The Hidden Heroines of Haiti: Meet Katherine Flor, The Woman Who Led the Creation of Our First Flag
When we speak of the Haitian Revolution, names like Dessalines and Toussaint are often front and center. But behind the creation of Haiti’s first national flag stands a lesser-known hero: Katherine Flor, a young visionary whose courage and leadership stitched a powerful symbol of liberation.
Born in Arcahaie in the late 1700s, Katherine was not only a skilled nurse but a young entrepreneur who empowered others by teaching them how to sew and create. In February 1803, after a victorious battle against a French troop, General Jean-Jacques Dessalines was insulted by a retreating French general who mocked, “You’re still fighting me with the French flag?”
At that moment, Dessalines took the French flag and ripped out the white center, rejecting the symbol of colonial rule. He immediately tasked General Clervaux to form a team to design a new flag that would reflect the emerging Black nation’s identity. Clervaux turned to Katherine Flor.
Katherine accepted the challenge and assembled a diverse team of men and women to take on this historic mission. For weeks, they collaborated, discussed, and designed with purpose. Their vision culminated in a national congress held in Arcahaie from May 14–21, 1803, despite the threat of nearby French military invasions.
On May 18, 1803, Katherine and her committee presented their final design to Dessalines and the gathered generals. The flag they unveiled was a bold vertical design of red and black, with black representing the Haitian people and red symbolizing victory. It was accepted immediately and became the first official flag of Haiti.
That moment gave birth to what we now celebrate as Haitian Flag Day, and it marked a milestone in our journey toward independence. Katherine’s story is a vital reminder: the fight for freedom was carried by both women and men, with leadership arising not only on battlefields but also in sewing rooms, strategy meetings, and acts of visionary courage.
At Haiti Decoded, we are committed to telling the whole story of our past. And it’s time our children heard the name Katherine Flor alongside Dessalines, Toussaint, and Christophe.
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Learn more about Haiti's Flag in " Evolution of the Haitian Flag."
