Bill > SR7

This resolution recognizes January 1, 2025, as Haitian Independence Day in Delaware, providing historical context about Haiti's journey to independence. The document outlines the brutal colonial history of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), where French colonists established sugar and coffee plantations worked by enslaved Africans under extremely harsh conditions. The resolution highlights the significant slave revolt that began in 1791, which ultimately led to the first successful slave rebellion resulting in the creation of an independent state. It describes how the enslaved people fought against French colonial authorities, with key moments including the Battle of Vertières on November 18, 1803, and the proclamation of independence on January 1, 1804, under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. The resolution emphasizes Haiti's historical significance as the first independent nation led by a black majority in the post-colonial era, transforming from a brutal slave colony known as "The Pearl of the Antilles" to a sovereign state, with the name "Haiti" meaning "country of mountains" in the Taino language.

https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=141719