Toussaint L’Ouver-Who? An Anthropological Approach to Infusing the African Diaspora into Caribbean History

Abstract

World history curriculum continues to be plagued by Eurocentric narratives and perspectives eliminating local and community agency in Caribbean history. Textbooks and curriculum standards exclude much of Caribbean history and marginalize the influence and contributions of the African Diaspora. Oftentimes, Caribbean achievements are attributed to European influence and not the local community as seen with the Haitian Revolution and diffusion of the European Enlightenment. African culture and syncretic Haitian religion however, heavily contributed to the inspiration of revolution by African slaves in Haiti. This article explores ways educators can infuse the African Diaspora into Caribbean history through anthropology. Using an ethnographic lens to examine the Haitian Revolution, Haitian Voudou, and Toussaint L’Ouverture presents a new way educators can teach about this pivotal event and society in World History.

Keywords:

• Anthropology
• Advanced Placement
• world history
• Haitian Revolution
• Toussaint L’Ouverture

Notes

1 Society for Applied Anthropology 79^th Annual Conference: Engaging Change in Turbulent Times. Podcast session Changing Scales and Scope in World History: Applied Anthropology and Instructional Design for the Changing AP World History Curriculum in Applying Anthropology in Education: Addressing Equity from K- College. http://sfaa.net/podcast/index.php/podcasts/2019-portland-engaging-change-turbulent-times/applying-anthropology-education-addressing-equity-k-college/