Frederick Douglass on Haiti

This post may be a bit nerdy, but I want to share this anyway. I am exploring more literature and writings on Haiti by Haitians and non-Haitians. In one way or another, Haiti has influenced many high profile historical figures around the world, and many of them have had something to say about it.

Frederick Douglass, and American, worked in various capacities on the relationship between Haiti and the U.S., including delivering a speech at the Chicago World's Fair on January 2nd, 1893. Here's a link to the text of that wonderful speech. He is as eloquent as ever, and does not shy away from being direct to his purpose and object.

Because of the similarities I see to present day, it is amazing to me that this was delivered in 1893. Awesome insight into history, Haiti, and the relationship with the U.S. To me, this speech shows very clearly how the history of the U.S. is inseparable from the history of Haiti. I think it's worth the 30-45 minutes it takes to read it.

http://www2.webster.edu/~corbetre/haiti/history/1844-1915/douglass.htm

Here's my favorite quote from the piece:

Until she spoke no Christian nation had abolished negro slavery. Until she spoke no christian nation had given to the world an organized effort to abolish slavery. Until she spoke the slave ship, followed by hungry sharks, greedy to devour the dead and dying slaves flung overboard to feed them, plouged in peace the South Atlantic painting the sea with the Negro's blood. Until she spoke, the slave trade was sanctioned by all the Christian nations of the world, and our land of liberty and light included. Men made fortunes by this infernal traffic, and were esteemed as good Christians, and the standing types and representations of the Saviour of the World. Until Haiti spoke, the church was silent, and the pulpit was dumb. Slavetraders lived and slave-traders died. Funeral sermons were preached over them, and of them it was said that they died in the triumphs of the christian faith and went to heaven among the just.

The Danger of a Single Story

When we only retain a single story of another person, country, or culture we can develop damaging misconceptions that mislead us to act in inappropriate, and harmful, ways.

By far, the two most frequent comments I receive from others when talking about moving to Haiti are, "Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere," and, "watch out for Vodou down there." Haiti is one such place often defined by a single story. This post is about uprooting that single story and presenting additional information about the country to which I'm moving. 

These details are not meant to define Haiti in its entirety, or collectively present a certain view. These are simply a few details from my reading that have challenged my previous understanding of Haiti and Haitian history.

Inspiration for this post came from a TED Talk video by storyteller Chimamanda Adichie that we viewed at training in New York. I strongly encourage you to watch this engaging speaker explain the danger of a single story here: