Civil Rights: Bicentennial of Haitian Independence - Providence, RI

Bicentennial of Haitian Independence Monument

Providence, RI

N 41° 47.352 W 071° 24.748

Short Description: 

A monument that commemorates the slave revolt that led to abolishment of slavery and Haitian independence from France is located in Memorial Plaza near Hawthorne Ave. in Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI

Long Description:

On January 1, 1804, as a result of the slave revolt and revolution of 1791 - 1804, Haiti declared its independent from France. It was the first black republic in the world and the first country in the Western hemisphere to completely abolish slavery.

A 12' tall by 4' square granite monument commemorates the efforts of two Haitian freedom fighters, Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, to achieve the end of slavery and independence of Haiti from France.

The southeast side of the two side monument is inscribed:

In Unity 

there is

Strength

HAITI

The Spirit of Freedom

1791 - 1804 Founding of Haiti

TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE AND

JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES

ARE THE TWIN AUTHORS OF THE FOUNDING 

OF HAITI. CONFIRMED IN THE CONSTITUTION

OF 1801, FIRST SYMBOL OF HAITIAN AUTONOMY

AND BY THE ACT OF INDEPENDENCE IN 1804

THE FINAL DECLARED OF HAITI'S FREEDOM

FROM FRANCE

TWO LEADERS OF DIFFERING CONVICTION AND

BELIEF TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE IS

IMMORTALIZED BY HIS FAITH IN THE IDEA

THAT LIBERTY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT WORK.

WHILE JEAN-JACQUES DESSALINES IS 

REMEMBERED FOR HIS DICTATE THAT ONE

MUST CHOOSE EITHER LIBERTY OF DEATH

Dedicated

August 14, 2005

The northwest side contains a bronze plaque with the images of Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the inscription:

The Bicentennial of Haitian 
Independence
Memorial Plaza
{Images}
In memory of two Haitian Freedom Fighters 
Born into slavery, Toussaint Louverture and 
Jean-Jacques Dessalines symbolized those who fought for 
the liberation of Saint Dominque from its colonial 
bonds between 1791-1804. Armed with the conviction 
that slavery and servitude had no justifiable place 
within human society in a civilized world, and under 
the banner of the Declaration of the Rights of Man, 
their devotion to democratic principles was realized 
in the creation of the Republic of Haiti after 13 years 
of constant struggle. Recognizing their critical 
leadership, we create this park dedicated to the 
Bicentennial of Haitian Independence, a project of: 
Lakay Foundation, Inc.

Dedicated August 14, 2005