Question:
Why is race a central focus for the Haitian Revolution, and what purpose does it serve?

Answer:
One main reason why race is a central focus for the revolution is because European colonists had ingrained within their colonies the idea that race defines a person’s worth. This became especially relevant to Haiti, for an island whose population primarily consists of enslaved African descendants. This becomes even more clear when it is considered that the French “Code Noir” was a law regarding slavery that was named after a racial feature, meaning the two were virtually interchangeable.

Race served two main purposes in the revolution: rallying all black people behind the idea that their race is being liberated (not just slaves), and to direct hostilities towards white oppressors (as can be seen in the account on pages 91-95). In rallying fellow blacks to belittle whites, they were able to essentially turn the revolution into an equal playing ground for both races, rather than blacks being at a social disadvantage.