Difference between revisions of "Affranchis"
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| − | French colonial [[Saint-Domingue]] (now [[Haiti]]) had three social classes: French planters, '''affranchi''' landholders, and African [[slaves]]. The affranchi were light-skinned ([[mulattoes]]) free persons of color, the offspring of white French men and African women. As such, the affranchi had legal and social advantages over the | + | French colonial [[Saint-Domingue]] (now [[Haiti]]) had three social classes: French planters, '''affranchi''' landholders, and African [[slaves]]. The affranchi were light-skinned ([[mulattoes]]) free persons of color, the offspring of white French men and African women. As such, the affranchi had legal and social advantages over the slave classes. They were able to own land and attend some French colonial entertainments. They could not hold administrative posts or work as doctors or lawyers. They were also forbidden to wear the style of clothes favored by the [[Grand Blancs|wealthy white colonists]]. In spite of the disadvantages, many affranchi identified themselves culturally with France rather than with the enslaved population. |
| − | Yet many whites detested them. In fact, the term affranchi, meaning "ex-slave" was an insult term, designed to remind wealthy men and women who had been born in freedom that whites considered them still to be ex-slaves, because of their African ancestry. Whites' belief that anything linked with Africa, even by the slightest drop of blood, was abject and debasing and identified with being inferior. | + | Yet many whites detested them. In fact, the term affranchi, meaning "ex-slave" was an insult term, designed to remind wealthy men and women who had been born in freedom that whites considered them still to be ex-slaves, because of their African ancestry. Whites' belief that anything linked with Africa, even by the slightest drop of blood, was abject and debasing and identified with being inferior. Mulattoes had reasoned that they had to distance themselves from their African roots in an attempt to receive more acceptance from the white colonists. One of their leaders, the indigo planter [[Julien Raimond]], claimed they owned a third of all the slaves in the colony. Many were committed to maintaining [[slavery]] in the early years of the [[French Revolution]] and Haitian Revolution. |
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| + | |||
| + | *[[History of the Disasters in Saint-Domingue]] - Text by a French man living in [[Saint-Domingue]], describing the involvement of affranchis in the early stages of the Haitian Revolutions. | ||
| + | * [[Vincent Ogé]] - A mulatto rebel leader, executed for leading a rebellion. | ||
| + | * [[Vincent Ogé motion to the Assembly of Colonists in Paris (1789)|Vincent Ogé motion to the Assembly of Colonists]] - [[1789]] motion before representatives of [[Grand Blancs]] in Paris. | ||
*[[Mulatto]] - Term used for offspring of African and European ancestry. | *[[Mulatto]] - Term used for offspring of African and European ancestry. | ||
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==Reference== | ==Reference== | ||
| − | *Affranchi. (2005, November 13). ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 14:57, December 5, 2005 | + | *Affranchi. (2005, November 13). ''Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia''. Retrieved 14:57, December 5, 2005 [http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Affranchi&oldid=28172603]. |
[[Category:Glossary]] | [[Category:Glossary]] | ||
Revision as of 13:09, 18 March 2006
French colonial Saint-Domingue (now Haiti) had three social classes: French planters, affranchi landholders, and African slaves. The affranchi were light-skinned (mulattoes) free persons of color, the offspring of white French men and African women. As such, the affranchi had legal and social advantages over the slave classes. They were able to own land and attend some French colonial entertainments. They could not hold administrative posts or work as doctors or lawyers. They were also forbidden to wear the style of clothes favored by the wealthy white colonists. In spite of the disadvantages, many affranchi identified themselves culturally with France rather than with the enslaved population.
Yet many whites detested them. In fact, the term affranchi, meaning "ex-slave" was an insult term, designed to remind wealthy men and women who had been born in freedom that whites considered them still to be ex-slaves, because of their African ancestry. Whites' belief that anything linked with Africa, even by the slightest drop of blood, was abject and debasing and identified with being inferior. Mulattoes had reasoned that they had to distance themselves from their African roots in an attempt to receive more acceptance from the white colonists. One of their leaders, the indigo planter Julien Raimond, claimed they owned a third of all the slaves in the colony. Many were committed to maintaining slavery in the early years of the French Revolution and Haitian Revolution.
See also
- History of the Disasters in Saint-Domingue - Text by a French man living in Saint-Domingue, describing the involvement of affranchis in the early stages of the Haitian Revolutions.
- Vincent Ogé - A mulatto rebel leader, executed for leading a rebellion.
- Vincent Ogé motion to the Assembly of Colonists - 1789 motion before representatives of Grand Blancs in Paris.
- Mulatto - Term used for offspring of African and European ancestry.
Reference
- Affranchi. (2005, November 13). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:57, December 5, 2005 [1].
