Haitian History

Bélizaire Says He Was Asked to Kill Prime Minister

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - In an article published May 13, 2005, Anel Bélizaire, explains the circumstances of his escape from the National Penitentiary as a result from someone from the interim government of Gerard Latortue (2004-2006) asked him to murder his cellmate, the former Prime Minister, Yvon Neptune.

Read more...

Memorial Service for Anthropologist Antenor Firmin

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (defend.ht) - A memorial service will be held on Monday in Cap Haitien on the 100th anniversary of the death of Antenor Firmin, an anthropologist, journalist and politician who wrote the renowned work, "Essay on the Inequality of Human Races."

Read more...

U.S. and UN Officials Oversaw Integration of Ex-Army Paramilitaries into Haiti’s Police Force

Throughout 2004 and 2005, Haiti’s unelected de facto authorities, working alongside foreign officials, integrated at least 400 ex-army paramilitaries into the country’s police force, secret U.S. Embassy cables reveal.

Read more...

100: The First Days of President Michel Martelly

When Michel Joseph Martelly was elected the 56th President of the Republic of Haiti, the country, already facing an almost permanent economic crisis and on the verge of social explosion, faced the consequences of the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

Read more...

The Creation of the Tontons Macoutes, July 29, 1959

In July of 1958, A group of former Haitian military officers headed by former Lieutenant of the Haitian Armed Forces, Alix 'Sonson' Pasquet gathered in Miami, Florida to conspire an uprising to overthrow Francois 'Papa Doc' Duvalier.

Read more...

The Story of Choucoune Stolen Legacy: The Ordeal of Choucoune

For the past 500 years, Haiti has been part of the world's history. As a member of the society of nations, Haiti and Haitians have made numerous, worthy, but rarely heralded, contributions.

Need we mention the bravery of the future heroes of our Independence, who fought in Savannah under the banner of the French Army to help defeat the English Colonial forces and help free the United States of America?

Read more...

8,000 Foreign Soldiers Arrive to Begin Transition

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - In a ceremony Tuesday, Army General Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira of the United Nations took control of 8,000, newly arrived, U.N. forces at the Haitian police academy.

Read more...

Daniel Fignolé: The 19 Day President

Daniel Fignolé was one of the first influential leaders of Haiti. He was a labor organizer, popular among the workers of Port-au-Prince, that at a moment's notice he could get masses of people in to the streets, known as the "woulo konpresé", the streamroller.

Read more...

The Congress of Arcahaie 1803

The first big highlight of 1803 was the death of Toussaint L'Ouverture on April 7.

Read more...

An Extended History of the Haitian Flag

French flag flew over the French colony of Santo Domingo for over a century until February 1803.

Read more...

A Final Case for the President; Rene Preval

The living generation of Haitians has never known a stable government. The idea of a peaceful succession of power is foreign to most.

Read more...

Maurice Alfrédo Sixto (May 12, 1919 – May 12, 1984)

Once upon a time, there was a man, a Haitian man, one of those men whom we would love to see live forever, but… nature has its own laws.

Read more...

The Earthquake of 1842

On May 7, 1842, a major earthquake destroyed the city of Cap-Haïtien and other towns nearby.

Read more...

The First Battle of Gonaïves

Since the start of the French-Spanish war in 1793, the General of the Black Forces, Toussaint L'Ouverture had given his support to the Spaniards, given they had, beforehand, abolished slavery.

Read more...

The History of Haitian Heritage Month

Haitian Heritage Month is a celebration of Haitian history, culture, and pride. The Heritage Month was first celebrated in Boston , Massachusetts in May 1998.

Read more...

Jean-Jacques Audubon des Cayes

Jean-Jacques Audubon was born in Les Cayes, Saint Domingue on April 26 1785, the French colony, known today as Haïti.

Read more...

The Mutiny of the Haitian Coast Guard

On April 21, 1970 as a lieutenant assigned to the Presidential Guard, I was in the officer's dormitory when the telephone rang. I lifted the receiver and heard the duty officer at the Department's office saying: "By order of the Department commander, all dormitories must be evacuated immediately; we will soon be attacked by the Coast Guard! Pass this message to everyone!" Without hesitating I passed on the word to the other officers who thought, at first, that I was joking. I told them that the orders were serious and we quickly went down to the courtyard.

Read more...

Restoration of the Art Center Begins

The Rescue Center of Cultural Heritage (CSBC), launched its efforts Friday to preserve artifacts, documents, buildings and art work damaged by the earthquake of 2010. The projects will include a series of lectures among other preservation work.

Read more...

Toussaint L'Ouverture Way, Unveiled in Barbados

The University of the West Indies unveiled a walkway in honor of the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture. Toussaint L'Ouverture Way also includes a mural painting that streams along the side.

Read more...

National Day of the Diaspora is April 20th

By the presidential order of Rene Preval and signed by the Council of Ministers on March 16th, the Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE), is pleased to announce that April 20 is decreed: "National Day of the Diaspora" in Haiti.

Read more...

Book reviews

Haiti Noir

Book Review

The anthology edited by Edwidge Danticat puts a uniquely Haitian spin on the crime genre

"Danticat has succeeded in assembling a group portrait of Haitian culture and resilience that is cause for celebration." - Publishers Weekly