Sudhir Hazareesingh releases history of resistance against slavery

Historian Sudhir Hazareesingh has released a new work titled “Oser être libre” (Daring to be Free), which examines the history of rebels and resistance fighters against slavery. The book challenges the traditional narrative that the abolition of slavery in the 19th century was primarily the work of European progressives.

Instead, Hazareesingh argues that enslaved people actively took control of their own lives through individual resistance, military uprisings, and cooperation networks rooted in African traditions. The research spans from the early years of the Atlantic slave trade in the 16th century to the abolition of slavery in the United States in 1865.

The text highlights both well-known historical figures, such as Toussaint Louverture and Frederick Douglass, and lesser-known women like Prêtresse Léonor and Solitude. Utilizing a vast corpus of archives, autobiographical accounts, and testimonies, the work emphasizes the resilience, cultural preservation, and solidarity of those resisting the slave system.