Haiti
Haiti (IPA: [ˈhaiːti]), in Haitian Creole: Ayiti, officially the Republic of
Haiti (la République d'Haïti), is a French and Creole speaking Latin American
country located in the Greater Antilles archipelago on the Caribbean island of
Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Haiti includes many
smaller islands such as La Gonâve, La Tortue (Tortuga), Les Cayemites, Île de
Anacaona, and La Grande Caye. The uninhabited island of Navasse is claimed by
both Haiti and the United States. 'Ayiti' (Haiti) was the indigenous Taíno or
Amerindian name for the island. Its highest point is Pic la Selle, at 2,680
meters. The total area of Haiti is 27,750 km² (10,714 square miles) and its
capital is Port-au-Prince.
A former French colony, Haiti became the first independent black republic and
the only nation ever to form from a successful slave rebellion. Haiti became the
second non-native country in the Americas (after the United States) to declare
its independence, on January 1, 1804.
Haiti has recently undergone a state of transition following the forced ousting
of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on February 29, 2004. The circumstances
surrounding his departure from office are disputed. René Préval was elected
president in his place on February 7, 2006, and took office in May of that year.
History
Main article: History of Haiti
The island of Hispaniola, of which Haiti occupies the western third, was
originally inhabited by the Taíno Arawak people. Christopher Columbus landed at
Môle Saint-Nicolas on December 5, 1492, and claimed the island for Spain.
Nineteen days later, the Santa Maria ran aground near the present site of Cap-Haitien;
Columbus was forced to leave 39 men, founding the settlement of La Navidad .
Ayiti, which means "mountainous land", is a name that was used by its early
inhabitants, the Taíno-Arawak people, who also called some sections of it Bohio,
meaning "rich villages". Quisqueya is yet a third term that has been attributed
to the Taínos for the island.
The Taínos were a seafaring branch of the South American Arawaks. Taíno means
"the good" or "noble" in their language. A system of cacicazgos (chiefdoms)
existed, called Marien, Maguana, Higuey, Magua and Xaragua, which could be
subdivided. The cacicazgos were based on a system of tribute, consisting of the
food grown by the Taíno. Among the cultural signs that they left were cave
paintings around the country, which have become touristic and nationalistic
symbols of Haiti. Xaragua is modern day Leogane, a city in the southwest.
One of the earliest leaders to fight off Spanish conquest was Queen Anacaona, a
Taíno princess from Xaragua who married Chief Caonabo, a Taíno king (cacique)
from Maguana. The two fought hard against the Europeans; she was captured by the
Spanish and executed in front of her people. Other noted Taíno leaders from
Haiti are Chief Guacanagari, Chief Guama and Chief Hatuey (who later fled to
Cuba and helped fight the Spaniards there). Cacique Henri, another Taíno chief,
fought victoriously against the Spaniards in the Bahoruco to gain freedom for
himself and his people. The town associated with this history is Anse a Pitres,
near the south-eastern town of Jacmel. The Taínos as the Europeans saw them on
the island of Hispaniola are virtually extinct. The survivors that escaped death
mixed with African slaves (runaways called maroons), producing a small
generation of zambos. The mestizo increased in number as native women conceived
to European men. The Taíno bloodline in Hispaniola diluted more and more as the
decades went by primarily due to the establishment of Africans and mulattos on
the island; however, it is believed that a small number of Haitians and
Dominicans retain some native ancestry.
Colonial rule
Main article: Saint-Domingue
Enslavement, harsh treatment of the natives, and especially epidemic diseases
such as smallpox caused the Taíno population to plummet over the next
quarter-century. In response, the Spanish began to import African slaves to
search for gold on the island. Spanish interest in Hispaniola waned after the
1520s, when vast reserves of gold and silver were discovered in Mexico and South
America.
Fearful of pirate attacks, the king of Spain in 1609 ordered all colonists on
Hispaniola to move closer to the capital city, Santo Domingo. However, this
resulted in British, Dutch and French pirates establishing bases on the island's
abandoned northern and western coasts. French settlement of the island began in
1625, and in 1664 France formally claimed control of the western portion of the
island. By the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick, Spain ceded the western third of
Hispaniola to France. France named its new colony Saint-Domingue.
While the Spanish side of the island was largely neglected, the French side
prospered and became the richest colony in the Western Hemisphere, exporting
large amounts of sugar and coffee. French colonial society contained three
population groups: Europeans (about 32,000 in 1790) who held political and
economic control; the gens de couleur, some 28,000 free blacks (about half of
which had mulatto background) who faced second-class status; and the slaves, who
numbered about 500,000. (Living outside French society were the maroons (escaped
ex-slaves who formed their own settlements in the highlands.) At all times, a
majority of slaves in the colony were African-born, as the very brutal
conditions of slavery prevented the population from experiencing growth through
natural increase. African cultures thus remained strong among slaves until the
end of French rule.
Revolution
Jean Jacques Dessalines became Haiti's first emperor in 1804.
Unofficially leading the nation politically during the revolution, Toussaint
L'Ouverture is considered the father of Haiti.Main article: Haitian revolution
Inspired by the French Revolution, the gens de couleur pressed the colonial
government for expanded rights. In October 1790, 350 revolted against the
government. On May 15, 1791, the French National Assembly granted political
rights to all blacks and mulattoes who had been born free - but did not change
the status quo regarding slavery. On August 22, 1791, slaves in the north rose
against their masters near Cap-Français (now Cap-Haïtien). This revolution
spread rapidly and came under the leadership of Toussaint L'Ouverture. He is
commonly referred to as the "Black Napoleon." He soon formed alliances with the
gens de couleur and the maroons, whose rights had been revoked by the French
government in retaliation for the uprising.
Toussaint's armies defeated the French colonial army, but then joined forces
with it in 1794, following a decree by the revolutionary French government that
abolished slavery. Under Toussaint's command, the Saint-Domingue army then
defeated invading Spanish and British forces. This cooperation between Toussaint
and French forces ended in 1802, however, when Napoleon sent a new invasion
force designed to subdue the colony; many islanders suspected the army would
also reimpose slavery. Napoleon's forces initially were successful at fighting
their way onto the island, and persuaded Toussaint to a truce. He was then
betrayed, captured and died in a French prison. Toussaint's arrest and the news
that the French had reestablished slavery in Guadeloupe, led to the resumption
of the rebellion, under the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri
Christophe, two of Toussaint's generals. Napoleon's forces were outsmarted by
the combination of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Henri Christophe, and Alexandre
Petion, the "Generals of the Revolution."
Independence
Dessalines's armies won their final and decisive victory over the French forces
at the Battle of Vertières on November 18, 1803, near Cap-Haitien. On January 1,
1804 the nation declared its independence, securing its position as the second
independent country in the Americas, and the only successful slave rebellion in
world history. Dessalines was its first ruler. The name Haiti was chosen in
recognition of the old Arawak name for the island, Ayiti.
The new State of Haiti supported the abolitionist cause wherever possible. Haiti
aided Francisco de Miranda and Simón Bolívar, giving them refuge and supporting
their revolutionary efforts under the condition he free Latin America's slaves.
The slaveholding powers surrounding Haiti isolated the new nation under a cordon
sanitaire, fearing slave revolutions of their own. The Haitian Revolution is
thought to have inspired numerous slave revolts in the Caribbean, Brazil and
United States. The blockade was virtually total. The Vatican withdrew its
priests from Haiti, and did not return them until 1860. France refused to
recognize Haiti's independence until it agreed to pay an indemnity of 150
million francs, to compensate for the losses of French planters in the
revolutions, in 1833. Payment of this indemnity brought the government deeply in
debt and crippled the country's economy.
In 1806, Dessalines, by now Emperor, was murdered in a power struggle with
political rivals who thought him a tyrant. The nation divided into two parts, a
southern republic founded by Alexandre Pétion (mulatto), becoming the first
black-led republic in the world, and a northern kingdom under Henri Christophe.
The idea of liberty in the southern republic was as license, a fondness for
idleness shared by elite and peasant. Christophe believed that liberty was the
opportunity to show the world that a black nation might be equal, if not better
than the white nations. Consequently, he worked the field hands under the same
unrelenting military system that Toussaint had developed and that Dessalines
tried to continue. He also built more than 100 schools, eight palaces, including
his capital Sans Souci and the massive Citadelle Laferrière, the largest
fortress in the Western hemisphere.
In August 1820, King Henri I (Henri Christophe) suffered a stroke that left him
partially paralyzed. When the news spread of his infirmities, the whispers of
rebellion, deceit and treachery began. On October 2, 1820, the military garrison
at St. Marc led a mutiny that sparked a revolt. The mutiny preempted a
conspiracy of some of Christophe's most loyal generals. Some of his trusted
aides took him from the palace of Sans-Souci up to his Citadel, to await the
inevitable confrontation with the rebels. Christophe ordered his attendants to
dress him in his formal military uniform and for two days desperately tried to
raise the strength to lead out his troops. Finally, he ordered his doctor to
leave the room. Shortly after he left, Christophe raised his pistol and shot
himself dead through the heart.
Following Christophe's death, the nation was reunited as the Republic of Haiti
under Jean-Pierre Boyer, Petion's successor. Boyer liberated the Spanish colony
of Santo Domingo and united the entire island under free Haitian rule, until
1844 when the Dominican Republic was formed as white-Catholic nation separate
from Haiti for reasons of tax burdens(to pay the debt obtained from the
independance of Haiti from France), discontent of the population after abuses of
the Haitian army against the population and different language, culture and
religion.
American occupation
Throughout the nineteenth century, Haiti was ruled by a series of presidents,
most of whom remained in office only briefly. Meanwhile, the country's economy
was gradually dominated by foreigners, particularly from Germany. Concerned
about German influence and growing military presence, and disturbed by the
savage public dismembering of President Guillaume Sam by an enraged crowd, the
United States invaded and occupied Haiti in 1915. The United States, in a bold
effort to create order out of chaos, imposed a constitution written by future
president Franklin D. Roosevelt, and applied an old system of compulsory corvée
labor to everyone. Previously this system had been applied only to members of
the poor, black majority. The occupation had many long-lasting effects on the
country. United States forces built schools, roads and hospitals, and launched
health campaigns that eradicated yellow fever, malaria, and yaws from the
island. The vast network of roads, bridges, and clean water systems drastically
reshaped Haiti's infrastructure. Unfortunately, the sum of the structural
changes to Haiti's systems was not enough to enable any degree of indigenous
progress. The U.S. established the Forbes Commission to investigate the lack of
progress, and the Commission concluded, amongst other things that "the social
forces that created (the social instability) still remain - poverty, ignorance,
and the lack of a tradition or desire for orderly free government." Order and
freedom could not be imposed by force of will.
As the U.S. occupation resulted in a degree of central organization of
government, finance, and industry, the focus of the country shifted from the
provinces to the capital, disadvantaging the loose rural socio-economic fabric
of the country in favor of the major urban centers. Inevitably this created an
exodus of the rural poor from the countryside. Nationalist rebels, called Cacos,
were simultaeously waging a persistent guerilla warfare, headed by Charlemagne
Péralte and later Dominique Batraville. As a consequence, the U.S.-controlled
government created a National Guard which in future decades would become the
Armée d'Haiti, and be said to commit many atrocities against its own people.
Roosevelt was disenchanted with the burden and negative social aspects of trying
to organize Haiti, and proceeded to implement an earlier disengagement
agreement, thereby ending the U.S. occupation in 1934.
The Duvaliers
The United States left Haiti in the hands of the mulatto minority, but in 1946
Dumarsais Estimé became the country's first black president since the US
occupation began. His efforts at reform sparked disorder, and when he attempted
to extend his term of office in 1950 (as most previous presidents had done)
there was a coup, followed by the second formal Military Council of Government
led by Paul Magloire.
François Duvalier, also known as Papa Doc, was an ex-doctor who ruled as
dictator of Haiti from 1964 to his death in 1971. In 1957, Dr. François Duvalier
("Papa Doc") came to power in the country's first universal suffrage election;
many believed this outcome was manipulated by the army. In 1964, he declared
himself president for life. Duvalier maintained control over the population
through his secret police organization, the Volunteers for National Security -
nicknamed the Tonton Macoutes ("boogeymen") after a folkloric villain. This
organization drew international criticism for its harsh treatment of political
adversaries, both real and suspected. Upon Duvalier's death in 1971, he was
succeeded by his nineteen year-old son Jean-Claude Duvalier (nicknamed "Baby
Doc") as Haiti's new president for life. The younger Duvalier regime became
notorious for corruption, and was deposed in 1986, ushering in a new period of
upheaval.
Roman Catholic pro-democratic movement
The unravelling of the Duvalier regime began with a popular movement supported
by the local church and set in motion by the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1983,
who before embarking his plane gave a rousing speech ending with an angry
exclamation: "Things must change here!" In 1984, anti-government riots broke out
throughout the nation and the Haitian Catholic Bishops' Conference initiated a
literacy program designed to prepare the Haitian public for participation in the
electoral process.
Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide, a former Roman Catholic priest, first became President
of Haiti in 1991. He would remain President for three terms until he was deposed
in 2004 in a violent revolt.The priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected
president in 1990, but was deposed in a coup shortly after his inauguration in
1991. There followed three years of control by a military junta led by Raoul
Cedras, before a second US invasion and occupation in 1994 returned Aristide to
power. One of the first acts of the re-installed government of Aristide was to
disband the army.
Aristide was succeeded by a one-time ally and former prime minister, René Préval,
in 1996. While Aristide was the first democratically elected president in
Haitian history, Préval's administration was most notable for the fact that he
was the first person in Haiti's history to constitutionally succeed a president
and then serve a complete term, leaving office voluntarily at the prescribed
time. Every previous president had either died in office, been assassinated,
been deposed, overstayed his prescribed term, or been installed by a foreign
power.
MINUSTAH in 2006.
(photo by Patrick-André Perron)Aristide returned to office in 2001 after
elections that were boycotted by many of his opponents, who accused his party,
Fanmi Lavalas, of counting votes improperly in a previous senatorial election,
as well as threatening critics. Aristide denied the charges and accused his
opponents of accepting U.S. assistance, and plotting to overthrow his
government. The opposition mostly denied this, but many of its members
continually called for his early resignation.
In February 2004, following months of large-scale protests against what critics
charged was an increasingly corrupt and violent rule, violence spread through
Haiti, involving conflicts between the government and various rebel groups.
Under pressure from both foreign governments and internal sources, Aristide left
the country for the Central African Republic on February 29. Aristide was
kidnapped by agents of the United States government, while at the time United
States and some of Aristide's own security agents claimed that Aristide had
agreed to leave the country willingly and that it had escorted him to Africa for
his own protection. As Aristide departed the country, many members of his
government fled or went into hiding, and the United States again sent Marines
into Port-au-Prince. After Aristide's departure, Supreme Court Chief Justice
Boniface Alexandre succeeded to the presidency appointed by a council of elders
and supported by the United States, Canada, and France.
In the months following the February Coup, the country was engulfed in violence
between the interim government's forces and Lavalas supporters, and many members
of the Lavalas party were sent to jail, exiled, or killed. Over 10,000 workers
in Haitian civil enterprises lost their jobs following the coup.
Elections were held in February 2006, and René Préval was again elected
president. Preval has promised to bring peace and stability to the country. (See
Haitian elections, 2006.)
See also: Operation Secured Tomorrow
Politics
Main article: Politics of Haiti
The politics of Haiti takes place in the framework of a presidential republic,
and of a pluriform multi-party system, whereby the President of Haiti is the
head of state, while the Prime Minister is head of government. Executive power
is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the
government and the two chambers of the National Assembly of Haïti.
Departments, arrondissements, and communes
Main article: Administrative divisions of Haiti
Haiti is divided into 10 departments. Please note that the names of departmental
capital cities are provided in parentheses.
The departments are further divided into 41 arrondissements, and 133 communes
which serve as second and third level administrative divisions.
Departments of Haiti.
Artibonite (Gonaïves)
Centre (Hinche)
Grand'Anse (Jérémie)
Nippes (Miragoâne)
Nord (Cap-Haïtien)
Nord-Est (Fort-Liberté)
Nord-Ouest (Port-de-Paix)
Ouest (Port-au-Prince) *national capital*
Sud-Est (Jacmel)
Sud (Les Cayes)
Geography
Map of HaitiMain article: Geography of Haiti
Haiti is situated on the western part of the second largest island in the
Greater Antilles, Hispaniola. Haiti is the third largest country in the
Caribbean only behind Cuba and the Dominican Republic respectively. Haiti at its
closest point is only 80km away from Cuba. Haiti's terrain consists mainly of
rugged mountains with small coastal plains and river valleys. The country's
largest crop-producing and one of Haiti's most fertile river valleys is the
Plaine de l'Artibonite. The east and central part of the island is a large
elevated plateau. The highest point in Haiti is Pic la Selle at 2,680 m (8,793
feet). The 360-km (224-mile) border is shared with the Dominican Republic. Haiti
also contains several islands. The famous island of Tortuga (Île de la Tortue)
is located off the coast of northern Haiti. The arrondissement of La Gonâve is
located on the island of the same name, in the Gulf of Gonave. Gonave Island is
moderately populated by rural villagers. Île à Vache (Island of The Cow) is
located off the tip of southwestern Haiti. It is a rather lush island with many
beautiful sights. Also part of Haiti are the Cayemites and Ile de Anacaona.
In 1925, Haiti was a lush tropical paradise, with 60% of its original forest
covering the lands and mountainous regions. Since then, the population has cut
down all but 2% of its forest cover, and in the process has destroyed fertile
farmland soils, while contributing to desertification. Erosion has been severe
in the mountainous areas. Pictures from space glaringly show the stark
difference in forestation between Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Most Haitian logging is done to produce charcoal, the country's chief source of
fuel. The plight of Haiti's forests has attracted international attention, and
has led to numerous reforestation efforts, but these have met with little
success to date.
Haiti flood
Environmental issues
In addition to soil erosion, the deforestation has also caused periodic
flooding, as seen on September 17, 2004. Tropical storm Jeanne skimmed the north
coast of Haiti, leaving 3,006 people dead in flooding and mudslides, mostly in
the city of Gonaïves. Earlier that year in May, floods killed over 3,000 people
on Haiti's southern border with the Dominican Republic.
Jared Diamond attributes many of Haiti's political problems to its mismanagement
of its ecosystems, particularly deforestation; see Collapse: How Societies
Choose to Fail or Succeed. In Port-Salut the river is filled with mountain rocks
caused by severe erosion over the years. Currently Haiti is seeking to implement
a biofuel solution to its energy problems.
There has been a dispute between the United States and Haiti about Navassa
Island (Navasse), which both countries claim. The Haitian claim relies on
documentation that Navassa became part of Haiti after a 1697 agreement between
France and Spain that gave France the western third of Hispaniola plus nearby
islands, including Navassa Island. The United States claims the island pursuant
to its own Guano Islands Act of 1856.
Economy
Waste dumping in a slum of Cap-HaitienMain article: Economy of Haiti
Haiti remains one of the least-developed countries in the Western Hemisphere
(along with Bolivia). Comparative social and economic indicators show Haiti
falling behind other low-income developing countries (particularly in the
hemisphere) since the 1980s. Haiti now ranks 154th of 177 countries in the UN’s
Human Development Index (2006). According to the CIA World Factbook, about 80%
of the population lives in poverty. Haiti is the only country in the Americas on
the WHO list of Least Developed Countries. However, since the recent
presidential seating, Haiti's economy has been increasing, and may be on the
upsurge. Nevertheless, kidnappings have been increasing rapidly over the last
year. Despite this Haiti has a very low murder rate in the Caribbean with a 2005
murder rate of approximately 11.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. The vast majority of
the murders have taken place solely in the capital. Rural areas of the country
are relatively safe. The Dominican Republic's murder rate of approximately 26.7
per 100,000 inhabitants and Jamaica's regional-record murder rate of 62 per
100,000 inhabitants is extremely high to that of Haiti's.
Nearly 70.5% of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, which consists
mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. The country has experienced little
formal job creation over the past decade, although the informal economy is
growing. It has consistently ranked among the most corrupt countries in the
world on the Corruption Perceptions Index.
Under the second Aristide administration and the Alexandre-Latortue
administration, difficulty in reaching agreements with international sponsors
denied Haiti badly needed budget and developmental assistance. In addition to
these geopolitical obstacles, another major impediment to development during the
last twenty years has been the repeated episodes of violence that have rocked
the country. While there was relative calm under the governments of Fanmi
Lavalas, this may not have been sufficiently long-lived to convince foreign
investors to commit significant capital to Haiti.
Tourism
Due to recent political instability, tourism - once a significant industry - has
suffered in Haiti, with the exception of Labadee, a port located on the
country's northern coast. Labadee is a resort owned by Royal Caribbean
International. Although sometimes described in advertisements as an island in
its own right, it is actually contiguous with the rest of Hispaniola. Labadee is
fenced off from the surrounding area. The cruise ships anchor offshore, and
passengers are tendered to the resort, often without being told they are in
Haiti. Attractions include a Haitian Flea Market, traditional Haitian dance
performances, numerous beaches, watersports, and a waterpark. Despite obstacles,
Haiti's rich culture and history has allowed the country to maintain a moderate
and potentially rising tourist industry.
Progress
However, Haiti has benefited in a rather solid economic partnership with
Venezuela. This recently-forged friendship between Venezuelan president Hugo
Chavez and Haitian president Rene Preval has resulted in various economic
agreements. After a visit by Chavez in March 2007, Venezuela and Cuba announced
that they have created a $1 Billion fund to develop energy, health, and
infrastructure in Haiti. As part of this deal, 4 power plants will be
constructed in Port-au-Prince, Cap-Hatien, and Gonaives,increasing the country's
power production by 160 MW by the end of 2007. An oil refinery will also be
constructed in Haiti, with a production capacity of 10,000 barrels of oil per
day. In the meantime, Venezuela has increased the amount of petroleum it
provides Haiti to 14,000 barrels per day, at the same terms afforded to ALBA
member countries - these terms are more favorable than the Petrocaribe terms.
Venezuela's assistance to Haiti is founded upon a historic act where the
newly-independent Haiti welcomed and tended to first Francisco de Miranda, then
to Simón Bolívar and provided both with military assistance in the liberation of
much of South America. Haiti's Latin American alliance provides the country with
much of its needed aid. Cuba has thanked Haiti for consistently voting in the
United Nations General Assembly against the embargo put upon Cuba by the United
States. Since Preval's induction, the economy has been on a sizeable increase.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Haiti
About 95% of Haitians are of predominantly African descent. The rest are white
or of Mulatto descent, with a moderate number of Arab heritage (primarily Syrian
and Lebanese). A number of Haitians are believed to possess both African and
Taino/Arawak heritage due to the history of the island; however, the number of
native-descended Haitians is not known. There is a very small percentage within
the minority who are of Asian descent; nearly all are immigrant residents. The
very small number of Asians in Haiti are virtually all concentrated in the
country's largest urban areas (primarily Port-au-Prince).
Haitian diaspora
As with many other poor Caribbean nations, there is a large diaspora, which
includes a lot of illegal immigration to nearby countries. Millions of Haitians
live abroad, chiefly in the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the
Lesser Antilles, Canada, France, and the United States.
In the United States
There are large numbers of Haitians who inhabit the "Little Haiti" section of
Miami. In New York City, the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Flatbush, Crown Heights,
and Canarsie are home to many Haitians. In the Borough of Queens, Jamaica,
Queens Village, Rosedale and Cambria Heights have large Haitian populations.
Many successful Haitians move east to Long Island, where Elmont and other towns
have seen many new residents. Other enclaves that contain Haitians include
Boston, Cambridge, Malden and Brockton Massachusetts; Chicago, Illinois,
Orlando, Florida, and Newark, New Jersey and its surrounding areas.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Haiti
Fishing boat with religious writingsHaitian culture is a mix of primarily
African and French elements with minor influences from Spanish and Taíno
culture. The African and European influence is greatest however in nearly all
aspects of society. Haiti's official languages are French and Haitian Creole (Kreyòl
Ayisyen). Nearly all Haitians speak the latter, a creole based primarily on
French and African languages, with some Spanish, English and Taíno influences.
Spanish is spoken near the border with the Dominican Republic, and is
increasingly being spoken in more westward areas, as Venezuelan, Cuban, and
Dominican trade influence Haitian affairs, and Haiti becomes increasingly
involved in Latin American transactions.
Religion
Wyclef JeanRoman Catholicism is the official state religion in which the
majority, approximately 80%, of the population professes. An estimated 20
percent of the population follows the teachings of various Protestant churches.
Many Haitians, especially Roman Catholics, also practice Vodou (Voodoo), almost
always in addition to traditional Catholic observances. Vodou followers believe
that spirits called "loa" protect their children (vodou believers) from
misfortune. Many Haitians, mainly Protestants, oppose vodou and the related
reliance on sorcery and witchcraft. Haitian vodou is very similar to the
Santería practiced in Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and the Candomblé
practiced in Brazil.
Music
Main article: Music of Haiti
Haiti's most well known music style is kompa, a very vibrant music and dance
genre similar to the music of their Cuban neighbors, but often employing African
drumming, modern guitars/synthesized sounds, saxophones, and lyrics sung in
Haitian Creole. Haitian Méringue, very similar to Merengue of the Dominican
Republic is also popular along with, rasin and kadans. Other musical genres
popular in Haiti include Salsa music, Trinidadian Soca, and zouk (a combination
of kompa and music from the French Antilles). Musicians such as T-Vice, Djakout
Mizik, Bonga, Zenglen, NuLook, K-dans, and Carimi perform regularly in the
United States and Québec. Sweet Micky is a praised legend of Kompa music. The
most celebrated Haitian musical artist of today is the Haitian-born Wyclef Jean.
A famous and successful Haitian artist is Jean Jean-Pierre, a journalist (The
Village Voice, the Gannett Newspapers, among others), composer, and producer who
has produced several sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall with his Kiskeya Orchestra
since 2001.
Haiti is also famous for its distinctive art, notably painting and sculpture.
See Haitian art, Category:Haitian painters and Category:Haitian artists
Cuisine
Haitian cuisine.Haitian Cuisine is influenced in large part by the methods and
foods involved in French cuisine as well as by some native staples originating
from African and Taíno cuisine, such as cassava (kasav), yam, and maize (mayi).
Haitian food, though unique in its own right, shares much in common with that of
the rest of Latin America.
References
^ Slavery and the Haitian Revolution, Chapter 8 Page 2. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
^ Slavery in the Colonial Era. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
^ Slavery and the Haitian Revolution, Chapter 8 Page 2. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ Chapter 6 - Haiti: Historical Setting. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ Country profile: Haiti. BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
^ Christophe's Kingdom and Pétion's Republic. U.S. Library of Congress.
Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ Haiti: The United States Occupation, 1915-34. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
^ Haiti: The United States Occupation, 1915-34. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
^ Haiti: Decades of Instability, 1843-1915. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
^ http://countrystudies.us/haiti/15.htm. Haiti - The U.S. occupation 1915-1934.
Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ François Duvalier 1957-1971. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ Growth and structure of the economy. U.S. Library of Congress. Retrieved on
2006-09-18.
^ Key Dates in Haiti's History. Embassy of the Republic of Haiti. Retrieved on
2006-09-18.
^ Key Dates in Haiti's History. Embassy of the Republic of Haiti. Retrieved on
2006-09-18.
^ Crisis in Haiti. BBC News. Retrieved on 2006-09-15.
^ Steve Miller and Joseph Curl (2004). Aristide accuses U.S. of forcing his
ouster. Washington Times. Retrieved on 16 April, 2007.
^ http://globalpolicy.igc.org/security/issues/haiti/2006/0831abusesurvey.pdfPDF
(230 KiB)
^ Forestry. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ Photo Gallery: Jeanne hits Haiti. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved on 2006-09-18.
^ http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/haiti/2497.html
^ Analysis: Haiti seeks a biofuel solution. United Press Internation. Retrieved
on 2007-07-02.
^ German Wikipedia
^ http://www.alterpresse.org/spip.php?article4074
^ Haiti: Religious Life: Voodoo. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
^ Haiti: Religious Life: Voodoo. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
Edwidge Danticat, The Royal Diaries of Anacoana: Golden Flower, Haiti 1490.
Retrieved 2006-12-29.
Further reading
J. Christopher Kovats-Bernat, Sleeping Rough in Port-au-Prince: An Ethnography
of Violence and Street Children in Haiti, University Press of Florida, 2006,
ISBN 0-8130-3009-9
Paul Farmer, The uses of Haiti, Common Courage Press 2003, ISBN 1-56751-242-9
C. L. R. James: The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo
Revolution (1938, Vintage, ISBN 0-679-72467-2)
Martin Ros: Night of Fire - The Black Napoleon and the Battle for Haiti, DaCapo
Press, New York 1993, ISBN 0-9627613-8-9
Wade Davis: The Serpent and The Rainbow
Kurlansky, Mark. 1992. A Continent of Islands: Searching for the Caribbean
Destiny. Addison-Wesley Publishing. ISBN 0-201-52396-5.
Fick, Carolyn E., The Making of Haiti: The Saint Domingue Revolution from Below,
University of Tennessee Press; first ed edition (February 1, 1990), ISBN-10:
0870496670, ISBN-13: 978-0870496677
Jared Diamond. 2005. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. New
York: Viking. ISBN 0-670-03337-5.
Elizabeth McAlister, Rara! Vodou, Power, and Performance in Haiti and its
Diaspora, University of California Press, 2002, ISBN 0-520-22823-5.
Michael Deibert. Notes from the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti. Seven
Stories Press, New York, 2005. ISBN-10: 1583226974.
Heinl, Nancy Gordon and Robert. Written in Blood: The Story of the Haitian
People 1492-1995. University Press of America, 1996. ISBN: 0761831770
See also
Haiti Portal
Freeport Tortuga
Hispaniola
Haiti National Team
Politics of Haiti
Haiti's external debt
List of Haitians
External links
Find more information on Haiti by searching Wikipedia's sister projects
Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary
Textbooks from Wikibooks
Quotations from Wikiquote
Source texts from Wikisource
Images and media from Commons
News stories from Wikinews
Learning resources from Wikiversity
History
Kreyol - Haitian History
Information on Haiti's indigenous heritage and the descendants of the Haitian
Arawaks
Key Dates in Haitian History - Embassy of Haiti
People in Haitian History - Founders and heroes of Haiti
Bob Corbett's Haitian History Page - in-depth information about Haitian history
and literature
Napoleon's secret orders to General Leclerc
1937 massacre - information about the 1937 massacre of 18,000 Haitians by
Dominican President Rafael Trujillo
Library of Congress - A Country Study: Haiti
The Louverture Project - Haitian History Wiki
Institut de la Maison Imperiale d'Haiti
The Imperial and Military Order of Saint Faustin (Ordre Imperial et Militaire de
la Croix de Saint-Faustin)
1987 Constitution of Haiti - unofficial translation by Georgetown University
Embassy of Haiti in Washington D.C.
Haiti Paper Money
Culture
Haiti FM Videos
Music and Video of Rara Festivals in Haiti and New York
Video: Sculpture marks abolition of slave trade anniversary
The Flag of Haiti
The flag of Haiti was redesigned after the slave revolution over a colonial
France. The flag was changed from black and yellow to blue and red.
News
Yahoo! News Full Coverage
Encyclpaedia Britannica - Haiti's country page
Radio Metropole
Television Nationale d'Haiti
Agenge Haitienne de Press
Telehaiti-Television d'Haiti
Radio Kiskeya
VOA kreyol
Haiti Progre - Lavalas news in several languages
AlterPresse news briefs in several languages
IFEX independent news
Haiti News
Haiti-news list, Haitian news
Le Nouvelliste Online, political, social, economics, culture and entertainment,
sports news
IPS Inter Press Service Independent news reports and features about Haiti
Travel
Haiti Vacation The Haiti Paradise, Cotes des Arcadins & Jacmel e Ile-a-Vache
Films
BelFim - Haiti's Internet Movie Database
Pote Mak Sonje (the Raboteau Trial) (2003)
Aristide and the Endless Revolution by Nicolas Rossier (2005)
Books
Sleeping Rough in Port-au-Prince: An Ethnograohy of Street Children and Violence
in Haiti (2006) by J. Christopher Kovats-Bernat
Let Haiti Live (2004)
Pathologies of Power (2003) by Paul Farmer
Haitian events
Why they had to Crush Aristide, The Guardian
Operation Zero in Haiti, New Left Review
Haitian Inspiration, Radical Philosophy
Haiti 1804 as an Event - Fidelity to Freedom, Why has it been so difficult to
achieve?
Advocacy
Coalition of Organizations in US for Haiti justice
A 'Child Alert' issued by UNICEF for the country of Haiti
Articles and News Focusing in on Canada's Role in Haiti
Website of Haitian Populat Movement Fanmi Lavalas
Articles and News Focusing in on Canada's Role in Haiti
Invisible Violence: Ignoring Murder in Post-Coup Haiti
ZMag analysis on current situation in Haiti
Half-Hour for Haiti Action Alerts to promote justice in and for Haiti
Haiti Justiceblog
Health Care
Meds & Food for Kids - Stop malnutrition in Haiti before it takes another life.
International Child Care - Christian health development organization in Haiti &
Grace Children's Hospital
Konbit Sante A New England based Health Partnership with the people of
Cap-Haitien
Haiti Help Med Plus - Haitian medical aid organization
Zanmi Lasante - Public health NGO Partners in Health
Hopital Albert Schweitzer Haiti - Integrated Community Health System serving the
Artibonite Valley
NGOs
Hope for Haiti - Educational and grassroots development in rural Haiti.
Autorite Aeroportuaire Nationale d'Haiti (AAN)
Fondation Sequin- Advocay for the Ecology of Seguin
Haiti Innovation - Markets sustainable, development projects in Haiti to an
active community of Haiti enthusiasts and aid donors
Pwof Ansanm - educational initiative in Haiti
Lambi Fund of Haiti - sustainable grassroots development and reforestation for
economic justice
Akolad.com - home of Haitian community online
HaitiXchange.com - Haitian people, news, and culture
Haiti Action
Haiti Democracy Project
Haiti Support Group
Hastings Human Rights Project for Haiti - A student led project which lodged a
complaint on behalf of former PM Yvon Neptune
Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti - News and human rights activism
for Haiti with weekly newsletter
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
National Palace
Sakapfet Online
Second Generation Haitian-American (Interview)
UNIF USA - The UNIF USA Foundation
Community
Pouchons.com Haitian Website Community
EchodHaiti.com Haitian Cultural Community
HaitianDiaspora.com Haitian-American Diaspora Community
STAELO DEFACTO Haitian Culture
BNR may refer to one of the following.
Buwaneka Nayanajith Ranatunga
Belarusian National Republic
Bergen Nordhordland Rutelag a Norwegian transport coorperation.
Bengal Nagpur Railway, an Indian Railways route, and headquarters of South
Eastern Railway in Kolkata
Bell-Northern Research
National Bank of Romania
National Bank of Rwanda
Bulgarian National Radio
"Body not recovered", an appellation to those killed in action during a military
operation; or to those missing in action, with the implication that the subject
in question may be deceased
