As we embark upon the New Year, we should take time to reflect on one of the most important events in the history of African descendant peoples in the Western hemisphere. On January 1, 1804, the second republic and the first black republic in the Western hemisphere were founded, the Republic of Haiti. Furthermore, the establishment of a black republic by formerly enslaved African insurgents, who fought for their liberation against European oppression, has served as the fundamental foundation for the development of the concept of human rights and self-determination. As the bicentennial anniversary of Haiti’s independence approaches, we, as African descendant peoples in the Americas whether English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Creole (Kreyol) speaking, must confront and attempt to alleviate the perilous condition of our brothers and sisters in Haiti. While, the birth of Haiti was marked by triumph and liberation from European domination and exploitation, our brothers and sisters on the island have been mired in social, economic and political strife and instability for most of their nation’s history.

Haiti, which means “Land of Mountains,” occupies one third of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. For Haitians, the true meaning of Haiti is “La Perle des Antilles” which means the soul of the Antilles. Although both French and a French-based Kreyol are spoken, the vast majority of the population speaks only Kreyol. The capital and largest city in Haiti is Port-au-Prince. Haiti, with a population of more than seven and one-half million, is a country predominantly of African origin. Haiti possesses a rich cultural tapestry that integrates various characteristics of African, French and West Indian traditions that is reflected in its music, language, dance, literature and art.

While Haiti has the honor of being the first black republic in the Americas, the social, economic and political circumstances surrounding its development in the 20th century, have also provided the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The social, economic and political strife that has plagued Haitian society has been a major impediment to the nation’s development. Abject poverty, illiteracy, and lack of opportunity are integral and unfortunate aspects of contemporary Haiti. While Haiti’s founders and leaders of the liberation struggle, Toussaint L’Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe, represent the nation’s revolutionary spirit, the political landscape of Haiti for much of the 19th and 20th centuries has been marred by corruption, exploitation and greed. From the United States occupation, throughout the teens to the thirties of the last century, to the destructive and lecherous tenures of Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier and his handpicked successor and son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, to the overthrow of the first democratically elected president in the country’s history, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, to the monopolization of power within the current Aristide administration, Haitians have experienced continuing political instability which has become as integral to their country’s existence as its distinction as the first black republic.

As the bicentennial anniversary of Haiti’s independence is upon us, we should reflect on the tremendous sacrifices made in order to secure the liberation of Haiti and African descendant peoples throughout the hemisphere. From the Maroon communities in the Caribbean, particularly in Jamaica, to the tremendous influence Haitian immigrants had on the cultural development of Louisiana, to the pronounced psychological effects the slave rebellion and independence had on whites throughout the hemisphere, the revolution’s significance should never be understated. The establishment of a black republic in a hemisphere where African descendant peoples had been relegated to the institution of slavery from the United States to Brazil represents one of the most momentous achievements and events within the history of the African in the Americas. Formal written history, which has been defined us by the enslavement of our ancestors by Europeans, has failed to acknowledge the struggles of African-descended peoples in their search for liberation and self-determination. The Haitian Revolution and the emergence of the Republic of Haiti is a testament to our resistance, defiance and tenacity, as African descendant peoples in our struggle to overcome oppression and exploitation.

By Tonya M. Williams