before we start (Garraway, 2008). The gun is an instrument that channels what is in the mind and heart. Unity is the greatest weapon that I could gift my soldiers (Thornton, 1991). I showed them the possibility of freedom. Even in hiding and surrounded by thousands of French soldiers, one is still able to choose whether to live or die. Organizing slaves into a united fighting force is a game changer because it enabled them to stop infighting and identify the slave owners as the enemy (Dubois, 2012). I hope you keep the fire burning; more so because mine has been snuffed out, but consider me a martyr like Stephen in the bible and keep fighting in my remembrance.

My friends, I hope you understand that political independence is the key to freedom. When the French threatened to keep us under slavery, I joined the invading Spanish from Santo Domingo to defeat the French. With the training and ammunition from the Spanish, we were able to control the North (Louverture, 2014). However, when the French agreed to abolish slavery, I joined them against the Spanish and the British because a French victory would guarantee freedom for our people. However, when Napoleonic France returned and threatened to re-establish French rule and take away freedom for our people, I fought against the French. One thing that has been constant throughout those fights was that I prioritized our people's freedom. I hope my lieutenants take these lessons to heart. In the quest for freedom, there are no permanent enemies or friends. The one thing that matters is the freedom of our people; whoever can provide that is a friend and whoever cannot guarantee freedom for our people is an enemy.

Personal Account of Lieutenant Jean-Jacques Dessalines in Post-Emancipation

The war is finally over. The black man is finally free from the shackles of slavery. I wish the great general were here to see the fruits of our struggle. His vision and the dream came true. He showed us that the black men could come together to form a united country. Now I am here as the first ruler of an independent Haiti (Jenson, 2012). I still maintain a large standing army. Because of Toussaint, Haiti is a sovereign country. His insights on military strategy enabled me to gain the favor of our American neighbors. We have established trade with the United States. We can now depend on ourselves. Children born in today's Haiti have a future in which they are free to choose the life they want for themselves.

Conclusion

When people are united, they can overcome all the challenges that they face. I wanted my African brothers and sisters to come together to fight for their freedom. As a military leader I lead my people to war, and together we defeated enemies who were deemed far more powerful than us. Lastly, I am a game changer because the I showed the African slaves how to prioritize. They now know that the abolition of slavery in Haiti is the most important gift they could gift their children. These were necessary to show the world that black men could come together under one flag and govern themselves.

References

Dubois, L. (2012). A colony of citizens: revolution and slave emancipation in the French Caribbean, 1787-1804. UNC Press Books.

Fagg, J. E. (2018, March 31). Toussaint Louverture. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Toussaint-Louverture

Garraway, D. L. (Ed.). (2008). Tree of Liberty: Cultural Legacies of the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic World. University of Virginia Press.

Jenson, D. (2012). Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the African character of the Haitian revolution. The William and Mary Quarterly, 69(3), 615-638.

Louverture, T. (2014). The memoir of general Toussaint Louverture. Oxford University Press, USA.

Thornton, J. K. (1991). African soldiers in the Haitian revolution. The Journal of Caribbean History, 25(1), 58.