They revolted against the French colons who was killing them in a ruthless and brutal slavery. Drag them up all the way from Africa humiliate them for years with chains on their neck and freet. If they escapted they would be found and put on fire publicaly.
They were not allawed to learn how to read, they had find away to free themselves and did but also help free other countries like Venezuela, Cuba, .. 
Today people of all background live there and yes they never forget what the french colon did but they also it was a small group of criminals exempt from the whole Caicasian race that are good people.