Prof Matthew J. Smith (UCL) will deliver this year's James McCune Smith Memorial Lecture, hosted by the Beniba Centre for Slavery Studies.

Since 1804: Haiti and the Movement of Caribbean Freedom

In 1804 the republic of Haiti became the first Caribbean territory to abolish slavery and demolish colonial rule. This was an end and beginning. Freedom from slavery meant that in a world dominated by imperial powers Haiti would be considered a threat to notions of white rule. But for Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours it was something more promising. Haiti defined the contours of Caribbean Freedom and inspired contradictory visions of the future of the region.

This presentation will examine the implications of Haitian independence for black people in the Caribbean after slavery. It will give special focus to the movement of Haitians across the archipelago and how the stories of their intersecting lives tell us volumes of the expectations of liberty and decolonization and the enduring struggle for recognition among black Caribbeans.

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First published: 10 September 2020

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