Born into slavery in the French colony of Saint Domingue, Louverture was the eldest son of Gaou Guinon, an African Prince who was captured by slave traders.
BEFORE the ASCENSION
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BEFORE the NORTH STAR
The manager of the Breda plantation on which Toussaint was born, allowed him unlimited access to his personal library. By the time he was twenty, Toussaint spoke French, Creole, and some Latin. He also developed a reputation as a skilled horseman and for his knowledge of medicinal plants & herbs.
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BEFORE becoming ETERNAL
Toussaint secured his freedom from his owner even as he continued to manage his household personnel and to act as his coachman. Over the course of the next eighteen years, he settled into life on the Breda plantation with marriage and starting a family.
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ASCENSION
Toussaint joins the slave rebellion against the Europeans after ensuring the safety of his family and the Family of his former owner. He taught himself military strategies to organize the rebels into troops and become the General of the “Royal Army-in-Exile”.
NORTH STAR
Toussaint’s military genius maneuvered him in and out of alliances with Britain, Spain, and France to leverage them against each other for the benefit of his people. As his power ascended France was forced to make him Commander-in-Chief of their Army in Saint Domingue to preserve their perception of power.
Toussaint’s position made him a threat to France and reaffirmed that he was the most powerful man in his home land.
After successfully removing the grips of control Britain & Spain had on the island, Toussaint wrote a new constitution that usurped the power of France while abolishing slavery forever and declaring himself Governor General for Life.
This bold action started a war with the French that ultimately led to Toussaint’s death but his 2nd in command, General Dessalines, picked up the mantle and defeated France to establish Independence and the First modern Black Republic.
ETERNAL
Toussaint Louverture teaches us that education is a weapon, leadership is a responsibility, and the pursuit of justice is an enduring commitment.
His life serves as an inspiration to stand up against oppression, to believe in the possibility of change, and to understand that the quest for justice is a journey that transforms not only individuals but entire nations.
IMPACT