March 5, 2025 • 10 mins
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Dive into the extraordinary story of Lumina Sophie (1848-1879), a lesser-known yet powerful figure in Caribbean history, as we explore her inspiring journey during a time of revolutionary fervor. Born in a post-emancipation Martinique, Sophie defied traditional gender roles by leading a revolt for liberation while pregnant, embodying the spirit of resilience and unwavering courage.
As we discuss the historical context of her actions, we’ll unpack the events that led to her participation in a movement sparked by injustice. Learn how a violent encounter fueled a collective uprising, driven by the will of Black Martinicans, and discover how women, including Sophie, played a vital role in the pursuit of freedom and equality. This episode emphasizes the sheer power of community activism and the critical voices of women throughout history, which often remain unheard. Join us as we celebrate Women’s History Month by shining a light on the incredible legacy of Lumina Sophie—a trailblazer who’s fight for justice continues to inspire all of us today!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Strictly Facts, a guide to Caribbean
history and culture hosted by me, alexandria Miller.
Strictly Facts teaches thehistory, politics and activism
of the Caribbean and connectsthese themes to contemporary
music and popular culture.
Strictly Facts family how areyou doing?
(00:22):
Strictly Facts family how areyou doing?
It is a beautiful month of March, also known as Women's History
Month, and so, as we aretransitioning from Black History
Month into Women's HistoryMonth, what better way to do so
than a story of a BlackCaribbean woman who you might
not have otherwise ever heardbefore?
And so, before jumping in toreally highlighting the history
(00:46):
of this extraordinary woman, Iwill ask you first, off the bat
do you know the story of theCaribbean woman who, while
pregnant, helped lead a massiverevolution in 1870?
Martinique, who, it is stated,yelled I would burn my own
mother and even God, ifnecessary, end quote in her
(01:07):
fight for Black liberation?
If not, I'll definitely besharing more about her today.
That woman is none other thanLumina Sophie, also known as
Marie Philomen Ruptus or, as shewas commonly known, as surprise
.
She embodied courage,resistance and strength amidst
(01:29):
what some of historians describeas a moment in Martiniquan
history that could have reallyeasily been glossed over or
overlooked for it not the unityof Black Martiniquans.
Though her name might not be asfamous as others, her
contributions to Blackliberation in Martinique make
her a remarkable figure in thefight for freedom and justice.
(01:51):
Lamina Sophie was born onNovember 5, 1848, less than six
months after slavery wasabolished in the island.
She came from a line of fellowextraordinary women, like her
maternal grandmother, renéeSophie, who ensured her children
had at least a basic education,as well as her own mother,
(02:13):
zulma, who did her very best toremain self-sufficient as a
seamstress and farmer, evenamongst economic challenges
post-emancipation economicchallenges post-emancipation.
Lumina Sofi's defining role inCaribbean history was sparked
when, on February 19, 1870,there was an altercation between
a white Navy employee, aubierde Montanon, and a Black male
(02:38):
bricklayer, leopold Lupin.
The two men had very differentaccounts of what transpired, the
former claiming that Lupin wasthe aggressor by standing in the
middle of the road and forcingMentenon's horse into the bush,
while Lupin and several otherswho were there and were
witnesses to the event claimedquite the opposite, that, in
(03:01):
fact, lupin didn't move out ofMentenon's way swiftly enough
and Mentenon returned hisaggression by whipping Lupin.
Lupin sought recourse from thegovernment, but his complaint
was ultimately declined, thusleading him to seek justice two
months later in his own handsand I mean that quite literally.
(03:23):
Mentenon, because of thebeating he received, filed a
complaint against Lupin, whichresulted in a fine and five
years jail time for Lupin.
The situation and obviousracial undertones sparked
immediate support of Lupin byBlack Martinicans.
Women helped raise funds to paythe fine, and Lupin supporters
(03:46):
took to the streets in protest,especially after his appeal was
denied on August 19th that sameyear.
Supporters quickly turned torevolutionaries, lupina, sofie
included, as thousands joined toburn plantations, destroy
harvesting tools and more.
It was the collective effort ofcountless formerly enslaved
(04:08):
people and their descendants whowere fed up with the brutality
and inequality of the plantationsystem and who were determined
to fight for their liberty.
By this time, sophie was 21years old, a seamstress and two
months pregnant.
That didn't stop her, andlikely fueled her drive as a
member of the Petrolou, or whatwas called at the time women
(04:34):
revolutionaries, who not onlysupported the insurrection but
also built arms and torches andjoined rightfully so right in
with the revolution, attackingplantation owners and burning
down cane fields.
Sophie was one of the leadingwomen insurgents, and it is said
that she led the destruction ofthree of the 25 plantations
(04:56):
that were ultimately destroyed.
This revolution lastedthroughout the final months of
1870 until colonial troops weresent in to suppress the
revolution by late January thefollowing year.
By March, trials began tocharge rebel leaders for their
actions, with Sophie as one ofthe 114 people charged and,
(05:20):
ultimately, one of the only 14women who were convicted.
Although historical records aresparse when it comes to specific
details about Lumina Sophie'sindividual actions, it's widely
accepted that she was a keyfigure in the planning and
execution of the uprising.
In addition, she was very vocalabout her disgust for the
(05:43):
racist colonial system, as courttestimony describes her as a
quote rebel who supposedlypublicly said things like, and I
quote here again we must burneverything, nothing can be
spared.
If God had a shack on earththen I would burn it as well,
(06:08):
because he must himself be anold white man.
End quote.
With all of the testimonyagainst her, she was sentenced
to life in prison in FrenchGuiana, while being described by
the governor of Martinique as,and I quote, the fiercest, most
fearsome of the hooligan gangleaders, end quote.
And he eventually passed awaybefore even turning a year old,
(06:38):
at roughly age 29,.
Sophie was forced to marry aformer prisoner, which was a
common practice at the time forfemale convicts that was forced
upon them.
She passed away two years later, in 1879.
As we always do here at StrictlyFacts, there have been some
tremendous ways Sophie's namehas lived on, and we will, you
know, of course, bring that tolight through our Strictly Facts
(07:01):
sound segment.
And so for me, that is, youknow, knowing that there is a
high school, a local high school, named after her.
There was a 2005 play writtenby fellow Martiniquan, suzanne
Drasius, which won the Medal ofHonor, as well as a biography,
lumina Sophie Called Surprise,written by Gilbert Pago in 2008.
(07:25):
Although Lumina Sophie may notbe a household name, in the same
way other revolutionariescertainly are, she left an
indelible mark on the history ofMartinique.
Her story is a powerfulreminder that women have always
been at the heart of liberationmovements, whether through
direct action, leadership orsupport.
(07:46):
As we celebrate Women's HistoryMonth, we must acknowledge the
trailblazers like Sophie, whosework tirelessly for rights of
Black people, broke rules, notonly by taking up arms and
leading a rebellion, but bydefying what some thought of as
traditional gender roles, evenwhile pregnant.
(08:07):
She didn't just live throughhistory, she helped make it and
for that she should not beforgotten.
Through history, she helpedmake it and for that she should
not be forgotten.
Her story is one that should betold and retold, not just
during Women's History Month,but year-round, because it
reminds us that the fight forfreedom is a collective one, one
that has always involved bothmen and women working
(08:27):
side-by-side to break down thechains of oppression.
As we reflect on the incrediblecontributions of Lumina Sophie,
we see a powerful legacy of themyriad of women who fought and
continue to fight for equalityin the region and diaspora.
She is a symbol of resistance,of strength, as we said, and of
(08:48):
the unyielding spirit ofCaribbean unruliness that I so
love and you know.
In many ways is symbolic ofother women, like Nanny of the
Maroons in Jamaica and NannyGriggs in Barbados, who were
similar bastions of freedom.
During Women's History Month,let's not forget the unsung
(09:10):
heroines of history like LaminaSophie, who fought for their own
liberation and for theliberation of generations to
come.
Thank you for joining us todayfor another episode of Strictly
Facts, a guide to Caribbeanhistory and culture.
If you enjoyed this episode,please be sure to share it with
your friends and family.
Follow us and leave a reviewUntil next time.
(09:32):
We hope you remember thatwell-behaved women rarely make
history.
Be unruly.
Defy the odds and tell us onsocial media how you're making
changes in your community today.
Till next time, little more.
Thanks for tuning in toStrictly Facts.
Visit strictlyfactspodcastcomfor more information from each
(09:53):
episode.
Visit strictlyfactspodcastcomfor more information from each
episode.
Follow us at strictlyfactspodon Instagram and Facebook and at
strictlyfactspd on Twitter.
Welcome to Strictly Facts, a guide to Caribbean
history and culture hosted by me, alexandria Miller.
Strictly Facts teaches thehistory, politics and activism
of the Caribbean and connectsthese themes to contemporary
music and popular culture.
Strictly Facts family how areyou doing?
(00:22):
Strictly Facts family how areyou doing?
It is a beautiful month of March, also known as Women's History
Month, and so, as we aretransitioning from Black History
Month into Women's HistoryMonth, what better way to do so
than a story of a BlackCaribbean woman who you might
not have otherwise ever heardbefore?
And so, before jumping in toreally highlighting the history
(00:46):
of this extraordinary woman, Iwill ask you first, off the bat
do you know the story of theCaribbean woman who, while
pregnant, helped lead a massiverevolution in 1870?
Martinique, who, it is stated,yelled I would burn my own
mother and even God, ifnecessary, end quote in her
(01:07):
fight for Black liberation?
If not, I'll definitely besharing more about her today.
That woman is none other thanLumina Sophie, also known as
Marie Philomen Ruptus or, as shewas commonly known, as surprise
.
She embodied courage,resistance and strength amidst
(01:29):
what some of historians describeas a moment in Martiniquan
history that could have reallyeasily been glossed over or
overlooked for it not the unityof Black Martiniquans.
Though her name might not be asfamous as others, her
contributions to Blackliberation in Martinique make
her a remarkable figure in thefight for freedom and justice.
(01:51):
Lamina Sophie was born onNovember 5, 1848, less than six
months after slavery wasabolished in the island.
She came from a line of fellowextraordinary women, like her
maternal grandmother, renéeSophie, who ensured her children
had at least a basic education,as well as her own mother,
(02:13):
zulma, who did her very best toremain self-sufficient as a
seamstress and farmer, evenamongst economic challenges
post-emancipation economicchallenges post-emancipation.
Lumina Sofi's defining role inCaribbean history was sparked
when, on February 19, 1870,there was an altercation between
a white Navy employee, aubierde Montanon, and a Black male
(02:38):
bricklayer, leopold Lupin.
The two men had very differentaccounts of what transpired, the
former claiming that Lupin wasthe aggressor by standing in the
middle of the road and forcingMentenon's horse into the bush,
while Lupin and several otherswho were there and were
witnesses to the event claimedquite the opposite, that, in
(03:01):
fact, lupin didn't move out ofMentenon's way swiftly enough
and Mentenon returned hisaggression by whipping Lupin.
Lupin sought recourse from thegovernment, but his complaint
was ultimately declined, thusleading him to seek justice two
months later in his own handsand I mean that quite literally.
(03:23):
Mentenon, because of thebeating he received, filed a
complaint against Lupin, whichresulted in a fine and five
years jail time for Lupin.
The situation and obviousracial undertones sparked
immediate support of Lupin byBlack Martinicans.
Women helped raise funds to paythe fine, and Lupin supporters
(03:46):
took to the streets in protest,especially after his appeal was
denied on August 19th that sameyear.
Supporters quickly turned torevolutionaries, lupina, sofie
included, as thousands joined toburn plantations, destroy
harvesting tools and more.
It was the collective effort ofcountless formerly enslaved
(04:08):
people and their descendants whowere fed up with the brutality
and inequality of the plantationsystem and who were determined
to fight for their liberty.
By this time, sophie was 21years old, a seamstress and two
months pregnant.
That didn't stop her, andlikely fueled her drive as a
member of the Petrolou, or whatwas called at the time women
(04:34):
revolutionaries, who not onlysupported the insurrection but
also built arms and torches andjoined rightfully so right in
with the revolution, attackingplantation owners and burning
down cane fields.
Sophie was one of the leadingwomen insurgents, and it is said
that she led the destruction ofthree of the 25 plantations
(04:56):
that were ultimately destroyed.
This revolution lastedthroughout the final months of
1870 until colonial troops weresent in to suppress the
revolution by late January thefollowing year.
By March, trials began tocharge rebel leaders for their
actions, with Sophie as one ofthe 114 people charged and,
(05:20):
ultimately, one of the only 14women who were convicted.
Although historical records aresparse when it comes to specific
details about Lumina Sophie'sindividual actions, it's widely
accepted that she was a keyfigure in the planning and
execution of the uprising.
In addition, she was very vocalabout her disgust for the
(05:43):
racist colonial system, as courttestimony describes her as a
quote rebel who supposedlypublicly said things like, and I
quote here again we must burneverything, nothing can be
spared.
If God had a shack on earththen I would burn it as well,
(06:08):
because he must himself be anold white man.
End quote.
With all of the testimonyagainst her, she was sentenced
to life in prison in FrenchGuiana, while being described by
the governor of Martinique as,and I quote, the fiercest, most
fearsome of the hooligan gangleaders, end quote.
And he eventually passed awaybefore even turning a year old,
(06:38):
at roughly age 29,.
Sophie was forced to marry aformer prisoner, which was a
common practice at the time forfemale convicts that was forced
upon them.
She passed away two years later, in 1879.
As we always do here at StrictlyFacts, there have been some
tremendous ways Sophie's namehas lived on, and we will, you
know, of course, bring that tolight through our Strictly Facts
(07:01):
sound segment.
And so for me, that is, youknow, knowing that there is a
high school, a local high school, named after her.
There was a 2005 play writtenby fellow Martiniquan, suzanne
Drasius, which won the Medal ofHonor, as well as a biography,
lumina Sophie Called Surprise,written by Gilbert Pago in 2008.
(07:25):
Although Lumina Sophie may notbe a household name, in the same
way other revolutionariescertainly are, she left an
indelible mark on the history ofMartinique.
Her story is a powerfulreminder that women have always
been at the heart of liberationmovements, whether through
direct action, leadership orsupport.
(07:46):
As we celebrate Women's HistoryMonth, we must acknowledge the
trailblazers like Sophie, whosework tirelessly for rights of
Black people, broke rules, notonly by taking up arms and
leading a rebellion, but bydefying what some thought of as
traditional gender roles, evenwhile pregnant.
(08:07):
She didn't just live throughhistory, she helped make it and
for that she should not beforgotten.
Through history, she helpedmake it and for that she should
not be forgotten.
Her story is one that should betold and retold, not just
during Women's History Month,but year-round, because it
reminds us that the fight forfreedom is a collective one, one
that has always involved bothmen and women working
(08:27):
side-by-side to break down thechains of oppression.
As we reflect on the incrediblecontributions of Lumina Sophie,
we see a powerful legacy of themyriad of women who fought and
continue to fight for equalityin the region and diaspora.
She is a symbol of resistance,of strength, as we said, and of
(08:48):
the unyielding spirit ofCaribbean unruliness that I so
love and you know.
In many ways is symbolic ofother women, like Nanny of the
Maroons in Jamaica and NannyGriggs in Barbados, who were
similar bastions of freedom.
During Women's History Month,let's not forget the unsung
(09:10):
heroines of history like LaminaSophie, who fought for their own
liberation and for theliberation of generations to
come.
Thank you for joining us todayfor another episode of Strictly
Facts, a guide to Caribbeanhistory and culture.
If you enjoyed this episode,please be sure to share it with
your friends and family.
Follow us and leave a reviewUntil next time.
(09:32):
We hope you remember thatwell-behaved women rarely make
history.
Be unruly.
Defy the odds and tell us onsocial media how you're making
changes in your community today.
Till next time, little more.
Thanks for tuning in toStrictly Facts.
Visit strictlyfactspodcastcomfor more information from each
(09:53):
episode.
Visit strictlyfactspodcastcomfor more information from each
episode.
Follow us at strictlyfactspodon Instagram and Facebook and at
strictlyfactspd on Twitter.
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