The Haitian Revolution: Misconceptions and the Dangers of Teaching it in Western Society (original) (raw)
History progresses through revolution for it is only revolution that can fundamentally change the societal and political makeup of the human race. Yet, to those with the greatest power, revolution remains a grave threat. Despite this, their source of power stems from the narrative of revolution upon which their countries were founded. Revolution, thus, cannot be ignored, but rather it must be taught with great trepidation -glorifying those that uphold their own ideals, ignoring those that do not, skimming over the details that could bring shame, and never teaching the necessity of revolution in changing the course of history. In Western culture, this is especially true, and revolts are even further disguised when they involve persons of color. Even students at prestigious institutions studying topics like international relations and human rights would have difficulty in articulating the events of Nat Turner"s Rebellion, the First Maroon War in Jamaica, the Malê Revolt, or the event that inspired them all: the Haitian Revolution of 1791, the focus of this paper.
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