Toussaint Louverture was an African royal, born into slavery, that went on to lead the Haitian Revolution and help Haiti become the world’s first black republic in 1804. Under his leadership rebel slaves won their freedom from France. Haiti was the world’s largest producer of coffee and sugar during this era and made France rich with its forced production of cotton, indigo and cacao as well. The human cost of slavery for these luxuries was unthinkable. In the states, US civil rights campaigns saw Louverture as an icon of liberation and black heroism. He knew then as we still know today that racism is structural and systemic and not just a point of view. Haiti’s rebellion against slavery inspired ours. Haitian history is Black History. #blackhistorymonth #haitianhistory #kannrestaurant #kannpdx 🇭🇹💪🏾