The Slave Revolt That Created A Country

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 29 December 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Haiti was under French colonial rule in 1791 when the revolution began, resulting in the largest and most successful slave revolt in modern history.

It's a compelling story that deserves to be heard, and one with some incredible women at the heart of it.

Who were they? How did the island's vodou ceremonies help galvanise the cause? And what is their legacy today?

Joining Kate is Marlene Daut, author of Awakening The Ashes: An Intellectual History of the Haitian Revolution, to tell us more.

This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

Don’t miss out on the best offer in history! Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts.

Get a subscription for £1 for 3 months with code BETWIXTTHESHEETS1 sign up now for your 14-day free trial https://historyhit/subscription/

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello my lovely betrixters it's me Kate Lister I am here you are here we are all here it is time for your fair news warning
0:07.8	This is an adult podcast book by adults to other adults about adult things covering a range of adult subjects in an adult way and you should be an adult too.
0:16.0	Now that little lot is out the way, I think we can safely continue because Verdo's we have warned you. because Verdues, we have warned you.
0:25.0	On the evening of the 14th of August 1791,
0:28.0	on the French colony of Sandomanga,
0:30.0	a monumental meeting is taking place.
0:33.4	In the woodlands outside Lecap as a tropical storm rolls in
0:40.9	some 200 representatives of enslaved Africans from nearby plantations met.
0:47.0	They were presided over by prominent slave leader, Dutie Bokeman, and Cecile Fatimiman, a priestess of what would later become known as Vodu.
0:56.7	The ceremony was part religious ritual and part strategic meeting as the enslaved people
1:02.4	planned a revolt against their white enslavers.
1:06.0	For context, at its peak, the slave population total to 500,000 to a white population of 32,000.
1:15.0	Dismissed as harmless by the white slavers, the events that took place were a catalyst for
1:20.3	revolution.
1:21.9	Within days the whole northern plain of the island was in flames. The French
1:25.8	fought back and captured and beheaded Boakman for his role in the uprising, but it was too late.
1:32.0	What became known as the Haitian Revolution was underway,
1:35.0	the largest and most successful slave revolt in modern history. What do you look for me at man? You're supposed to be?
1:44.0	I'm...
1:45.0	What do you look for me at?
1:50.0	Oh, money, of course.
1:52.0	You're supposed to rise when an adult speaks to you.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from History Hit, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of History Hit and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.