In her critique of Krik? Krak!, Rocio Davis discusses the impact of Danticat’s short story form on the immigrant experience and how it defines Haitian cultural pluralism. Davis initially notes Danticat’s use of reoccurring images such as the wish for flight and the death of infants to highlight the themes of innocence, the need to escape, and freedom. The violent histories and continuing dreams of many of the characters find symbolic expression in these images. Because these symbols are present in stories about leaving Haiti and seeking a future elsewhere, they emphasize the presentation of many of the painful realities of the immigrant situation and can be related back to changes of the Haitian community.…
“Haiti, had gained its independence through a twelve-year slave uprising” (Danticat 97). Jean Dominique Haiti’s most famous radio commentator managed to make it through several exiles. “We had all come to think of him as heroically invincible” (Danticat 42). “Jean had expressed his opinions freely, seemingly without fear, criticizing groups as well as individuals, organizations, and institutions who’d proven themselves to be inhumane ,unethical or simply unjust” (Danticat 42). Dominique was assassinated on his way to his radio studio when he had come back from…
In the article Sometimes, The Earth is Cruel by Leonard Pitts, the author discusses how distressing it is to be Haitian. In nearly the past twenty two years, Haiti has suffered from multiple natural catastrophes. Haiti struggles with hurricanes, tropical storms, political instability, and most recently, a consequential earthquake. In his article, Pitts discusses how humans are able to return to stability after these occurrences, which is not the case for Haiti. Leonard Pitts recognizes that it always seems to be “Haiti’s turn.” The main predicament Pitts recognizes is that Haiti always seems to be the country next in line for natural catastrophes.…
This film was a documentary by a business reporter named Adam Davidson who discovered a man trying to strengthen the economy in Haiti using tourism. The cruise ship company Royal Caribbean ports their ships at a private beach in Haiti called Labadee which is around 10 miles from and important Haitian landmark called Citadelle Laferriere. It is a Citadel or (Fortress) with a great deal of important Haitian history linked to it. Lionel Pressoir, a Haitian entrepreneur, has a vision to use this fortress as a tourist attraction by building a road that will allow Royal Caribbean customers to take an excursion from Labadee to the Citadel to visit and learn about an important part of Haitian history. According to Pressoir, if even a small percentage of the tourist would visit this small town it could have enormous returns for their economy. During Pressoir’s journey to make this happen he receives much need support only to be stunted by the 2010 earthquake. With funding pledged the government’s priorities turn to immediate needs brought on by the earthquake such as shelter, medical aid and debris removal. (Davidson, 2010)…
The Dominican Republic, Punta Cana Is one of the most glorious places I've ever had ever visited; I felt like I was in a lush tropical island paradise. After getting off, the plane walking into a hut of an airport, I felt excited and nervous to be in a foreign country. My husband and I were greeted upon arrival to the resort with a cold washcloth and a glass of champagne, I felt like a queen. A couple of days later we had a Remarriage vow ceremony for our fifteen wedding anniversary on the beach. Everything…
Haiti is one of the world’s poorest nations in the western hemisphere, which is still suffering the impact and devastation of the earthquake today. A nation so often on its knees had been knocked to the ground. (Clinton). On January 12, 2012 Haiti was struck by an earthquake with 7.0 magnitudes. Many Haitians suffered while others lost their lives. The earthquake shred many homes leaving many people homeless. Many towns got ruined and wrecked, even cities got ripped apart and drowned. The churches were crumbled and schools and banks. The best and fanciest hotels in town were crumbled…
My friend John Wesh is originally from Haiti and came to America 6 years ago. When he first came to America, he felt that it was very different. There were so many people walking around and crossing the streets that it made him uncomfortable. He saw a lot of corner store deli’s and that was something he was not used to having in Haiti. He came here for high school and here he considered getting out at 3pm late. Also transitioning from one classroom to another was something that he was not used to.…
Peguero, V. (1998). Teaching the Haitian revolution: its place in western and modern world history. The History Teacher, 32(1), 33-41.…
Occupying the eastern half of the island of Hispaniola, modern Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere, yet is it also has a rich history and culture. When Haiti won its independence in 1804, France had recently beheaded their century old monarchy, replaced the feudalist system of old with new enlightenment ideals, guillotined their entire aristocratic class, and then out of the chaos, through the strong hand of Napoleon Bonaparte, became the most powerful empire in the world. Across the Atlantic ocean, in France’s small colony of Haiti, then known as Saint Domingue, racial tensions were brewing; the minority white french colonists held power over the “people of color” or mixed race class, free blacks, and the lowest class: the slaves. However, this racially unstable caribbean island provided financial stability to the French mainland being one of France’s most profitable colonies. These racial tensions and extreme inequalities in conjunction with the French revolution’s new enlightenment ideas provided the perfect…
“Things are very crazy here. I arrived in Haiti one hour before the earthquake hit. I came home and I was starting to unpack my bag when the house starting dancing.…
“The Harbor of Dieppe” is one of many naturalistic paintings by Joseph Mallard William Turner. “The Harbor of Dieppe” is an oil on canvas painting by an English Romantic painter Joseph Mallord William Turner. It was painted and exhibited in 1826 however its current home is at the Frick Collection in New York. Like many other paintings of the 19th century Romanticism Movement “The Harbor of Dieppe” illustrates a painting of nature and city landscape that is captured in its true existence. In this painting Turner captures an amazing natural phenomena, which is the rising of a powerful sun that embraces together the city of Dieppe.…
The documentary Haiti and the Dominican Republic: An Island Divided discusses differences between two countries that share one land mass. In the first few seconds of the film the only visible separation or distinction viewers can observe is the Massacre River and the two different sides the countries occupy. However, moments later viewers are informed of the many deeper-rooted differences between the two countries and its people. Haiti and the Dominicans have had many conflicts over the years and this documentary helped give me a better understanding of the reasons and history from which these conflicts were born.…
At the end of December 2015 we got on a plane and flew to Haiti. As we arrived we got on the Tap-Tap (taxi) and got driven to the orphanage. The drive was about an hour and a half long on roads that are not paved and had huge potholes. The only scent in the air was not what you would expect- it’s not a tropical flower smell, it’s burning garbage. While trying to talk to my family all we could hear was chaos and mass commotion. “ I’m excited but so nervous at the same time!” I screeched. All of our jaws dropped in wonder. We had all been waiting for that day since the past year when we were in Haiti.…
I live in a country full of rich resources. Our weather is like a bittersweet lotion that replenishes the skin. People from all over the world come to my land for these things called "vacations". Vacations bring in nothing but good memories, smiles, and family. A vacation is a fairytale here in Columbia. The beautiful landscapes are just a pinch of reality that are on the brochures, websites, and posters. Sometimes when I look at these Americanized pictures of Columbia I wish I was there. The true story of Columbia starts in the city of Bogata located in the mountains. I am a young girl. I will not disclose my name or age because what I'm about to tell you about my culture and land are hands on things my soul has been through; which may upset…
This summer I had the opportunity to experience the captivating society, culture and poverty of…