Julia Gaffield, PhD

I am thrilled to share the cover of my forthcoming book, I Have Avenged America: Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti’s Fight for Freedom (June 2025 @yalepress.bsky.social) The stunning painting is by Haitian-American artist Ulrick Jean-Pierre (ulrickjeanpierre.com) yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

In anticipation of the 220th anniversary of Jean-Jacques Dessalines's assassination, here are some of my favorite quotations:

Haiti has never lacked for extremely quotable political figures.

In anticipation of the 220th anniversary of Jean-Jacques Dessalines's assassination, here are some of my favorite quotations:

I am so grateful to Matthew Alexander Randolph for this thoughtful review of _I Have Avenged America_ in Eighteenth-Century Studies!

Marlene Daut on the need for "inventive approaches that give sway to attitudes of abundance rather than mentalities of loss" in historical research and writing: marlenedaut.com/blog/the-hai...

Search: Assistant Professor of Modern African American History at William & Mary williammary.wd12.myworkdayjobs.com/WM/job/Posti...

Seen at @seminarycoopbooks.bsky.social yesterday. “New and Notable” indeed. NB @unlawfulentries.bsky.social

Reading list set for my Historiography Survey in Latin American History 2 at the @thegraduatecenter.bsky.social @historygc.bsky.social. It's going to be an exciting semester reading @juliagaffield.bsky.social @carmensoliz.bsky.social @renatakeller.bsky.social and others.

The William and Mary Quarterly forum on the recently discovered John Dickinson documents, revealing his previously unknown secret attempt to prevent the American Revolution, is now available online! The WMQ has generously made the issue open access for the next month. muse.jhu.edu/issue/57168

It was a privilege to work with the remarkable WMQ team @oieahc.bsky.social, led by editors @juliagaffield.bsky.social and Meg Musselwhite, who did so much to improve every aspect of the forum. The journal lived up to its legendary reputation for rigorous editorial attention.

An incredible forum in the latest William and Mary Quarterly, spearheaded by Jane E. Calvert and @jgienapp.bsky.social. The contingency of the revolutionary moment can’t be clearer.

"Led Haiti's fight for independence." Today's #history book pick from Damn History, a free monthly newsletter for readers/writers of #popularhistory. Congrats to author @juliagaffield.bsky.social & @yalepress.bsky.social! Read/subscribe to Damn History: damn-history-16d93f.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Here it is, my 285th #ScholarSunday thread of great public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new & forthcoming books from the last week. Add more below, please share as widely as possible, & enjoy, all! 🗃️ + blackwhiteandread.com/scholarsunda...

Interested in books about the early American republic? Use discount code SHEAR26 during the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic conference to receive 30% off and free shipping on your order on featured titles July 16 – October 17, 2026. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/SHEAR26/

Obviously, I'm not a huge fan of amazon, but they are selling Living in a DAISY Age at 40% off if you have not gotten a copy yet! I promise it would be a nice beach read 😀 www.amazon.com/Living-D-I-S...

Now available in paperback! yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300...

Boucher Prize: Mélanie Lamotte, By Flesh & Toil: How Sex, Race, and Labor Shaped the Early French Empire. Harvard University Press. Honorable Mention: Julia Gaffield, I Have Avenged America: Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti’s Fight for Freedom (Yale University Press).

A funny part of the story of when I told Bishop Mark Seitz about this book was that I told him this was my favorite book this year. He asked what number two was, and I explained to him it was @juliagaffield.bsky.social “I have avenged America.” Dessalines is my favorite Haitian revolutionary…

I am delighted that _I Have Avenged America_ received an honorable mention from the @frenchcolonial.bsky.social for the Boucher Book Prize! Congratulations to the winner, Mélanie Lamotte, who won for her excellent book _By Flesh & Toil_!!

This is an incredible story, a view via letters in the summer and fall of 1775 into just how determined Dickinson was (and surely reflecting others) to prevent revolution. Noting Dickinson's 1767-68 series _Letters from A Farmer_ arguing against colonial taxation was reprinted in London in 1774.

And it's a fantastic example of *what scholarship can do.* Long after the misc in DC for the 4th comes down, the WMQ essays will tell us about the ongoing work of understanding this period. Love that @oieahc.bsky.social put the docs on the OI Reader. Dickinson _Letters_ @jcblibrary.bsky.social.

Major props to the WMQ team, led by @juliagaffield.bsky.social and Meg Musselwhite, who moved heaven and earth to get the documents online by today. The WMQ has been amazing from start to finish. @oieahc.bsky.social

The documents, and a set of interpretive essays, will soon be published in a forum in the William and Mary Quarterly coinciding with the 250th of U.S. independence. Until then, the WMQ have made the transcripts of the documents available for viewing. oireader.wm.edu/open_wmq/the...

Another sneak peek at what's coming in the July issue of the William and Mary Quarterly!

A sneak peek at what's coming in the July issue of the William and Mary Quarterly (my last official issue as editor!). I'm happy to have had the chance to work with @davidrarmitage.bsky.social on this essay!

Political football: @juliagaffield.bsky.social on FIFA and banning the Haiti players' shirt @theconversation.com theconversation.com/fifas-haiti-...

Waiting for mine!

That's so good!

My Dessalines jersey arrived today! I'm so happy that Saeta is restocking the original, even though FIFA banned it! theconversation.com/fifas-haiti-...

Read @juliagaffield.bsky.social on FIFA's decision to ban Haiti's original World Cup jersey, the deep pattern this is a part of, and the irony that they are probably helping to educate more people about the Battle of Vertières. Great piece! theconversation.com/fifas-haiti-...

Seconded. It has been incredibly helpful for writing the opening chapter of my dissertation.

"Haiti and the curious case of a banned World Cup kit" by @nickmiller79.bsky.social for @theathletic.com www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

"Grenadye Alaso" by Michaël Brun www.youtube.com/watch?v=hok7...

My author copies of the paperback of _I Have Avenged America_ arrived! (Read it to learn why the Haitian #WorldCup soccer jerseys were rejected as "political") The official release date is July 13! @yalepress.bsky.social

Again?? www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...

Again?? www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-...

It's always a good time to read a book about the Haitian Revolution!! 👇

It's always a good time to read a book about the Haitian Revolution!! 👇

Currently reading this fantastic book by @juliagaffield.bsky.social, really enjoying it, and realizing that every once in a while, reading a book about the Haitian revolution is a much needed exercise, especially when written by great historians.

I’m wrapping up my 3-year term as Interim Editor of the William and Mary Quarterly, and I am grateful to have worked with so many fantastic authors and generous reviewers. It has been an amazing experience, and I am looking forward to getting back to regular professor life (as FULL Professor!!)

Happy Haitian Flag Day, Boston! Bon Fèt Drapo 🇭🇹 In times like these, celebrating our history, culture, and pride matters more than ever. Thank you to the students, seniors, artists, elected officials, and community members who joined us for today’s breakfast and flag raising.

The New York Public Library places I HAVE AVENGED AMERICA by Julia Gaffield on a Haitian Revolution Reading List 📖

New book review: Perry on Gaffield, Julia: _I Have Avenged America: Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Haiti’s Fight for Freedom_. Yale University Press, 2025. Published by H-Early-America. Read here: networks.h-net.org/node/20140304