After completing his humanities studies in Paris, Barbault-Royer, a writer and freeman from Isle de France, became involved in 1789 in abolishing black slavery and liberating colonised peoples. A talented journalist and tribune, he drew on the eloquence of Demosthenes, Isocrates and Cicero. To arouse enthusiasm, he played on rhythmic effects in his prose. An accuser of Europe, he broke new ground in political debate by deconstructing the history of civilisations to put an end to black humiliations.