Revealing what lies behind the familiar moniker of 'the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere,' this indispensable book illuminates the foundations on which a new Haiti might yet emerge. Yet as Dubois demonstrates, the Haitian people have never given up on their struggle for true democracy, creating a powerful culture insistent on autonomy and equality for all.

At the same time, Dubois shows, the internal debates about what Haiti should do with its hard-won liberty alienated the nation's leaders from the broader population, setting the stage for enduring political conflict. He details how the crushing indemnity imposed by the former French rulers initiated a devastating cycle of debt, while frequent interventions by the United States―including a twenty-year military occupation―further undermined Haiti's independence. The country's difficulties are inextricably rooted in its founding revolution―the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world the hostility that this rebellion generated among the colonial powers surrounding the island nation and the intense struggle within Haiti itself to define its newfound freedom and realize its promise.ĭubois vividly depicts the isolation and impoverishment that followed the 1804 uprising. But as acclaimed historian Laurent Dubois makes clear, Haiti's troubled present can only be understood by examining its complex past. Maligned and misunderstood, the nation has long been blamed by many for its own wretchedness. It's one of the things about that book that's marvelous, is so important, is to depict that particular moment, which did affect so much in Haitian politics.A passionate and insightful account by a leading historian of Haiti that traces the sources of the country's devastating present back to its turbulent and traumatic historyĮven before the 2010 earthquake destroyed much of the country, Haiti was known as a benighted place of poverty and corruption.

And that's the background to the migration and the story that Edwidge tells in this book and is something that is depicted really beautifully in those pages. So, different groups taking different political sides, and also just kind of increasing militarization and arming of groups. At that time, the kind of political conflict over the presidency is spilling into or is becoming part and parcel of life in a lot of neighborhoods and Port-au-Prince. So people had hoped, and it was meant to be a time, of celebrating the achievements of Haiti, but it's a time of intense political conflict essentially surrounding the President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was ultimately overthrown in 2004 and goes into exile. Laurent Dubois: Edwidge Danticat's book culminates in 2004 at a moment of intense conflict in Haiti, and this is the year when, you know, somewhat, quite tragically-and in fact, this is 2004, is the 200th anniversary of the Haitian independence, 1804.

Haiti by Laurent Dubois