Adolphe Duhart (1830–1908) was a 19th century poet, writer and playwright whose career was mostly in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was a free person of color and considered part of the Creoles of Color Literati. [Might use a better phrase than "literati".]^[1]

Duhart was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on February 1, 1830. His parents, Adolphe Louis Duhart and Francoise Palmire Duhart (née Brouard) were immigrants to New Orleans from Saint-Domingue in Hispaniola. The family became a part of the Louisiana Creole community which enjoyed freedoms of the free people of color in the antebellum period of New Orleans. Duhart's full name was Pierre Adolphe Duhart.^[2]

Duhart attended school in Paris, France, where he became versed in the ideas of equality that resulted from the French Revolution. On returning to New Orleans, Duhart became a part of the community of other free people of color who were dedicated to the ideals of equality in the years preceding the United States Civil War. These included.....^[2]

With other Creole people in New Orleans, Duhart became an active member of the spiritualism movement through the local organization known as Cercle Harmonique. This group was led by Henry Louis Rey, and it provided a forum for local Creoles involved in the arts, writing, and education to exchange ideas.^[2]

From the interactions in the Cercle Harmonique, the group of participants including Duhart formed a school for African-American children known as the La Société Catholique pour L’instruction des Orphelins dans l’Indigence, which was also known as the Couvent School.^[a] The school educated African-American children at no or low cost, at a time in the Southern United States when education of African-Americans was discouraged and included anti-literacy laws. In 1869, Duhart became the principal of the school^[2]

o His writings reflected his advocacy for social and political equality. o He was part of a group of Creole writers who used their work to express their intellectual capabilities and fight for civil rights. • Publications and Contributions: o He published his works in French-language newspapers such as "La Renaissance Louisianaise" and "La Tribune de la Nouvelle-Orléans." o His poetry aimed to "inspire, elevate, and humanize" his readership. • Other Aspects of His Life: o He was also a teacher. o He was a soldier during the Civil War. o He was involved in spiritualism. • Recent Recognition: o Recently his works have been brought back to light, and published in collections, allowing modern scholars to get a better understanding of his contributions. Adolphe Duhart's work provides valuable insights into the experiences and perspectives of free Creoles of color in 19th-century Louisiana.

Duhart's literary works were written in the French language. Many of his works were published in two New Orleans periodicals, La Tribune de la Nouvelle-Orléans and ''La Renaissance louisianaise''.^[3]

Centenary College published the first complete works of poetry by Duhart, titled Tempêtes et Éclairs, translating to English as "storms and lightening".^[1]

In a discussion of the rise of African-American activism resulting from the United States Civil War, The Historic New Orleans Collection published an English translation of a passage in Duhart's poem "The South's Unending Rebellion". The passage reflects the sentiments of the French Revolution as follows:

"Do what we will, my lute can show no rage;
It preaches goodwill and sings fraternity;
To the oppressed, it says, 'Brothers, stand in courage,
The hour soon will toll; we must save liberty!'"^[4]

• The French language version of Duhart's poem "Kisses" can be read in La Tribune de la Louisiane.

• Duhart, A. (2022). Tempêtes et éclairs: Poésies d’Adolphe Duhart, écrivain Créole de la Louisiane. Éditions Tintamarre, ISBN 978-1735360522.

For ideas on categories, see the article about [[Victor Séjour]]. Category:20th-Century American inventors