Why All The Outrage To Pat Robertson’s Remarks About Haiti? (Part 7)

Click on the following for earlier articles in the series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas to see if they were really teaching the truth. (Acts 17: 11 NLT)

Let’s imitate the Bereans and examine Pat Robertson’s remarks by dividing his words into two parts, and then just looking at the first part today:

Something happened a long time ago in Haiti and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. Napoleon the Third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, “We will serve you if you get us free from the prince.” True story. And so the devil said, “OK, it’s a deal.” They kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. (Full quote.)

Immediately after Robertson spoke his remarks about Haiti, the furor began. A short time later, Chris Roslan, a spokesman for CBN, posted a clarification on the CBN/700 Club’s web site:

On today’s The 700 Club, during a segment about the devastation, suffering and humanitarian effort that is needed in Haiti, Dr. Robertson also spoke about Haiti’s history. His comments were based on the widely-discussed 1791 slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caiman, where the slaves allegedly made a famous pact with the devil in exchange for victory over the French. (Full quote.)

Countless web sites and authorities seem to agree with Rev. Robertson’s statement about the 1791 Haitian slave rebellion, Boukman Dutty, Dutty’s supposed prayer and the service at Bois Caiman.

But how much of this is Haitian legend or tradition, and not supported by facts?

Jean R. Gelin, a Ph. D. and Church of God minister, has written three articles for BlackandChristian.com (here, here and here) explaining his findings on the history of the Haitian slave revolution:

“But, although the satanic pact idea is by far the most popular explanation for Haiti’s birth as a free nation, especially among Christian missionaries and some Haitian Church leaders, it is nothing more than a fantasist opinion that ultimately dissipates upon close examination. (Full article)

“I have researched Haiti’s history and found no record that suggests early Haitian leaders ever made a pact with Satan that would bind the entire nation. … Haiti’s constitution does not sanctify Satanism, but guarantees freedom of conscience for all.” (Full article)

David Patrick Geggus, a noted historian and author of Haitian Revolutionary Studies (Blacks in the Diaspora), also casts some doubts about what transpired in August, 1791. Yet, Geggus does provide good evidence for a voodoo ceremony taking place with Boukman Dutty in charge of it:

There was some sort of [voodoo] ceremony, likely on August 21, 1791, and it probably involved the ritual slaughter of a pig. Beyond that, little can be said to be known. Yet what is certain is that after that date the slaves’ course was set. (Full article.)

Of the two historians, Jean R. Gelin and David Patrick Geggus, I place heavier weight on Geggus’ writings.

Gelin mentions the drinking of blood by the slaves when Boukman Dutty spoke at the gathering (August, 1791), but explains it as an ancient cultural phenomenon or even hunger on the part of the slaves. But Gelman fails to mention that Boukman was a voodoo priest and that most of the participating slaves at the gathering were voodoo priests or voodoo followers. Drinking blood was a part of their rites.

Geggus also argues there is little in historical records to validate Boukman’s chant, or prayer, and thinks it was written by by a 19th century historian who added it later. Gelin lists the prayer as an important part of his writings.

So, let’s examine the second part of Pat Robertson’s remarks.

(Continued in Part 8)