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Women of the Haitian Revolution. A thread in honor of Haitian Independence:
First up, Cécile Fatiman. Along with Boukman Dutty, she helped lead the famous ceremony at Bois Caïman in August 1791 that heralded the start of the Haitian Revolution.
First up, Cécile Fatiman. Along with Boukman Dutty, she helped lead the famous ceremony at Bois Caïman in August 1791 that heralded the start of the Haitian Revolution.
Next up, Suzanne (Sannité) Belair, wife of General Charles Belair (nephew of Toussaint Louverture), and a revolutionary in her own right. Known as “la brigande” due to her fearless attacks on French soldiers, she was eventually captured and executed w/ her husband on Oct 2, 1802.
Okay, then we have Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière, also married to a Haitian general. She valiantly fought at the famous battle of Crête-à-Pierrot, reportedly in a man’s uniform.
Let’s jump ahead and learn about Dédée Bazile (nom de guerre, Défilée): she reportedly received this nickname, which means march, when she ordered
Dessaline’s soldiers to march on into battle, crying, “De—Fi—Lez!”
Later, she would gather Dessalines’s remains for burial....
Dessaline’s soldiers to march on into battle, crying, “De—Fi—Lez!”
Later, she would gather Dessalines’s remains for burial....
During the Congress of Arcahaye—where Dessalines reportedly ripped the white out of the French tricolor—Dessalines enlisted Catherine Flon to stitch back together the red and blue fabric to create a new flag for the revolutionaries. May 18th is Haitian flag day! 
There is so much more to say, but women were also healers, go-betweens, raiders, spies, saviors, and spiritual leaders.... Check out Bayyinah Bello’s “Sheroes of the Haitian Revolution” https://www.blackdotcc.com/books2/p/sheroes-of-the-haitian-revolution-hard-cover-1
Adding one more thing...I hope we can also take a moment to remember all the women who gave their lives for the Revolution but never did get to see independence. I wrote about one such woman in “Tropics of Haiti.” Her story still haunts me....
