Response paper: The Black Jacobins

“The San Domingo Masses Begin”

‘The Black Jacobins’ provides an unprecedented insight into colonial history, which is very

distinct from its earlier counterparts. C.L.R James took it upon himself to make the people of

African descent active subjects of their own history rather than passive objects of other people’s

historical perspective. In the fourth chapter of the book, titled ‘The San Domingo Masses Begin’,

he attempts to describe the events of the ongoing revolution in eighteenth century Haiti.

The coherent narration reveals that the revolution was not centered around one single aim. No

authority or unifying force came forward to regulate and organize the scattered uprisings. Instead

the heterogenous population of San Domingo had categorized into distinguished groups

overtime: the black slaves, Mullatos, the maroons and the free blacks coexisting. These groups in

turn had different ideas with regards to the revolution and were motivated by different incentives

that dictated their actions. For example, the Mullato demands to the provincial assembly were

never in line with what the black slaves demanded. On the other hand, the fate of the whites was

no different. With the rich and profitable colony of San Domingo at stake, the colonizers each

wanted a share of the pie. The white plant owners, the royalist, counter-revolutionist, the small

whites and the patriots; all wanted to counteract the revolutionary struggle and establish absolute

control over the colony once “order was restored”. The division of land in the colony into

regions such as the north, west and the south further drove people away and intensified the

differences among the revolutionary groups operating in the region.

As the plot thickens and the storyline meets several twists in the process, it is crucial to ponder

how the fate of black slaves and the Mullatos at the negotiations differ. It becomes critically

important to analyze the course of events and the possible reasons behind it.

The society in San Domingo was a consolidation of distinct groups. Each had a dissimilar

lifestyle, social status, and experienced varying extent of marginalization and suffering at the

hands of the colonizer. Consequently, this had a profound impact on their psychological

conditioning that played a vital role in shaping their understanding of the revolution.

The black slaves were largely marginalized from society and constantly subjugated to never-

ending terror and atrocities. Even among other people of African descent such as the Mullatos

they yearned proper recognition. What they deeply desired and wanted was crystal clear;

absolute freedom from the shackles of slavery. The Mullatos however stood aloof, advocating

their own liberation and recognition of rights. The maroons on the other hand were living off

subsistence farming in the mountainous forests and were eager to be a part of the uprisings. Still

however with no firm stance on what they wanted, they were easily mobilized by the Mullatos to

support their cause and pressurize on the provincial assembly of the west San Domingo.

Following a series of tedious negotiations involving both military confrontation and political

tactics, the Mullatos were deemed victorious. They were promised freedom in return for

extended corporation with the whites. Under the iron discipline of Riguad, Beauvais and political

assistance from Pinchinat, the Mullatos had emerged as a formidable force. The counter-

revolutionary forces ceased to make use of them in efforts to sabotage the nation-wide

revolutionary struggle. With the Mullatos on their side and no longer a threat, the colonizers

were eager to work collectively in efforts to restore the conventional social order.
The black slaves on the other had a contrasting experience. Their demands were ruthlessly

discarded at the negotiations where Toussaint himself took the leading role in presenting at the

bar of the assembly. The colonists were rather confident that “They would without difficulty

drive the revolted dogs back to their kennels.” (James, 106) For them this group of men and

women were not to be subjected to the same importance as the Mullatos. “They would only grant

pardon only to repentant criminals who returned to work.” (James, 106). As a solution to the

discontent expressed by Biassou at this treatment, the commissioner acting independently invited

Jean Francois for an interview. This resulted in an agreement between the two which promised

freedom for 400 leaders and forgetfulness of the past upon the return of white prisoners in good

faith. Even when the delegation presented themselves before the colonial assembly the next day,

they were treated as the “other”. The president would not even speak to them and the number of

people granted freedom was reduced to 60. It was at this point that Toussaint decided that

negotiations were not the way forward. It was at this time that the humiliation had crossed all

boundaries, the length of marginalization and foul treatment at the hands of the whites had

reached the point of no return. Toussant “Came to an unalterable decision from which he never

wavered and for which he died” (James, 107). Henceforth it was war and war only.

CLR James's in-depth depiction of events highlights such differences. These differences outlined

the white’s perception of the black slaves together with their treatment and classification as

someone inferior. Hence, it can be rightfully drawn that the colonizers still viewed the black

slaves as a commodity. No matter how many plantations they had burnt, no matter how many

men and women had gathered under a single umbrella of leadership, and no matter how much

they hoped to live freely; they were still viewed as property. And for this matter there was no
other way but to voice their opinion with rage and terror. To take upon violence as the path to

liberation.

As Fanon describes it, “The existence of an armed struggle is indicative that the people are

determined to put their faith only in violent methods. The very same people who had it

constantly drummed into them that the only language they understood was that of force, now

decide to express themselves with force.” (the Wretched of The Earth, 42). Haiti went a similar

transformation. The self-liberated slaves under Toussaint were to embark upon a new era in

history, one that is marked by extreme resistance to unravel the atrocities of slavery altogether.
Bibliography

Fanon, Frantz. The Wretched Of The Earth. Grove Press, 1968.

James, C. L. R. The Black Jacobins. The Dial Press, 1938.