Slave Revolt Louisiana’s Heroic Jan. 8, 1811
Jan. 8, 1811: Louisiana’s Heroic Slave Revolt “Deslonde Revolt 1811” – artist unknown. By Leon A. Waters One of the most suppressed and hidden stories of African and African American history is the story of the 1811 Slave Revolt. The aim of the revolt was the establishment of an independent republic, a Black republic. Over 500 Africans, from 50 different nations with 50 different languages, would wage a fight against U.S. troops and the territorial militias. This revolt would get started in St. John the Baptist and St. Charles parishes, about 30 miles upriver from New Orleans. At that time, New Orleans was the capital of what was called the Orleans Territory. The revolt sought to capture the city of New Orleans and make New Orleans the capital of the new republic. Leon Waters stands next to the only historic marker that references the 1811 Slave Revolt. The principal organizer and leader of this revolt was a man named Charles, a laborer on the Deslonde plant...