The Black Jacobins : Book Review

Review By Xavier Savage | www.DXTheTrainer.com

CHAPTER 1: THE PROPERTY

James opens the book by describing the island of Saint-Domingue—what we now call Haiti—as the wealthiest colony in the French empire, made so through the horrific exploitation of African labor. Sugar plantations generated enormous profits for European aristocrats, but this came at the cost of millions of African lives. Enslaved people weren’t treated as humans, but as commodities. Their worth was calculated by the amount of work they could do before death. Bodies were expendable. This was industrial-scale brutality, cloaked in colonial civility.

The trauma of that system didn’t disappear—it evolved. Today, people of color still live under systems designed to extract value while giving back as little as possible. Whether it's through poor healthcare access, toxic food environments, or misleading fitness narratives, the modern world continues to treat Black bodies as “property” that can be drained of energy, attention, and productivity. You don’t own your body if you don’t understand how it’s being used against you.

In fitness culture, this becomes even more obvious. The industry sells insecurities back to you at a premium. Workout plans, diet pills, and fat-loss gimmicks are built on making you feel broken, not powerful. This is the new plantation economy—one where your body’s suffering is profit for someone else. Understanding this historical foundation is the first step in reclaiming your strength. If your body was once used for their empire, then building it up today must be for your own.

Fitness Mirror: Audit the systems feeding you. What are you consuming—nutritionally, mentally, and emotionally? Who benefits when you're too tired, sick, or ashamed to train? Once you know the enemy, you can train with precision, not confusion.

CHAPTER 2: THE OWNERS

The French colonists—especially the grand blancs—lived in opulence built directly on the broken backs of enslaved Africans. They were paranoid, hyper-vigilant, and terrified of rebellion because they knew their comfort was stolen. Their security depended on brutality, hierarchy, and division. This fear led them to create even more violent structures to maintain control, like secret police, organized terror, and scapegoating. That paranoia wasn’t irrational—it was the byproduct of building a system so unstable, it could only be maintained through force.

In today’s world, the people who profit from your poor health live in similar bubbles of safety. They have access to private healthcare, organic food, and elite training while pushing processed poison and sedentary lifestyles onto the masses. The more aware and powerful you become, the more you disrupt that ecosystem. That’s why your health journey isn’t just personal—it’s political. Your muscle is rebellion. Your clarity is a threat. Your autonomy is their instability.

This chapter exposes how fragile domination is when it’s built on oppression. These plantation owners didn’t rule through strength—they ruled through your silence. When you speak up, when you train, when you build knowledge, their foundation cracks. The modern “owners” are billion-dollar industries with entire marketing departments dedicated to your confusion. Every step you take toward fitness, mental health, and sovereignty undermines their authority.

Fitness Mirror: Build your body like a fortress. When they fear rebellion, become the rebellion. Train so your energy doesn’t get drained by stress, shame, or seduction. Be stronger than the systems built to break you.

CHAPTER 3: THE PROPERTY SPEAKS FRENCH

This chapter explores how colonizers manipulated language and status to fracture solidarity among the enslaved. Some Africans, taught French and given elevated positions, became buffers between the masters and the masses. They spoke the language of the oppressor and were rewarded with proximity to power—though never with full freedom. These elites were used to divide the enslaved population, reinforcing the colonial hierarchy from within.

In modern fitness culture, this shows up through influencers and coaches who chase brand deals, validation, and platforms without questioning the system they’re endorsing. They speak in industry terms—“macros,” “HIIT,” “cutting season”—without teaching the fundamentals. They tell people to chase aesthetics instead of strength. Instead of leading people to freedom, they lead them into deeper cycles of self-judgment. They become tools of the machine instead of agents of change.

There’s nothing wrong with learning the language of science or participating in mainstream health spaces—but if you forget your mission, your people, or your purpose, you’ve lost. Speaking “French” today means mimicking whitewashed standards, erasing ancestral knowledge, and playing respectability politics in wellness. That’s not power—it’s captivity with better lighting. Real power is taking what you learn and using it to liberate others.

Fitness Mirror: Speak the language of truth, not trends. Your body doesn’t need permission to be powerful. Don’t trade your cultural memory for a protein sponsorship. Teach in the tongue of revolution, not replication.

CHAPTER 4: THE SAN DOMINGO MASSES BEGIN

James describes how seemingly small acts of resistance—slowing work, destroying tools, gathering in secret—laid the foundation for the Haitian Revolution. These weren’t coordinated military efforts at first. They were everyday decisions by people who refused to be passive. Rebellion doesn’t start with fireworks. It starts with intent, ritual, and readiness. The groundwork for freedom was laid in the shadows, long before it hit the headlines.

This mirrors how personal transformation begins. Before the six-pack, the squat PR, or the 90-day challenge, comes the simple decision: “I will no longer live like this.” Choosing to drink water instead of soda, stretching before bed, going on that walk—those are acts of war against decay. Those are not small. Those are your first victories. Most people want the revolution without the preparation. But Toussaint’s soldiers trained before they marched.

You don’t wait for motivation. You don’t wait for perfect gear or perfect timing. You revolt with what you have. One meal. One workout. One breath. You build your army in secret until your power can’t be denied. Health doesn’t arrive—it’s built in hidden hours. The San Domingo masses didn’t wait for freedom—they created the conditions for it by showing up daily, silently, and persistently.

Fitness Mirror: You are already in rebellion. Every disciplined act is resistance. Every choice to heal is a strike against your captors. Don’t underestimate the power of today’s discipline.

CHAPTER 5: AND THE PARIS MASSES COMPLETE

While the San Domingo masses ignited their rebellion on the ground, James parallels their rise with the Parisian revolutionaries who, in France, stormed Bastilles and toppled monarchs. The irony, however, was sharp—the French revolutionaries preached “liberty, equality, fraternity” yet continued to enslave Africans in their colonies. Still, these revolutionary ideals reached Haiti and set a fire in the minds of the enslaved. If liberty belonged to all men, then it belonged to Black men too. This contradiction became fuel for transformation.

This is how external revolutions often spark internal ones. Today, as movements for justice and mental health rise globally, individuals are called to initiate revolutions within themselves. The liberation you see on your feed—protests, truth-telling, community building—should activate something in your daily life. It’s not enough to cheer from the sidelines. You’re meant to make that macro movement personal. That means: no more excuses. No more waiting. Take the energy of the world and turn it into action within your kitchen, your gym, your home.

Just as the Haitian revolutionaries interpreted the French revolution through their lens, you must reinterpret the world through yours. Don't mimic other people’s training programs or wellness goals. Build your strategy based on what freedom looks like to you. When someone reclaims their health in your community, it’s a cue for you to do the same. When a neighbor learns to fast, meal prep, or run a mile, let that energy infect you with drive. Revolution is contagious—but only if you allow yourself to be infected by its demands.

Fitness Mirror: Revolution isn’t something you just observe. It’s something you embody. Take the ideals from the world and apply them to your life. Don’t just watch transformation—live it.

CHAPTER 6: THE RISE OF TOUSSAINT

This chapter marks the emergence of Toussaint L’Ouverture—the man who would become the architect of Black freedom. James paints him as more than a warrior; he was a strategist, a healer, a reader, and a thinker. He studied military manuals and political texts while tending to the wounded. He didn’t rise through brute force alone—he rose through mastery. Toussaint understood that strength without intelligence was chaos. He brought vision to violence and strategy to suffering.

This is your blueprint for leadership in fitness and life. It’s not enough to grind in the gym. You need vision. You need to read, study, track, and reflect. Toussaint didn’t just fight—he created a doctrine. He understood that real liberation requires planning, alliances, and psychological warfare. The same goes for your health. You can’t wing it and win. You need a plan. You need to track your macros, periodize your training, understand your body type, and build rest into your protocol.

Toussaint also modeled humility. He didn’t start as a general—he became one by outworking everyone else. While others post on Instagram, you train in silence. While others chase trends, you study what works. Like Toussaint, you must create a system around you that survives beyond you. He wasn’t just building muscles—he was building a nation. If you’re just getting fit for looks, you’re missing the point. Build health that your children and clients can inherit.

Fitness Mirror: Study as much as you sweat. Train like a leader. Think like a general. Create systems that outlive your emotions.

CHAPTER 7: THE EXPULSION OF THE BRITISH

Once Toussaint assumed leadership, he faced not just internal strife but direct invasion from European superpowers. The British, trying to capitalize on French instability, landed in Saint-Domingue to seize control. But Toussaint played them masterfully. He used terrain, timing, and propaganda to defeat a better-equipped army. He made alliances, pivoted strategy, and used their own greed against them. This chapter is pure military brilliance. But it’s also a lesson in adaptive intelligence.

Your life is filled with competing forces. Diet trends pulling you one way. Burnout pushing you another. Social media pushing shortcuts and six-week plans. You have to be like Toussaint: analyze every enemy, use their strengths against them, and stick to your long-term plan. Don’t waste time in tribal wars between Keto and Paleo. Learn from all camps and build your own blueprint. Toussaint didn’t care who was “right”—he cared about what worked.

This is the power of asymmetrical warfare—outthinking instead of outmuscling. You may not have the money for fancy equipment, the trainer with 1M followers, or the perfect routine. But you have time. You have discipline. You have the ability to wake up earlier, track more accurately, and stay focused longer. Use that. Adapt. Pivot. Keep the vision fixed even when tactics change. That’s how you defeat stronger opponents.

Fitness Mirror: Use their tools, but don’t play their game. Be strategic. Be fluid. Make your transformation unstoppable through adaptability.

CHAPTER 8: THE MULATTOES TRY AND FAIL

Here James dives into one of the Revolution’s most complex tensions: class and race within the Black population. Mixed-race Haitians—often educated and wealthier—tried to align with the French elite to preserve their privilege. They weren’t invested in Black liberation as much as maintaining their own status. In doing so, they sabotaged unity and ultimately failed. Toussaint had to reckon with betrayal from those who shared skin but not soul.

This same pattern shows up today in every wellness space. Coaches, influencers, and professionals who look like you—but act in the interests of the system. They use their platform not to empower the people, but to gain proximity to corporate validation. They sell supplements instead of sovereignty. They critique obesity while ignoring food apartheid. They gatekeep wellness to remain elite. Their presence isn’t liberation—it’s camouflage for the oppressor.

You, too, will face moments where you’re tempted to abandon your people for personal gain. Maybe your physique gets you sponsorships. Maybe your knowledge gets you published. Will you use that to lift others—or will you distance yourself from struggle? Toussaint didn’t tolerate half-hearted allies. Neither should you. Liberation requires full commitment. Your transformation is meaningless if you forget where you started or who still needs help.

Fitness Mirror: Stay loyal to your roots. Don’t sell out your sovereignty for a paycheck. Lead with integrity, not imitation. Uplift or be replaced.

CHAPTER 9: THE EXPULSION OF THE SPANISH

In this chapter, James recounts Toussaint’s strategic brilliance in driving out the Spanish, who also sought control over Saint-Domingue. Toussaint didn't rely solely on brute force; he applied layered tactics—geographical knowledge, intelligence networks, supply line control, and psychological disruption. Each campaign wasn’t just a battle—it was a lesson in organized resistance. Toussaint knew when to strike, when to retreat, and how to stretch limited resources to maximum effect. This wasn’t reactionary chaos—it was calculated warfare.

Apply that to your training. If you’re showing up to the gym without a plan, you’re acting like a militia, not a military. Stop winging your workouts. Every training block should be a campaign: clear objective, mapped timeline, defined metrics. Are you trying to increase strength? Drop fat? Improve mobility? Then build your weekly routines to reflect that mission. Most people don’t fail because they lack will—they fail because they lack war maps. Your workout journal should look like a general’s field report, not a random scribble.

Just as Toussaint defeated better-equipped enemies with better execution, you must do the same. You don’t need the fanciest equipment, the trendiest supplements, or Instagram-validated methods. You need consistent execution, intelligent recovery, and relentless focus. When your opponents have more resources, beat them with rhythm. Beat them with planning. Beat them with adaptability. That’s asymmetrical fitness warfare.

Fitness Mirror: Are your workouts battles or campaigns? Organize. Measure. Adapt. Make your training as deliberate as a military conquest.

CHAPTER 10: TOUSSAINT TAKES COMMAND

With the expulsion of the European powers, Toussaint solidified his position as the de facto leader of the island. But he didn’t stop with military dominance—he immediately transitioned into governance. He created systems. He rebuilt infrastructure. He instituted agricultural reforms and legal systems to stabilize the new nation. Toussaint understood that revolution isn’t complete until it's institutionalized. Victory on the battlefield is irrelevant if your people starve after the war.

Your body transformation needs the same evolution. It’s not enough to lose weight or build muscle. You need to create sustainable systems. What’s your post-victory routine? Do you have a meal-prep habit that works when life gets chaotic? Do you have a recovery strategy for when stress attacks? Are your sleep patterns supporting your goals? Without governance, your transformation will fall apart like a coup with no follow-through. Victory without system is relapse.

Toussaint’s command also came with internal resistance. Not everyone agreed with his pace, methods, or discipline. Some wanted revenge. Some wanted faster results. Sound familiar? As you rise in your fitness journey, you’ll meet resistance. Family might not understand your new lifestyle. Friends might mock your discipline. Even your old habits will try to rebel. Leadership means holding the line anyway. Build your body like a nation—not a temporary camp.

Fitness Mirror: Discipline isn’t temporary. Build rituals that govern you when motivation dies. Structure beats hype. Nation-build your health.

CHAPTER 11: THE BLACK CONSUL

James explores Toussaint’s increasing entanglement with France as he governed under their authority while maintaining de facto independence. This tightrope act reveals the tension between autonomy and diplomacy. Toussaint tried to hold Haiti together while balancing French expectations, local unrest, and international scrutiny. He had to navigate betrayal, backdoor deals, and shifting political winds—all while staying anchored to his principles.

This is your life when trying to maintain sovereignty in a world designed to sabotage it. You’ll have to navigate jobs, relationships, and social pressures that don’t support your goals. You’ll try to eat clean while your coworkers push junk food. You’ll stick to your program while your family calls you “too obsessed.” That’s your France—forces that smile in your face but undermine your foundation. You must be strategic without losing your spine.

The key lesson here: don’t compromise principles for peace. Toussaint was a master negotiator, but he never forgot who he was or who he served. You can be flexible in method, but never in mission. Adapt, yes. Surrender, no. You don’t have to become a monk to be fit—but you do have to protect your values with military-grade discipline. You are the Black Consul of your own body. Govern wisely, but prepare for treachery.

Fitness Mirror: Balance is not betrayal. Adapt to survive, but don’t negotiate with weakness. Stand firm in your values even in friendly territory.

CHAPTER 12: THE BOURGEOISIE PREPARES TO FIGHT

As Toussaint stabilized Haiti, Napoleon began to view his leadership as a threat. James details how the French elite—threatened by Black autonomy—began planning Toussaint’s downfall. Napoleon sent thousands of troops to reassert control, framing it as restoring order but truly aiming to re-enslave the people. Toussaint had prepared, but betrayal came from unexpected corners. This was a test of endurance, foresight, and sacrifice.

The same thing happens when you level up. When you become strong, stable, and sovereign, the systems built on your weakness will push back. Expect it. When you break addictions, they don’t die quietly. When you change your circle, the old one will call you fake. When you build power, people will test it. That’s the bourgeoisie—those whose comfort depends on your captivity. They will challenge you not with open force, but with backhanded temptations: “You’ve been good—have a cheat day.” “You’re too serious—live a little.” That’s the coup.

Your defense? Stay ready. Build routines that make sabotage inconvenient. Surround yourself with people who don’t benefit from your failure. Toussaint didn’t stop training his army when things got peaceful—he trained harder. Your hardest training begins when you reach success. You can’t relax at the top of the mountain. That’s where the lightning hits.

Fitness Mirror: Don’t fear the pushback—expect it. Victory breeds retaliation. Train for peace like war is coming.

CHAPTER 13: THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

Napoleon’s forces landed. The final battle began. James details the brutal, scorched-earth war that followed—full of sacrifice, betrayal, and staggering courage. Toussaint would eventually be captured and die in prison, but his people continued the fight. They burned plantations, destroyed supply lines, and fought with the fury of the oppressed who knew there was no going back. This was total war—and it birthed freedom.

This is the crucible phase of your transformation. When you’ve committed to change and face the biggest internal and external resistance. You’ll face old trauma, emotional relapses, food addictions, fear of success, imposter syndrome, and more. You’ll want to quit. But the moment you walk through that fire without breaking is the moment you birth a new self. That’s the war of independence. And it’s not metaphorical—it’s biological. Your nervous system, hormones, and psyche are fighting to keep the old identity alive.

You win through sacrifice. You give up the comfort foods. You say no to toxic relationships. You miss events to stay committed to your recovery. You train when it’s inconvenient. You study when you’d rather sleep. You don’t do this for vanity—you do this because weakness is a form of captivity. True fitness is freedom earned by fire.

Fitness Mirror: Freedom isn’t gifted—it’s fought for. Bleed for your body’s liberation. Burn the bridge to your old life.

CHAPTER 14: EPILOGUE

James ends with a reflection on legacy. Toussaint died in a cold French prison, betrayed by the system he once tried to work with. But his vision lived. Haiti declared independence. It became the first free Black republic in the modern world. The impact rippled across the globe—from Nat Turner to Marcus Garvey to the Black Panthers. James reminds us: one person’s commitment can shift the arc of history.

And so can yours. Every person you inspire, every child who sees you train, every client you teach, every meal you cook, every affirmation you repeat—it all matters. You are not just transforming for you. You are transforming for everyone watching you. You’re transforming for those who never had the chance. For ancestors who never had the tools. You are Toussaint in your home. In your city. In your mirror.

Don’t let your victories stay private. Document them. Teach them. Create systems. Share knowledge. Build institutions. Your story should become scripture for those who come after. Your name should be whispered with respect long after you’re gone—not because you were ripped, but because you built a legacy on discipline, courage, and fire.

Fitness Mirror: You are someone’s Toussaint. Make your life a doctrine. Build a body that inspires revolt in others.