When a slave revolt in Haitian became a revolution that abolished slavery and created the first sovereign Black nation in the Americas, it was kind of a big deal. And, being a Black American history podcast, this episode is about how Haitian independence influenced and affected America, particularly Black people.

Since the Haitian Revolution does not get enough attention my guest, Dr. Leslie Alexander starts the episode with a quick dive into some of its details. Then, we discuss how a free Haiti polarized America as it drove White America to fear and Black America to pride. For Black Americans, how Haiti fared under Black leadership seemed directly connected to other own liberation so they constantly advocated for the island. Even when the island could not meet Black American expectations because of global racism, Black people would not speak badly about it. To them, if America and the world at large would not allow Haiti to succeed, their own success was doomed as well. And, in many ways, they were right to be rooting for everybody Black.

Dr. Alexander's book Fear of a Black Republic: How Haitian Sovereignty Inspired the Birth of Black Internationalism is set for release this fall.

Music Credit

PeaceLoveSoul by Jeris (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/VJ_Memes/35859 Ft: KungFu (KungFuFrijters)