Welcome back to the new season of Holy Donors! We are excited to return from our summer vacations and explore the life and generosity of this season’s star, Pierre Toussaint. Pierre Toussaint was born into slavery on the French colony of Saint Domingue (Saint Domingue was what we know today as independent Haiti), and he served as a trusted domestic slave to his master Jean Jacques Bérard. When Bérard and his family fled Saint Domingue in the middle of the Haitian Revolution, he took Pierre Toussaint and his sister Rosalie with them to New York City. In New York City, Pierre made a name for himself as a hairdresser and a philanthropist.
The bulk of this initial episode revolves around a discussion on the history of slavery and on an overview of the Haitian Revolution, a revolution which proved to be a key turning point in Pierre’s life. Thaddeus shares details about the dangerous, unforgiving lives of the slaves on Saint Domingue, and he highlights the slaves’ importance in maintaining Saint Domingue’s distinction as a leading producer of sugar and coffee products.
Thaddeus continues the story of Saint Domingue’s history as France’s thriving slave colony to it’s dissolution into violence and rebellion during the Haitian Revolution. Bérard and his family try to outlast the slave rebellion on Saint Domingue, but after 6 years of waiting for the unrest to settle, the family is forced to flee, taking Pierre with them. Their flight from the island is far from a guaranteed success. Join us next week to hear about Pierre’s journey from the Caribbean to NYC and learn about how a Haitian slave finds success as a hairdresser.
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Recommended reading:
"Pierre Toussaint: A Biography" by Arthur Jones
"Ten Christians: By Their Deeds You Shall Know Them" by Boniface Hanley
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Holy Donors: Bringing you inspiring stories of radical generosity that have changed the world.
