The Hidden History Of Haiti Summary

The readings and film focused on the Haitian revolution, but from the perspective of the Haitians. I agree with the claim that historians tend to frame the narrative from the perspective of the European oppressors. Also when they describe their attacks and conquerings on non-whites they describe them using words like “victories.” However, when non-whites fight off the European oppressors, the attack is described as a “massacre.” The history of the Americas overall, is widely told from the perspective of the Europeans, those who conquered and settled. Rarely do we see the perspective and experiences of the Native Americans and the African Americans who were enslaved in Americas. However, historians now are working to reverse this pattern. In the film “The Hidden History of Haiti” historians do a good job at this. Here, the perspective of the African Americans is primarily focused on. I found this film extremely interesting because it was surprisingly all knew for me to hear. While watching this I
It was one of the most organized and structured revolutions against the Europeans. This revolution is also important because the Haitians were the first Africans to overthrow their oppressors. It was the Africans who had told Columbus of the island of Haiti. Soon after, the Spanish, British, and French would all desire to conquer this land for its resources and precious metals. The island of Hispaniola was rich of gold and wealth, but the sugarcane became a great object of desire. Sugar in Europe was a mark of class when someone used sugar, and was even sometimes used as a miracle drug. It was Africans who were forced to become slaves, that harvest these resources for the Europeans. The conditions on the island were described as much worse in the Caribbean, then in the United States. This included horrific acts like crucifying pregnant woman, and burying the Africans into the ground and letting them be eaten