LCC Reads: The Black Jacobins by C. L. R. James

LCC Reading Group - The Black Jacobins

Join us on the 24th of June as we read Cyril Lionel Robert James’ (CLR James) pioneering historical work of nonfiction, The Black Jacobins.

📍 Location: LARC (upstairs) (62 Fieldgate St, E1 1ES)
🗓️ Date: 24th of June, Tuesday
⏰ Time: 7:00

The book centres the narrative on the rise of Toussaint L’Ouverture, a former enslaved man who came to lead the rebellion, and tells the story of the uprising of enslaved people in Saint-Domingue that abolished both slavery and colonial rule, leading to the creation of the world’s first Black republic: Haiti.

Alongside a detailed examination of the brutal conditions of plantation slavery, The Black Jacobins traces how the revolt became a full-scale revolution and defeated three empires.

The Haitian Revolution remains a lasting beacon for Black liberation, anti-colonial, abolitionist and anti-authoritarian struggle around the world.

We will be reading the book in four parts, each roughly consisting of around 50 pages.
Our first reading will encompass the Introduction, Prologue and Chapters 1, 2 and 3 followed by:
Session Two: Chapters 4, 5 and 6
Session Three: Chapters 7, 8 and 9
Session Four: Chapters 10, 11, 12 and 13

The text can be accessed for free here https://libcom.org/article/black-jacobins-toussaint-louverture-and-san-domingo-revolution-clr-james.

Please note, we are committed to making every one of our events welcoming and safe for everybody. Our spaces are non-partisan, but not apolitical. Racism, fascism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, antisemitism, classism, and any other forms of discrimination based on preference or identity are not tolerated. If you are a victim of bigotry or harassment at any of our events, please raise this with an organiser, who will act appropriately. We broadly follow this code of conduct https://wiki.dbzer0.com/the-anarchist-code-of-conduct