Se kòd la ki long
(we're back after a much-needed break)
Welcome to the latest edition of Woy Magazine’s biweekly newsletter, providing you with must-know news and commentary on Haiti and our Diaspora.
Dear Woy reader,
Lizay. I write this from the city of Philadelphia where, on this day (May 13th) in 1985, Philadelphia police dropped a military-grade bomb on a residential home housing members of the MOVE organization. Eleven Black people were killed that day including men, women, and children. My mind keeps coming back to the thought of how Philadelphia historically serves as a shining example of the violence this country inflicts on Black people. Haiti serves a similar purpose. Growing up, my mother was haunted by the story of the MOVE organization and would retell it to me and my siblings. I realize now that she did this to make sure we knew the story of the Africas and to make sure we knew the cruelty this country was capable of.
We took a much-needed break over the last couple of months to rest. As we attempted to rest, violent conflict erupted in Laplèn, in the north region of Port-au-Prince, where many Haitians have lost their homes and lives. Over the last few months, I’ve been asking myself what it is we seek to do with this newsletter. Can we really capture the happenings of one nation in two weeks? Not really. One thing Woy Magazine has taught me is that Haiti is a nonstop spiral. You may sit down one day to write a well-thought-out reflection on an ongoing drought, only to discover news of immense floods by the time you’ve typed your first sentence. Summarizing an entire country in one newsletter every two weeks will remain impossible, especially in the never-ending spiral that is Ayiti, but we can pause to listen to those that are speaking as they reach us. So that we can know their story—our story, and so we can know the cruelty power is capable of.
We’re glad to be back to continue this work. Nou pa lage w, se kòd la ki long.
- Nathalie ‘Talie’ Cerin, lead editor, Woy Magazine
POLITIK/POLEMIK: Laplèn
Between April 24th and May 6th, fighting broke out between rival gangs across the northern neighborhoods of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in Croix des Bouquets, Tabarre and Cité Soleil. These clashes involved the 400 Mazowo gang which is said to have been trying to reclaim neighborhoods currently held by rival gang Chen Mechan.
Jean-Marie Theodat, author of Haïti, République dominicaine. Une île pour deux and lecturer in geography at the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne describes the situation as a civil war, where gangs are better equipped than the State. Listen to the episode of RFI’s Decryptage “Haíti: une violence hors de contrôle?” for more on this analysis (French).
According to a survey of affected areas conducted by the RNDDH, this round of extreme violence has pushed 9,000 people out of their homes and killed at least 148 people. RNDDH has denounced these events as a massacre of unprecedented cruelty.
In this RFI interview, Dr. Frédéric Thomas alleges that the Haitian Police (PNH) has also been involved, providing armored vehicles to shuttle gang members fending off the attack by 400 Mawozo. Images taken by the gangs themselves have been making the rounds on social media spreading fear as the conflict simmered down.
Haitians on and off the internet continue to decry the inadequate response from Ariel Henry’s administration in the face of the unspeakable violence.
On May 7th, Konbit Jounalis Lib (KJL) was on the scene for a protest — organized by residents of la Plaine — who gathered to march and demand that the government do its job to keep them safe. The marchers were heard chanting "Nou paka sipòte ankò" (we cannot take it anymore) and "Sa fè 2 semèn depi nou kite kay nou" (it's been 2 weeks since we've fled from our homes). In their report, KJL interviews a few of the marchers, some of whom decried the government's passive response in the midst of the violence of the last few weeks. Others promised to keep marching until peace is restored.
Germine Joly, a gang leader in the 400 Mawozo was recently extradited to the United States. He, along with three others, were charged with “conspiracy to violate export control laws and to defraud the United States, violating export control laws, money laundering and smuggling, according to a 28-count indictment”. Joly, also known as ‘Yonyon’, was flown out following a request from U.S. authorities last month.
KILTIRÈL
May 1st (May Day) is not only Labor Day in Haiti, but it is also Fèt Kouzen. Kouzen is the lwa of business, prosperity, governance, and agriculture. His vèvè symbol is an irrigated parcel of land. People pray to him for prosperity, wealth, and agricultural abundance.
For a taste of the sounds that define this tradition check out a Spotify playlist by Riva Nyri Précil.
Dyaspora/Imigrasyon
Thursday, May 12th, a boat carrying Haitian migrants capsized near Puerto Rico, leaving at least 11 dead. The boat was spotted by a U.S Customs and Border Protection aircraft about 11 miles from Desecheo Island — an uninhabited wildlife refuge in the Mona Passage off of Puerto Rico’s western coast. The exact number of people on the vessel is unclear. Among the survivors: 11 women and 20 men.
The Mona Passage, is a common route for voyages taking migrants from the Dominican Republic and Haiti toward Puerto Rico. It is defined as a treacherous stretch of water located between Puerto Rico and the island of Hispaniola.
Between Oct. 1 and March 31, the Coast Guard and its partner agencies had intercepted 1,308 undocumented immigrants in the Mona Passage and near Puerto Rico, according to agency data. Most of the people the Coast Guard came across were Dominican, 940, followed by 298 Haitians. The combined number of Dominicans and Haitians the Coast Guard has so far interdicted this year is 158% more than the previous fiscal year. Meanwhile, Customs in Puerto Rico has apprehended 757 Haitians and 292 Dominicans since October. (Source: Miami Herald)
Deportation Watch
Here are the ICE deportation flights transporting Haitian migrants between May 1-May 13, 2022
For more see: ICE AIR to Haiti - Mass Expulsion Flight Data courtesy of Jake Johnston
ON THIS DAY (May 1-13, 2022)
May 12th, 1984 marks the passing of legendary Haitian storyteller and author, Maurice Alfredo Sixto, who passed away in Philadelphia. A pioneer of Haitian oral literature (Lodyans), it is after the loss of his sight (in 1969) that he set off on the literary journey which brought to fruition some of his most popular works like Leya Kokoye and Ti Sentaniz. His sizable contributions to Haitian literature have left an imprint on Haitian art, popular culture, and history. Listen to Gwo Moso for a sample of the famed orator’s work.
Recommended Reading/Viewing
Haiti Beyond Crisis, a series of articles edited by Laura Wagner and Greg Beckett, covering the themes of "violence and ensekirite, migration and deportation, exploitation and industrialization, state corruption, international intervention, everyday life, and Haiti as a symbol of collective freedom"
Ayiti Reimagined: A Conversation with Jean Casimir at the Library of Congress
Ayibopost interviews research and storyteller, Nadege Green, on the evolution of 2nd generation Haitians in Miami for their series on migration (Kreyol)
Where Haitian-Americans live in the US, according to the US Census Bureau
Entre Nous: Michel Péan sur Maurice Sixto (Kreyol).