Sanité Bélair: “Long live freedom! Down with slavery!”

Sanité Bélair
1781-October 5, 1802
Photo source: http://www.sandrineberges.com/liberty-in-thy-name/a-woman-in-the-haitian-revolution-sanite-belair

“Viv libète! A ba esclavaj” she shouted in the face of the firing squad. The phrase translates to “long live freedom! Down with slavery”. Proclaiming the longevity of liberation while facing the end of her life wasn’t merely a momentary reaction to her fate, this is the character Sanité Bélair displayed throughout her short life.

Bélair was born in 1781 in Haiti. There isn’t much information about her early personal life other than the fact that she married Brigade Commander Charles Bélair who served during the Haitian Revolution.

Sanité Bélair joined the army and eventually rose to the role of a lieutenant serving under Toussaint Louverture and Jean-François Papillon.

Sanité Bélair’s impact and influence was so significant that she had a bounty placed on her head in 1801 along with other notable revolution leaders. Originally, Bélair response to the bounty was to fave her enemy head on and continue with the war efforts. However, she was convinced by others to go into hiding. Eventually she was found and captured.

In attempt to save her life, Charles Bélair attempted to trade his life in exchange. Oppressors, however, are never willing to negotiate. They took them both for trial and execution.

Sanité demanded a soldier’s execution, death by firing squad, as opposed to being beheaded. Beheading was customary for women. In addition to requesting a formal execution, she faced her end without a blindfold.

Sanité Bélair was killed by firing squad when she was only 21 years old.

This is a commanding woman of bravery. Sanité Bélair, we honor you.