After Napoleon kidnapped and killed Haiti’s first revolutionary hero, General Toussaint L’ouverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines rose up as his successor to lead the struggle which would defeat the white French settlers and create their newly freed nation called Haiti. Dessalines defeated French troops during the revolution and proclaimed the newly freed nation of Haiti. In 1804, Dessalines had the white Haitian minority killed by ordering the Haiti Massacre. In the proclamation, Dessalines declared Haiti an all-black nation and forbade whites from owning property or land there. He vowed to the Haitian inhabitants that “never again shall a colonist or a European set his foot upon this territory with the title of master or proprietor.” Dessalines mentions his promise to General Toussaint L’ouverture and his fight against tyranny and slavery. Dessalines also states that people of mixed races such as “blacks and yellows” are now “consolidated and make but one family.” A long divided and enslaved Haiti is now free under the control of Dessalines who vows to abolish anyone trying to enslave his people, while also encouraging friendly nations to provide encouragement and security to anyone willing to “establish commercial relations” on the enriched island.

The author is Jean Jacques Dessalines, successor of Toussaint L’ouverture, who helped create the free nation of Haiti after defeating French troops during the French Revolution. Jacques wrote this document to ensure Haiti’s freedom from further enslavement. Although scorned for his brutality towards the white minority in Haiti, he is known as one of Haiti’s founding fathers. He also declared himself emperor and governor for life until he was killed in a revolt in 1806.

The main argument in Dessalines Liberty or Death: Proclamation to the Inhabitants of Haiti, is the promise of a new and liberated nation. “Blacks and yellows, whom refined whom defined duplicity of Europeans has for a long time endeavored to divide: you who are now consolidated and make but one family…..should be sealed with the blood of our butchers.” I believe Dessalines is referring to the massacre of the white minority that he orchestrated. This document was written soon after the massacre that killed around 4,000 people. In my opinion, this article had its strong and valid arguments, yet on the other hand, one can’t help but wonder why Dessalines sounds so eager to never let anyone set foot in his land with the title of master when he had declared himself emperor and governor for life. Although he might not have been such a tyrannical leader, his own title contradicts his feelings towards masters and proprietors. Looking back from today’s age and the way things have evolved, we have definitely come a long way from slavery and genocides. Today’s society, in America at least, equality has come a long way whether it be on the topic of women, different races, and now even homosexuality. All the liberators and abolitionists who fought for equality and greatness would not be disappointed with the equality we have achieved today.