Sonje lapli ki leve mayi ou
Welcome to the latest edition of Woy Magazine’s biweekly newsletter, providing you with must-know news and commentary on Haiti and our Diaspora. We are shutting down our Patreon, and are switching to a paid subscription Substack model for those of you who wish to support us. Consider upgrading your free subscription to a paid one to help us continue this work!
If a tree falls in a forest, but nobody is around to hear it, did it make a sound? What if the only people who heard that tree fall were Haitian, and then those Haitians proceeded to discuss that tree falling amongst each other for generations, wrote about it in their books, debated about it at their dinner tables, had their school children recite about it in history lessons etc. Did that tree still not make a sound? Does a tree only make a sound if a white person hears it?
It’s been a curious feeling, to witness a story that has floated in Haitian consciousness for generations appear as breaking news in the USA this week. (Although, to be clear, I do agree that this topic needs to be studied and analyzed way more by both Haitians and non-Haitians). I am recalling a casual drunken debate at a party when I was on summer break in Haiti during undergrad years ago, “What would you have done if you were President Boyer?” was the question. A few claimed they would have bravely gone to war again. The discussion was shut down by one loudmouth yelling that we were all liars, “nou tout t ap peye dèt la, e nou t ap peye l ankò !” This debate isn’t an uncommon one. I’ve heard it at a number of gatherings throughout my life, like a group of soccer fans insisting they would have surely scored that goal had they been playing in the game they’re all watching.
I’m also remembering how catchy Aristide’s campaign song by Koudjay demanding reparations was. Was anyone, no matter where you landed on the political spectrum, able to resist dancing to that tune? “Lafrans kale m lajan m pou m ka peye endepanans mwen REPARASYONNN RESTITISYONNN.” I should find that song and add it to my playlists.
— Nathalie Cerin, Lead Editor, Woy Magazine
CHAY LA | BIG STORY
New York Times discovers why Haiti is poor
This week, The New York Times released an in-depth investigation exploring the indemnity of 1825, and its repercussions for generations of Haitians to come – in exchange for our freedom from France. Using thousands of pages of original government documents, The New York Times found that Haitian families have paid the equivalent of $560 million in today’s dollars, adding:
But that doesn’t nearly capture the true loss. If that money had simply stayed in the Haitian economy and grown at the nation’s actual pace over the last two centuries – rather than being shipped off to France, without any goods or services being provided in return – it would have added a staggering $21 billion to Haiti over time, even accounting for its notorious corruption and waste. (Source: The New York Times)
The eight part piece also explores just how lucrative the colonization of Hispaniola had been for the French, the cruel and inhumane conditions the enslaved people were subject to, as well as the events and politics that preceded and followed Haiti’s independence.
Typically, historians say, war reparations are imposed on the losers. Victorious European nations forced France to pay them after the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, a decade before the Baron of Mackau set foot in Haiti. After World War I, allied nations imposed huge penalties on Germany in the Treaty of Versailles, fueling bitter resentment that carried into World War II.
But in this case, the victors — who had first thrown off their shackles, and then defended themselves by beating back Napoleon’s forces — were the ones to pay. Instead of remedying, or even acknowledging the abuses of slavery, the ordinance focused on the financial losses of the former masters. (Source: The New York Times)
For those familiar with the story, Jonathan Katz's newsletter presents a list of novel points that this probe has brought to the conversation and what wasn't.
We think it is important to note that the NYTimes’ investigation expands on years of scholarship by Haitian historians on this topic, along with other specialists whose work focuses on Haiti. Just last year, Marlene Daut's eye-opening essay examining what she has dubbed "the greatest heist in history"appeared in Woy Magazine. It was originally published on The Conversation, but we had the pleasure of publishing it ourselves, translating it in Kreyòl for our Haitian readers as well. We do, however, welcome such a necessary and thorough work to invite the proper analysis on Haiti’s current conditions from a platform with an immense reach like New York Times.
In honor of Haitian Heritage Month, Doctor Celucien Joseph on the Haiti Then and Now blog, highlighted the Haitian scholars who have been studying and publishing on this topic for years; The Haitian Receipts. He focuses on work penned by 14 Haitian historians and writers. Among them, Thomas Madiou, the father of Haitian history, and his recounting of events in a volume published all the way back in 1848. Madiou is said to be the first Haitian writer to recount the history of these events.
Part of the NYTimes series also zeros in on Jean Bertrand Aristide and his 2004 ouster – echoing what Aristide supporters have long said was the catalyst for the coup.
France and the United States have long said that Mr. Aristide’s call for restitution had nothing to do with his ouster, that he had taken an autocratic turn, lost control of the country, and was spirited into exile to prevent Haiti, already heaving with turmoil, from careening into chaos. But France’s ambassador to Haiti at the time, Thierry Burkard, said in an interview that France and the United States had effectively orchestrated “a coup” against Mr. Aristide, and that his abrupt removal was “probably a bit about” his call for reparations from France, too. (Source: The New York Times)
In response, former American ambassador James Foley, penned an op-ed in the Miami Herald calling these accusations grotesque and a stain on The New York Times piece. Le Nouvelliste published a French translation:
Au cours des presque 20 ans qui se sont écoulés depuis ces événements, aucun responsable du gouvernement américain de l'époque ne s'est avancé pour avouer ou admettre la complicité des États-Unis dans la chute du pouvoir d'Aristide. Il n'y a jamais eu la moindre fuite à cet effet - ce qui, si l'allégation était vraie, serait extraordinaire à Washington, D.C. Des dommages ont été causés aux archives historiques - et à la réputation de divers responsables américains qui ont maintenu la vérité sur la politique et les actions des États-Unis en Haïti en 2003-2004. (Source: Le Nouvelliste)
Twitter Check: People aren’t buying it, James.
POLITIK/POLEMIK
A Political Standstill
De facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry and the representatives of the Montana Accord, notably Magalie Comeau Denis, have been unable to reach an agreement on the terms of the negotiations regarding the political transition since Jovenel Moise’s assassination. Their last meeting dates back to May 15th, 2022, leaving a situation described as a sort of game of telephone.
A person close to Ariel Henry has confided to Le Nouvelliste that a change of posts at the head of the government is not the priority for Henry at this time.
« La priorité actuelle est le rétablissement de la sécurité, la lutte contre la corruption, le fonctionnement de la Cour de cassation, la formation d’un Conseil électoral provisoire et l'organisation des élections », a confié ce membre du gouvernement. (Source: Le Nouvelliste)
ON THIS DAY (MAY 16-MAY 30)
Bòn Fèt Drapo!
On May 18th, Haitians celebrated the 219th anniversary of the creation of the nation's flag. School children, performers and artisans all over Haiti took to the streets to participate in the Flag Day parades.
During one such celebration, a school shared a heartbreaking and truthful chant speaking to Haiti's current predicament. "Ayiti, vant nou fè nou mal" the children recited, chiding politicians and international community alike for holding the country hostage. May we see a happier Haitian Flag Day one day for our children.
Similar festivities take place every May 18th across the diaspora. In some places, public schools in communities with a large Haitian presence embrace this holiday as well.
In 2020, Woy Contributor Ian Rolf, penned an op-ed about differences in cultural expression between Haitians in Haiti and those in the diaspora — especially around this particular holiday. In it, he urges us to embrace all of the manifestations of Haitian culture, reminding us that as Haitians continue to be forced to flee their country, Haitian identity will take on new meanings and expressions.
If we start from the basic principle that anyone who bears this country and culture no ill will, loves and respects either enough to claim as its own in good faith, shouldn’t be denied the right to do so, we can debate and come to an agreement on the finer details. Though we may disagree with each other, we must resist the urge to make the circle smaller. Exclusion is not a solid premise on which to build a sense of cultural identity, it only leads to hurt and resentment. Furthermore, attempting to do so is a direct affront to our ancestors’ actions, the genesis of the very flag we hold so dear, and everything it symbolizes. (Source: Woy Magazine)
DYASPORA | IMIGRASYON
842 migrants end up in Cuba, DR cruelty continues
A boat carrying 842 Haitians headed for the U.S. found its way to Villa Clara instead, on the coast of central Cuba. The migrants aboard are being housed at an old tourist campground, and it appears they are one of the biggest groups of migrants found to be fleeing the country for greener pastures, as part of the mass exodus Haiti is currently experiencing. The migrants say they signaled for help after being abandoned by the captain, who left on a separate boat.
We were on Tortuga Island for two months waiting for the trip until last Saturday, when at five in the morning they took us to the boat,” 19-year-old Joyce Paul, who arrived on the boat, told The Associated Press.
In the following days, “15 people threw themselves into the sea because they couldn’t stand hunger,” Paul said. “There was a herring for (each) 15 people and they gave us water.
Paul was traveling with an uncle, his wife and a baby at a cost of $4,000 per person. The family said the captain abandoned them early Tuesday on a separate small boat after taking their cellphones. The ship was listing. With a flashlight, they managed to draw the attention of people on Cuba’s coast. (Source: AP News)
Reports of immigration raids and clashes between Haitians and Dominican immigration officers are also surfacing. Many deportations have taken place following these clashes — captured on video and circulating on social media. Following these events, advocates have been calling the raids an unfair hunt, as many of the Haitians being targeted during these raids have legal status in the Dominican Republic.
In Cultured Company shared the poignant remarks of one Dominican radio host on this reality: "[…] Dominican businesses, with the complicity of the Dominican government, exploit Haitian labor in construction and other low wage jobs...only to then call immigration to round them up before pay day and deport them."
This is happening in the midst of continued attacks on Haitians and Black people in the Dominican Republic — a symptom of what the folks over at In Cultured Company are calling a growing culture of fascism in the country. Check out this eye-opening twitter thread on the matter:
DEGI | RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE YOU GO
On the Very Political Depoliticization of Reparations by Fania Noel
Barbecue a payé pour l’enterrement d’un journaliste assassiné by Widlore Mérancourt. An alarming report by AyiboPost, exploring the relationships between gangs in Haiti and journalists. Among other things, the article states that international media were paying $3,000 to $5,000 to sit down with gang leaders like BBQ.
Hell on Earth by Romain Molina. Romain Molina continues his gut-wrenching, in-depth investigation on sexual misconduct in the Haitian sports federation. "For almost two decades referees, employees and players of the Haitian federation have been forced to sleep with FIFA and CONCACAF officials. Among the leaders who received these sexual gifts is former President Sepp Blatter"
Roots and wings a short by visual artist Phalonne Pierre Louis
NYTimes held an informative Twitter Space following the publication of their investigation on Haiti and the indemnity of 1825.
L'Utopie Farmer. Fokal pays tribute to Dr. Paul Farmer, the founder of Zanmi Lasante who passed away in February this year.