Hey friendly reminder. Hamas isn't Toussaint Louverture and neither are you. Hamas is a reactionary religious extremist group that has been terrorizing the Palestinian people since 2006 when they murdered their opposition to take control of the Gaza strip and you are a fandom blogger on tumblr who hasn't read the news in 5 years. Don't get it twisted.

He deserved so much better.

Way too many spelling errors today. No!!!

tag yourself: early modern revolutions

Happy birthday, Toussaint Louverture! (May 20, 1743)

A celebrated and influential leader of the Haitian Revolution, Toussaint Louverture is known in his country as the “Father of Haiti.” Born a slave in colonial Saint Dominique, Louverture was freed in 1776 and, inspired in part by the French Revolution, became a leader in the 1791 slave rebellion which would grow into the Haitian Revolution. Louverture proved an able military commander and a savvy politician, and established himself in a leading role over the entire island of Hispaniola. Louverture guided the Haitian nation through its turbulent early years, establishing relations with Britain and the United States, and trading alliances as needed to preserve Haitian independence. Tricked and ambushed while attending a supposed parley, Louverture was transported to and imprisoned in France, where he died in 1803.

"Toussaint Louverture, my latest creation. The new sensation that's sweeping the nation, who also happens to be Haitian."

That's gonna be stuck in my head

Toussaint versus Napoleon

Toussaint Louverture, champion of the Haitian Revolution, must defend the freedom of his people from the forces of Napoleon Bonaparte! In case it isn’t clear, Toussaint is the dude riding the T. rex and Napoleon is the one on the woolly mammoth.

In real history, although Napoleon never invaded Haiti himself, he did send a punitive force to capture Toussaint and enslave the Haitians all over again. The general leading this force, Charles Leclerc, did succeed in catching Toussaint and deporting him to the French Alps, but Haitian freedom fighters were nonetheless able to drive off the French over the course of a year.

Portrait of Toussaint Louverture, by Alexandre François Louis de Girardin, painted ca. 1805 (two years after Louverture died in prison)

More about Toussaint Louverture from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Read -> Reading -> To-Read: Black History Month Graphic Novel Round Up

Check out these awesome graphic novels reader's advisor Ashley has been picking up for Black History Month!

Read: Kindred by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy

This graphic novel was adapted from the book Kindred by Octavia Butler. This story more recently has also been made into a TV series for Hulu. In this twisted tale, Dana is living in the 1970s when she begins having dizzy spells shake her to the core. These dizzy spells lead to her waking up in the 1800s helping a boy who she refers to as “Rufe.” While Dana is not sure what brings these spells on at first, she has an even harder time time trying to figure out how to make it stop.

Ms. Davis: A Graphic Biography by Sybille Titeux de la Croix, art by Amazing Ameziane

The story of Angela Davis is filled with resistance and unwillingness to accept unfair treatment and judgment. She is infamous for being a part of the FBI's Most Wanted List in 1971 due to an incident that occurred where she was accused as the main conspirator.

Reading her story as a graphic novel does not take away the seriousness of her story. I appreciate that the book provides explanations of key events; that is helpful if you are only hearing about some of the events for the first time, as I was. This book was a random find but it sent me down a research hole that made me want to learn more, and that is what any good book does.

Reading: Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound by Dave Chisholm

Miles Davis was an extremely talented musician. He thought outside of the box when it came to his music, so it is fitting that this graphic novel tells his story in an eclectic way.

The story begins as Miles has just gotten a piece of life-altering news in 1982. From there, he reminisces and begins telling his origin story. The artwork and illustrations of this graphic novel are beautiful. The colors truly jump off the page and speak to you, as clear as the words do. The funky art and the insight of Miles' fascinating yet tumultuous life make this book a true learning experience that explores the cool world of jazz and many of its legends.

To-Read: Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History by C.L.R. James, adapted by Nic Watts and Sakina Karimjee

This graphic novel details the Haitian Revolution led by Toussaint Louverture. This graphic novel is based on the play by C.L.R. James, produced in 1936. If you love history, and revolutions, this graphic novel my pique your interest.

See more of Ashley's recs

Violence, to the moderate.

If the idea of violent protests don't make you at least little scared I wonder how well you know history. At the same time, real change almost never happens without people putting their bodies on the line.

(Cartoons by Mattie Lubchansky )

The right understands this far better than your average liberal/moderate. To be a moderate is to trust that existing systems will (mostly) work.

If those system fail? What then? To even consider this is for a moderate ... treason. It's *not* a good thing that one side has all the guns.

I saw a photo a few days ago. I think it was titled. "Vermont politics" -- in it a scruffy cheerful white man held a gun and a sign. The sign said something like "Respect my trans daughter and my right to bear arms!" (did anyone else see this?)

Some people were annoyed at the guy for being so into guns. I could only think how glad I was for his daughter that he had one.

When people say that the US was the first country to get rid of slavery and stand up against racism