An Anti-Racism Framework Inspired by the Haitian Revolution

In every generation, there are people who seek to disrupt systems of injustice, but lack the tools to enact change. Rose Francois, Opportunity@Work Senior Customer Success Associate, and author of A Generational Cry: Based on A True Story of the Haitian Revolution, provides a framework for us to end racism in our generation.

As Haiti continues to suffer ongoing strife following the recent 7.2 earthquake and the assassination of President Jovenel Moise and the Haitian migrants in Texas, I’ve been thinking a lot about the 1791 Haitian Revolution and its leader, Toussaint Louverture. His story can serve as an inspiration for the steps we all can take to combat systemic injustice.

Today, racism is woven into institutional law, policies, and practices. Toussaint’s story is a blueprint for people seeking to healthfully and intelligently disrupt injustice within the systems they are a part of. It’s our duty to continue his fight — at personal, professional, and global levels.

It’s my hope that Toussaint’s legacy can help individuals, business leaders, and the more than 70 million workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes, rather than a four-year degree, as they struggle to find wage equity and improved economic mobility.

I addressed these issues in my book, A Generational Cry: Based on A True Story of the Haitian Revolution, which includes a deeper dive on the following seven steps to help bring an end to systemic injustice, as inspired by Toussaint.

As the author Laurent Dubois so eloquently put it in his book, “Avengers of the New World: The Story of the Haitian Revolution,”

“By creating a society in which all people, of all colors, were granted freedom and citizenship, the Haitian Revolution forever transformed the world. It was a central part of the destruction of slavery in the Americas, and therefore a crucial moment in the history of democracy, one that laid the foundation for the continuing struggles for human rights everywhere. In this sense we are all descendants of the Haitian Revolution, and responsible to these ancestors.”

1. Know Your Why

What’s your ‘why’? Knowing what it is enables you to live a purpose-based life.

Toussaint’s why was to give his family and future generations opportunities to live out their true-life purposes freed from the bonds of slavery. Specifically, ask the following:

• Why do you want to end systemic racism and make anti-racism a lifestyle?
• If you’re a STAR or a hiring manager, why do you want to disrupt injustices in the U.S. labor market and encourage hiring based on skills and not pedigree?

Take time to think your questions through. Write down your answers. Your why statement will reveal your core values and set the tone for your work.

2. Be Self-Aware

Once you know why you want to work against systemic racism, it’s time to become self-aware about your personal relationship with racism. Like Toussaint, we all have the power within us to come to grips with our challenges and barriers and learn how to make a difference.

• What are your experiences with racism?
• Have you internalized oppression?
• If you are not a STAR how does your experience relate or differ from a person who is?

Process what your answers mean to you. We must face ourselves before facing the work.

3. Build Understanding and Alignment

Toussaint learned quickly that his military officers in the Haitian Revolution had different enslavement experiences. To truly make a change, he had to understand each leader’s perspective on freedom to unite their efforts to end slavery. Before you can unite your efforts with other people working toward the same goal, you need to be clear in your understanding of racism.

• What is your personal definition of racism, and what life experiences influenced that racism?
• Have you read about racism from the perspectives of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color?
• What is your personal opinion on why the U.S. labor market has overlooked STARs?

Identifying your personal definition of racism will help you align your understanding with the research.

4. Determine Your Role

Toussaint’s determination to end slavery was so strong that it made him a leader capable of effecting real change. Similarly, we have the power to determine how we will lead within the organizations, systems, and communities we are a part of. We cannot do everything, but we can begin disrupting injustice where we are rooted. Consider the following:

• How can you disrupt racism at your workplace, group, neighborhood, school, local government, church, or community?
• What does anti-racism look like in your career and relationships?
• How can you use your role to advocate for STAR inclusion in the U.S. labor market?

Narrowing your focus maximizes your impact, protects your energy, amplifies justice as a lifestyle, and empowers others to do the same.

5. Educate Yourself

Toussaint educated himself on the colonial system he was a part of by learning the post-French Revolutionary laws before sending a new constitution to Napoleon in France. We must also educate ourselves about injustices happening within the systems we are a part of. For example:

• What is the history of racism versus racial equity within your industry and organization?
• How might you begin anti-racism conversions within your organization?

Educating yourself about the system you are a part of, activates your learning and informs you with context for how to move forward.

6. Join A Community

Toussaint’s community was his family and council of military officers. When tough conversations needed to happen, he didn’t hesitate to take them on. What about you?

• What community within your industry is seeking to disrupt racism? How can you join them?
• What can the community do to add anti-racism work to vision statements, departmental goals, and performance measurement systems?
• What community or employer groups have created career pathways for STARs?

Having a community you can trust helps us protect your energy to divide and conquer. This work is not meant to be done alone. Build your community and an empowered environment.

7. Rest and Wellness

Toussaint learned he could not end slavery all by himself. His ability to make time for joy and let others lead enabled him to resist slavery. You can do the same. We must rest and protect our energy to show up strongly when we need to, and use that time to reflect on the other stages of this cycle.

• How can you use the cycle to sustain anti-racism work to continuously face yourself, and help others do the same?
• How can you use the cycle to sustain anti-racism work to protect your energy during tough conversations?
• How can you empower STARs to advocate for rest and wellness initiatives in the workplace?

It’s important that we are filling our own cups before pouring out our energy to end legacies of hate.

Don’t be afraid, making anti-racism a lifestyle is meant to be hard. Begin the cycle by starting with step one: Know Your Why. Reflect and discuss your answers with a person you trust. By taking this step, you will join a movement greater than yourself. With courage greater than our fears, we can work to advance racial justice within the systems we are a part of.

This blog was written by Rose Francois, Senior Customer Success Associate at Opportunity@Work.