Français
Carefully unfolded inside a cardboard box, an ancient manuscript is displayed for the schoolchildren to see. Gathered around the table, the students in Nathalie Galou’s fourth- and fifth-grade class lean in, stretch their necks, and squint as they try to make out letters, words, and sentences. They all gather around Richard Lédée, a guest in the classroom at the Gustavia school complex, to discuss a subject he knows well: the era of slavery in Saint Barthélemy.
In 2012, thanks to his research, October 9 was recognized by the territorial council as the official day of commemoration of the abolition of slavery. As a result, Richard Lédée is well-equipped to answer the many questions the students ask him. He never shies away from them, explaining things clearly and addressing every topic head-on. For example, when asked about the ships that transported “the captives—since they were not yet slaves,” as Richard Lédée points out, he draws on the children’s knowledge and common sense. This is because the children have spent a great deal of time studying slavery with their teacher, Nathalie Galou.
“The transatlantic crossings are one of the most horrific events in history,” the speaker insists. “On some ships, only five slaves remained out of the five hundred who had been taken aboard.” What did the “slave ships” from the Caribbean bring back to France? The students’ answers come pouring in: sugar, indigo, spices, cotton… “Were there slaves in Saint Barthélemy?” asks one student. “There were slaves all over the island,” confirms Richard Lédée.
Daily Life for Slaves in Saint-Barth
One question puzzles several students when the topic turns to the rebellions that sometimes broke out during the crossings from the African continent to the Caribbean. “How did they manage if they didn’t know how to steer the ships?” asks a young boy. “You know, the crossing took one or two months, so even though they didn’t know how to navigate, they watched what the sailors were doing,” Richard Lédée explains. “They weren’t any dumber than anyone else. So when they took over the ship, they didn’t know where to go, but they knew how to sail. After that, some got lost at sea, while others managed to turn back…”
Richard Lédée listens, answers, and explains, calmly. Standing next to him, a little girl listens intently, staring at him. Other schoolchildren focus their attention on the old manuscript, fascinated. The children are also interested in the daily lives of the slaves in Saint Barth. Did any of them manage to escape? “Surely,” the speaker muses. “The big ships couldn’t enter the harbor, so they had to fetch the cargo in small boats. Often, it was the slaves who did this. Some of them must have tried to escape on those boats, but they were closely guarded. And besides, where would they go? It’s not easy to pick an island nearby…”
The discussion continues, touching on the lives and journeys of freed slaves. “Are there any descendants of slaves in Saint Barth?” a schoolgirl ventures. “Plenty,” Richard Lédée assures her. “Many slaves left the island after abolition, but there had already been a lot of intermarriage.”
Building on the work they’d done with their teacher—the results of which were presented at the slavery commemoration ceremony on October 9—the students listen with keen interest to the stories told by the guest speaker. Until the bell rings for the All Saints’ Day break. It is then time to carefully pack away the old manuscripts. As for the stories, they will undoubtedly remain etched in the students’ memories.
