IchxzzyY

#HappyNewYear2022

“On Jan. 1, 1804, Haiti became a free republic after a revolution that began in 1791, declaring independence for all people from colonial rule and enslavement.

Frederick Douglass, who served as U.S. minister to Haiti (1889-91) until he resigned in protest, gave a lecture on the history of Haiti and the U.S. treatment of Haiti that is as relevant and informative today as it was when he gave it on Jan. 2, 1893. He begins,

My subject is Haiti, the Black Republic; the only self-made Black Republic in the world. I am to speak to you of her character, her history, her importance and her struggle from slavery to freedom and to statehood. I am to speak to you of her progress in the line of civilization; of her relation with the United States; of her past and present; of her probable destiny; and of the bearing of her example as a free and independent Republic, upon what may be the destiny of the African race in our own country and elsewhere.

He continues on the unique role of Haiti,

my alive. this is where a lot of the “forgive your oppressors,” “turn the other cheek” and “don’t fight hate with hate” platitudes came from that’s permanently etched in black people’s minds. mind you that the bible clearly states that forgive comes AFTER repentance by those who hurt you however i’m sure those parts were removed too. that’s why you have black people so willing to forgive white people for their racism instead of demanding change. ugh. this is what ppl are often talking about when they talk about “slave mentality.”