 | Life
and Legacy of Toussaint L'Ouverture Celebrated On 202nd Anniversary of His Death by
Scheeler Devis, Heritagekonpa Magazine April
21, 2005  The
Month of April marks the 202nd anniversary of Toussaint
L'ouverture's death. To commemorate the bicentennial, The Haitian-American
Association For Progressive Action (HAAPA) and Haitian-American Leadership and
"18 Mai" committee hosted the "Toussaint L' Overture Symposium and Business Awards"
at City Hall on Thursday April 7th 2005.
Over
300 people from across the New York Metropolitan area convened at City Hall's
Chambers in Manhattan, New York to celebrate the legacy of the greatest Haitian
leader and revolutionist of our time, Toussaint L 'Ouverture. He led a successful
uprising and overthrew Napoleon's Army and the French from the island of Saint-Domingue
. Toussaint was deceitfully captured and deported to France on Bonaparte's order
(1802). The
symposium highlighted the life and legacy of Toussaint "Breda" L' Overture, with
an emphasis on his
leadership and diplomatic skills. The top 100 Haitian-American businesses in the
New York area were also honored with a special award presentation for their contributions,
commitment, creativity, and innovation in bringing about positive changes in New
York's business and cultural arenas. Speaker Gifford Miller, City Council Kendal
Stewart, Letitia James and other members, attended the ceremony. The
event was one of the most remarkable gathering of entrepreneurs celebrated Haitian's
history and Growing Business community. Among the award recipients were: Rene
Zetren, CEO Of Lindo Furniture; Micheline Jeanlus-Cadet, founder of Micheline
De Paris; Joseph Chery, founder of Chery Brokerage; Stanley Barbot, anchor of
Moman Kreyol; Gerard P. Paul, founder of Register Architect, Fresner Calypso,
founder of Radio Lakay, Delande Rancher, CEO of Creole- English Book; Pascal Antoine,
webmaster of HaitiXchange; Rene Devis, Webmaster and president of Heritagekonpa.com
and many more. | | | |  | | | | | City
Council Speaker Gifford Miller honoring Haitian business leaders at the 2005 Toussaint
Louverture Symposium and Business Awards.. Click
here to view pictures |
The
program started with a short introduction by Jackson, president of HAAPA, followed
by Ruddel Deceus, president of the "18 Mai" Committee, who paid a moving tribute
to Toussaint L'ouverture. "Toussaint L'Ouverture was a
beacon for freedom. In today's terms we're still looking to Toussaint as a
beacon, today its economic freedom." Thus, acknowledging the business and community
leaders in New York's Haitian community, many of those businesses have been working
in the community for over 30 years, paid tribute to the spirit of Toussaint L'Ouverture
". Guess
speakers Reginald Soufrant and Jacques Viello, master of the ceremony, outlined
the extraordinary life of Toussaint L'ouverture and his impact on the Haitian
revolution and the world. They also spoke of the history and legacy of Toussaint,
his military and diplomacy skills, his vision and leadership abilities. Jacques
received a long standing ovation from the audience in attendance. According
to world class historians, Toussaint L'Ouverture, was born on the Bréda plantation,
near the northern coast of Saint-Domingue. He worked as an indentured servant
in the plantation and was freed in 1776, when he was 33 years old. He became involved
in St Domingue's politics from 1791, using the French, the Spanish and the English
against each other. Toussaint managed to eliminate all his enemies until he was
the only power left in St Domingue (now Haiti). By 1801, he was governing the
whole island by himself and proclaimed himself governor of the colony. However,
during a meeting in June 1802, the French arrested Toussaint L'Ouverture. He was
exiled to France and died in the Fortress of the Joux, in the mountains of Jura,
in April 1803. "By overthrowing
me, you have cut down the trunk of the tree of liberty, it will spring up again
by the roots for they are numerous and deep", said Toussaint upon his captivity.
Although
Saint-Domingue's slaves were freed in 1794, Napoleon Bonaparte waged a campaign
to re-enslave the liberated Africans in 1801. The 13-year battle for freedom for
slaves and independence involved a series of war for control between enslaved
Africans, free people of color, whites and soldiers from France, Spain and Britain.
Toussaint's excellence in military and leadership skills drove the success of
the slave revolt. In 1797 he was named Commander-in-Chief of the whole island.
Toussaint
fought valiantly, a brilliant strategist and a distinguished general, both on
the Haitian side and later the Spanish-controlled side of the island of Saint-Domingue,
to free the island from. Haitian
General Jean- Jacques Dessaline and Henry Christophe, who fought in the battle
of Savannah (Georgia), declared war on the French in the early 1800's, eventually
defeated Napoleon's forces and the French army. Haiti, meaning ' land of mountain'
was officially proclaimed a free
republic on January 1, 1804. Although
Toussaint didn't live to see Haiti's independence from France, but his contributions
toward independence are immeasurable. His impact on Haitian and world history
cannot be overestimated. He led the world's only successful slave rebellion from
1791 to 1804, and freed Haiti from colonial powers." The Haitian Revolution freed
half-a-million people from bondage, created the first Latin American nation-state,
and changed the lives of free and enslaved people from Brazil to Virginia", wrote
Ira Berlin, distinguished University Professor of History at the University of
Maryland.
Note: In the begining of April 2005, a street renaming Dedication Ceremony
was held honoring Toussaint L'ouverture. Nostrand Avenue between Glenwood Road
and Eastern Parkway now shares the name of the Haitian revolutionary leader Toussaint
L’Ouverture
The proposed themes and street-names were sponsored by 18
Mai Committee to celebrate Toussaint Louverture legacy and Haitian heritage,
culture and practices. 
Tequilla
Minsqy contributed to this report
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