Apr 07
Hayti: The Declaration of Independence, the Donor Conference and Christian Evangelism, Mervyn Claxton
1 Comment »This original Haitian Declaration of Independence is an extraordinarily inspiring document, which has come to light at a most opportune time – when the Haitian people are in most need of such inspiration. Facing the greatest ordeal in their post-independence history, the Haitian people are confronted with the urgent need to make important strategic choices concerning their country’s future…
Mervyn Claxton,
This too was interesting reading. thank you. But without taking anything away from the spirit with which you wrote it, which does give comfort and inspiration at a very trying time I also like to say:
Please don’t believe the HYPE.
I wasn’t going to enter this conversation for various reason. But I see it won’t go away: So here’s a few comments:
First – Haiti’s history is fascinating and its Declaration of Independence is indeed an “extraordinarily inspiring document” so it does not harm that this Duke University student has found an original of the printed copies. The text reminds us all, what we fight for everyday and why.
” if they find refuge among us, they will plot again to trouble and divide us.”
But let’s not go around making as much a fuss about this as they New York Times and Duke University. This is not the “original Haitian Declaration of Independence.” This is a “discovery” of a printed COPY!
A PRINTED copy of the original so that means Haiti, Haiti has seen and studied the hand-written ORIGINAL! A printed copy is less authentic than the hand-written original,wouldn’t you say? And certainly a printed copy of the original is NOT new to Haitian historians! It’s a COPY of the original text that was published throughout Haiti and sent abroad. The fact that whites have “rediscovered” it means what?
What’s interesting is, for me, how the printed copy may be measured against what has been written, let say, about the Declaration of Independence by Petion-apologist and Dessaline detractors – it’s way past time, we advocate at HLLN to revisit Thomas Madiou’s history books and give Dessalines’ his due! But that’s a another matter. (For more, see Three ideals of Dessalines and, Dessalines’ Law)
The text of the Declaration of Haiti’s Independence is a matter of history that most Haitian scholars, students and historians know in detail. Besides, Louis Boisrond-Tonnerre who wrote the declaration at the dictation of the warrior Dessalines’ specifications, wrote his own memoirs BEFORE he was assassinated by Petion’s mullato generals. The Kreyol translation of Boirond Tonnerre’s declaration of independence, from his original writings, his memoir, is on our website and has been there for YEARS! and HLLN sends it to our listserve every January 1st! It comes directly from Tonnerre’s autobiography. Also there’s another translation by Haitian historian and legal scholar Bell Angelot, also on our website. But again, the secretary that wrote out Dessalines’ declaration of independence, also wrote his memoirs on the matter. His name is boirond Tonnere. His autobiography survives. I’d like to see Duke University translate that original document!
Attach for those interested is some further relevant comments on the Declaration of Independence by a French teacher at Duke University – Deborah Jenson – to add to this discussion.
Also, the comment
“Let us ensure, however, that a missionary spirit does not destroy our work;”
is generally known to mean that Dessalines was assuring the powerful white maritime powers who were still slaveowners all around him that he would not bring the revolution to their free their “holdings.” in the Caribbean. But I found your modern translation of it, Merv, fairly riverting,
In terms of the name AYITI it is not only a Taino name but an African name. The Black warriors have always recognize “their old homeland” – Ayiti Toma, “this sacred highland.” (for more, go to, What Ayiti Calls Forth )
Just a few points added to the discussion with,
maximum respect,
Ezili Danto of HLLN