Fed up with the way they were being treated by their white French masters, the Slaves of Saint Domingue, today Haiti. Came together under the leadership of a Hougan priest from Jamaica, named Bookman. Bookman was sold by his master to a French merchant from Saint Domingue. His name, Bookman, he earned it by teaching himself how to read and write. Many credible historians argue that his sale to a french master was because of this. Teaching a slave how to read under the code noire, was a violation, punishable by heavy fines. The master, not wanting to pay such fines, may have decided to just sell him. He adopted the last name Dutty associated with the name of the Plantation were he was a property, coming up with. Dutty Bookman. History called him Boukman, in an attempt to make it french like. But his name Bookman was of English, from Jamaica. Although born in Jamaica, Bookman was a powerful and very knowledgeable Voodoo priest. It was the tradition among the slaves, to past the Voodoo secrets to their children. Bookman was known for his deep knowledge of medicinal plants, and the deadly power that they sometimes hold. Poison! Bookman soon started to organize late night meetings with the other slaves in order to come up with a plan; a plan to finally revenge their blood. Word by word, the news spread like wildfire. They all agree to meet: "Nan Bois Kay Imam"
As many tend to believe, Bois-Caiman is not the name of the specific place where the later Voodoo Ceremony would take place. To make you better understand, here is the true definition of
"Nan Bois Kay Imam".
The slaves that night, took the oath to fight one of the greatest fight in human history. The fight for liberty; the Human Race strongest ideal. The Right to be Free and Equal regardless of race.
Cécile Fatiman
Under the order of Bookman and Mambo Cécile Fatiman, the villages where the white French masters were staying, are to be burned to the ground and all white French men executed. The scene was horrendous. With Machetes, daggers, swords, knives, pieces of woods; they left behind no one except children and women. Neighboring villages that could not participate physically, had taken the vow to poison their masters' water supplies. In a period of 3 days, the greatest fight for human freedom in History, was being fought to the bones in the sugar cane plantations in Haiti. Thousands of french men were killed, they head had been cut off, and the plantations sat on fire. The French Army stepped in to restore order. They capture Bookman and beheaded him. They displaced his head at the public place, with a sign underneath reading. "Bookman, Chef des Revolutions des Esclaves." Bookman, Chief of the Slaves Revolution." Mambo Cécile Fatiman, was never captured, she lived to be 112 years. She died from old age. Today bothe Mambo Cécile Fatiman and Bookman are national heroes of Haiti.
Bois Caiman was a decisive point in the World history. The point in time, where the slaves, the Africans took their destiny in charge. No longer, they wanted to suffer from the hands of the white men. A dream which Jean Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's father of independence would immortalize, when he led the country to Independence on January 1st 1804; Making Haiti the first Black Republic in the world, the second independent country in the New World, just a few years after the USA.
Haiti also became the first country in the Americas to Constitutionally grant Its citizen. Freedom and Equality; for all regardless of race and gender.
-There cannot exist slaves on this territory, servitude is therein forever abolished.
All men are born, live and die free.
- All men, regardless of color, are eligible to all employment.
- There shall exist no distinction other than that those based on virtue and talent,
and other superiority afforded by law in the exercise of a public function.
- The law is the same for all whether in punishment or in protection.
Upon Independence, Haiti did not just become the first Black Republic, but Mother of Liberty and Equality for all. Haitians and the entire black race must thank the revolution spark that Bookman started in Bois Caiman.
