News
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| 28/9/06 |
Mesi Papa Desalin | Percée Dessalinienne…UN APPEL DEVANT LE CONSTAT D’ECHEC (Haiti En Marche) | Stop the re-colonization of Haiti and contraction of Dessalines’ legacy – Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola. Call “Restaveks” what they are legally: indentured servants, not slaves!!! Stop diminishing the unparallel feats of Jean Jacques Dessalines |
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Date: 28 September 2006 00:40:52 BDT Ezili Danto’s Questions on the rolling back of Jean Jacques Dessalines’ Revolutionary Legacy: 1. Who changed the name of the island of Haiti, from “Haiti” to the colonizing name of “Hispaniola” after it had been re-named Haiti by Haiti’s founding father to immortalized the first inhabitants? No, it wasn’t Haitians. Yes, it was the US. “In 1930, to avoid confusion between the name of the Republic of Haiti and that of the entire island, the U.S.G.B. (United States Geographic Board) decided, unilaterally, to name the island Hispaniola in homage to the Spanish colonizer, thereby erasing all traces of the Amerindians who occupied the island before the arrival of Christopher Columbus.” (See posted below, “Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola: ‘Quisqueya’ honors Taino culture whereas ‘Hispaniola’ recalls the Amerindian genocide; See also the three ideals of Dessalines) 2. Haiti abolished slavery. Why is there a group intent today on insisting that domestic servants in Haiti called “restaveks” are “slaves” and not indentured servants, the proper legal identification of their status??? To roll back, of course, Jean Jacques Dessalines’ and therefore Haiti’s revolutionary legacy. ***************************************** October 17, 2006 marks the bicentennial of Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ assassination – Join HLLN’s Free Haiti Movement, throughout the month of October, 2006, in celebrating the life, triumphs, achievements and ideals of Haiti’s revolutionary hero and founding father ***********************in this posts****************** Haiti En March Editorial: Percée Dessalinienne… Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola “Quisqueya” honors Taino culture whereas “Hispaniola” recalls the Mesi Papa Desalin (Kreyol & English) Defile Manman “Chimè”? By Jafrikayiti (www.jafrikayiti.com) (Kreyol) The three ideals of Dessalines La Dessalinienne / Dessaline?s Song / La Desalinyen (Haiti’s National Anthem) Audio Link to Dessaline’s Song – Haiti’s National Anthem ********************************************************** Percée Dessalinienne… UN APPEL DEVANT LE CONSTAT D’ECHEC EDITORIAL PORT-AU-PRINCE, 23 Septembre 2006 – 20 septembre, anniversaire de naissance de Jean-Jacques Dessalines ! Dessalines, dites-vous. Selon les historiens, on ne sait même pas avec précision où est né le fondateur de la nation haïtienne, voire sa date de naissance. Par contre, cette année ramène le 200e anniversaire de son assassinat, perpétré le 17 octobre 1806, à un endroit dénommé avec prédestination Pont Rouge, à l’entrée nord de Port-au-Prince, la capitale haïtienne. L’empereur, père de l’indépendance d’Haïti et premier chef d’Etat du pays, tombait dans une embuscade tendue par ses ennemis politiques et anciens camarades dans le combat pour chasser le corps expéditionnaire envoyé par Napoléon Bonaparte en vue de rétablir l’esclavage dans la “ perle des Antilles “, comme la France désignait elle-même son ancienne colonie. D’où vient le besoin soudain de donner une date de naissance à Dessalines ? On ne sait trop. D’abord une sorte de rumeur se propageant de bouche à oreille, puis qui prend corps, pour déboucher dans les médias chauds (radio et télé). Parallèlement, on ne voit aucune disposition spéciale pour honorer le bicentenaire du 17 octobre. On se souvient qu’une commission avait été créée à cet effet par le gouvernement de transition du Premier ministre Gérard Latortue. Où est passée cette commission ? Ni vu, ni connu… Pourtant, comme venant de nulle part, l’étoile de Dessalines remonte. Phénomène cyclique… En effet, les Haïtiens utilisent leurs héros sur une base sélective. Les chinois ont l’année du chien ou du serpent ; les haïtiens ont aussi, c’est selon, l’année Toussaint Louverture, l’année Charlemagne Péralte ou l’année Dessalines… Victime de l’exclusion… Aujourd’hui vouloir donner une date de naissance à Dessalines n’est pas une pure fantaisie, mais appartient à un besoin ou un mouvement de réhabilitation du père de la patrie. Un geste symbolique qui veut marquer que le premier de nos héros a été jusqu’ici victime de l’exclusion, considérée chez nous comme le sommet de la discrimination. La même exclusion qui frappe le paysan haïtien toujours dans l’impossibilité de dire sa date de naissance, sachant seulement qu’il est né sous tel président… Dessalines a été traité en paysan (et même de paysan) par ceux qui ont comploté son assassinat le 17 octobre 1806. Ainsi que par leurs successeurs… Autre signe des temps, le mouvement actuel n’émane pas du milieu politique, mais de secteurs de la société non immédiatement définissables, il est vrai… Un débat devait cependant avoir lieu à la faculté d’ethnologie. Les sciences humaines, l’anthropologie viennent à la rescousse. On devine un lien plus qu’évident avec le vodou. Dessalines c’est Ogou, le dieu de la guerre. Pourquoi Dessalines ? Normal. Dans son âme profonde, l’haïtien considère aujourd’hui que son pays n’est pas indépendant. Peyi nou menase … Aussi fait-il appel à Dessalines. L’indépendance ou rien !… Car Dessalines n’est pas seulement l’auteur de notre indépendance, le général qui a conduit ses troupes à la victoire et bouté le colon français et l’armée esclavagiste napoléonienne hors de Saint Domingue… Mais Dessalines c’est l’indépendance ou rien. Tout ou rien ! Nous avons tenté de sonder l’origine de cette curieuse “ percée dessalinienne “, qui pourrait être le signe avant-coureur de quelque phénomène en gestation. Pour toute réponse, on nous parle de gens qui auraient reçu en songe “ le message “. Jeanne d’Arc en hounsi kanzo… Pourquoi Dessalines, le héros sans peur et sans reproche, pur et dur, qui au lendemain de l’indépendance a ordonné sans la moindre hésitation le massacre de tous les colons français restés au pays ? D’où son abomination par les futures élites aussitôt celles-ci récupérées par la France de la dette de l’indépendance haïtienne (75 millions en francs or) et du concordat signé avec le Saint siège. Des critères bien actuels… Nous pensons qu’un tel choix répond à des critères bien actuels. Non seulement l’indépendance d’Haïti est considérée en péril, mais c’est aussi l’échec de nos politiques. Or Dessalines ne perd pas de temps à ergoter, ni à la politicaillerie. C’est lui qui conseilla à Miranda, le compagnon de Simon Bolivar venu chercher de l’aide pour la libération de l’Amérique du Sud : Coupez les têtes, brûlez les plantations. Koupe tèt, boule kay. Ce tournant marquerait aussi une rupture avec l’approche Aristide. Avant son renversement par une coalition dominée par le grand patronat haïtien, soutenu par Washington, Paris et Ottawa, le président Jean Bertrand Aristide avait couvert la capitale haïtienne de panneaux le présentant comme l’héritier spirituel de Toussaint Louverture. “ Deux hommes, deux siècles, une même vision. “ Par conséquent, le 29 février 2004 aurait vu non seulement la chute d’Aristide mais aussi la faillite de toute une conception de la politique haïtienne à base, en un mot, de politicaillerie. Conclusion : placée le dos au mur, sans alternative et face à l’échec de ses politiciens, à cette trahison des clercs, Haïti a donc besoin d’un bras fort, qui ne se pose pas trop de questions et qui ne fléchit devant rien ni personne. Un Spartacus noir… Remarquez que cela n’a rien de particulier lorsque placé dans le cadre de l’histoire universelle… Les Allemands attendent toujours le retour de Frédéric Barberousse ; les compagnons du roi Arthur partent à la recherche du Saint Graal ; chrétiens et juifs ont inventé la notion du sauveur. Etc. On rapporte que Toussaint Louverture lui-même avait lu l’ouvrage de l’abbé Reynald qui annonçait la venue un jour d’un Spartacus noir. Mais Toussaint, le précurseur de l’indépendance, le père de la liberté de tous les noirs de la terre, le fin politicien, s’est bêtement fait avoir dans un piège tendu par le général Leclerc, beau-frère de Napoléon. Enfin dernier paradoxe, Charlemagne Péralte ! En tant que héros de la lutte contre l’occupation américaine de 1915-1934, celui-ci n’est-il pas tout indiqué pour être l’inspiration du jour. Mais le mythe Charlemagne Péralte a été galvaudé par le même Aristide lorsque celui-ci devra accepter le débarquement des 20.000 Marines américains qui ont chassé les généraux putschistes de 1991 pour le ramener dans le fauteuil présidentiel. Qui pis est, ce sont les mêmes qui vont le sacrifier plus tard (même contre leur gré) qui en avaient fait le symbole de leur mouvement dès la chute de la dictature Duvalier. En effet, on vit naître d’un jour à l’autre une _expression: “ charlemagnepéraltement. “ Un héros socio-politiquement neutre… Pour certains, c’est parce que Charlemagne Péralte est un héros socio-politiquement neutre, qui a donné sa vie pour la libération de son pays, qui est mort aux côtés de camarades de combat qui étaient tous des paysans, et qui était né de la bourgeoisie. Or le premier mouvement Lavalas traversait lui aussi toutes les classes. Néanmoins il faut souligner tout de suite que cette sorte de renaissance de Dessalines dont nous parlons ne vient pas des masses, n’a aucun rapport avec les groupes armés des quartiers populaires. On le dirait jusqu’ici plutôt flou, tâtonnant, encore au stade de recherche. Peut-on encore faire descendre nos mythes parmi nous, après que nous les avons tant trahis ? A commencer par Dessalines lui-même le 17 octobre 1806… Or les mythes peuvent durer des siècles en tant que tels. Sans rien de plus… Editorial, Mélodie 103.3 FM, Port-au-Prince *********************************** Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola “Quisqueya” honors Taino culture whereas “Hispaniola” recalls the The Republic of Haiti and the Dominican Republic share a Caribbean island, one of the four islands of the Greater Antilles that the Tainos, before Columbus’s arrival, called Haiti, Bohio or Quisqueya ? meaning “Mountainous Land” or “Great Land.” The island was baptized La Isla Española (Hispaniola) by the Spanish colonizers. French colonizers subsequently called it Saint-Domingue. When proclaiming its independence on January 1, 1804, the Western part of the island of Saint Domingue took back the Amerindian name of Haïti (Ayiti). From that date on, the entire island was known throughout the world as the island of Haiti. In 1930, to avoid confusion between the name of the Republic of Haiti and that of the entire island, the U.S.G.B. (United States Geographic Board) decided, unilaterally, to name the island Hispaniola in homage to the Spanish colonizer, thereby erasing all traces of the Amerindians who occupied the island before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Unfortunately, Haitian and Dominican authorities of the time did not protest this decision with enough force or perseverance, nor did they mobilize any interested parties against this assassination of the island’s Amerindian past. It is important to rectify this serious error as soon as possible: the Taino martyrs deserve immortality. Such was the opinion of the historian Edmond Mangonès in 1934. At a conference held in Montevideo, he vehemently protested the arbitrary decision of the USGB that completely ignored the historical truths of the island (see the Bulletin de la Société d’Histoire et de Géographie d’Haïti, Vol 5, No. 15, Juillet 1934; see also Odette Roy Fombrun, L’Ayiti des Indiens (1992: 138,139)). At a time when the Caribbean moves toward unification, when Europe speaks of sponsoring only those projects that take into account both parts of the island, and at a time when bilateral activities are planned in the tourism industry to take advantage of the Amerindian cultural heritage, it is important to adopt for our island a name recalls not the genocide of its aboriginal people, but rather a name that recalls the past of resistance to oppression, a past shared by the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti. These two Republics cannot renounce their valiant Amerindian ancestors such as Caonabo, Hatuey and Cotubanama, nor can they forget the abominable massacres of Vega Real and of Xaragua, the murder of Queen Anacaona, nor the triumph of Cacique Henri, as Marie-Hélène Laraque has shown in her life’s work devoted to the study of the cultural heritage of the American Indians. Laraque’s research has shown that the first Agreement signed between the Americas and Europe was The Treaty of Cacique Henri (Le Traité du Cacique Henri) in the 16th Century. Spain had to send an ambassador to meet with the Cacique. The emperor Charles the Fifth sent Barrio Nuevo as his delegate to sign the Agreement with Henri. Thus, the first Treaty ever signed in the Americas was signed on this island in the 16th Century. It was The Treaty of the Cacique Henri (Traité du Cacique Henri). It recognizes the right of freedom to the Cacique Henri and to his fellow companions. In memory of this important history we share, I call upon: – Dominican and Haitian leaders and historians It is time to fight against this name that constitutes a serious injustice against these people, recognized as martyred, and a violation of the right of Haitian and Dominican people to their common Taino heritage. The goal of this mobilisation is for the U.S.G.B. to give back to this West Indian island a name that evokes its rich Amerindian heritage. We propose the adoption of: QUISQUEYA ISLAND “Quisqueya” recalls Taino culture whereas “Hispaniola” recalls the “Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola” is a translation by © 2000 Odette Roy Fombrun ; **************************************** Mèsi Papa Desalin Thank you Dessalines, When I realize who I am today Every time I hear a colonized Negro, If I am a whole human being today If I can open my eyes and look at my surroundings If I walk with my head up high Every time I look at another Negro When I look at what?s happening in the world When I hear the White men?s voices When I hear my brothers and sisters Only I, know, what you mean to me Only I know why Dessalines, It is you who shaped us this way We are not like other Negroes When I look people straight in the eye It is you who gives us water and who quenches our thirst And, it is you who gives us shelter It is you who taught us to sing It is you who taught us to say : NO They say some Negroes say : yes, yes! Dessalines taught all Negroes on earth how to say : NO Some Negroes try to explain All I know is Dessalines! You gave me life My grandchildren are your children No need to mention our flag! We already mentioned it! October 17th requiem mass? The Minister?s speech? As far as I am concerned Some do not know, Let us finish with our Pater noster Stop speaking French, Minister Dessalines is in my heart He?s watching The day will come when Dessalines will rise We will know if Dessalines made Dessalines does not need absolution One day Dessalines will rise Dessalines? voice will already be on the air In Harlem, Dessalines is putting the house in order All the way to Dakar On the contrary : Dessalines is God?s hand He does not need Your Eminence?s Pater noster Some men are requesting the White men?s excuses Dessalines does not need these actions For all Dessalines accomplished : Father Dessalines, thank you * Translated by Marie-Hélène Destiné ********************** Papa Desalin, mèsi Chak fwa m? santi sa-m ye Chak fwa m? tande youn nèg koloni Se mwen k? konnen sa ou ye pou mwen Si m? youn nonm Si m? ouvè je-m gade Si m? leve tèt mwen pou m? mache Chak fwa m? gade lòt nèg Lè m? wè sa k? ap pase lòt kote Lè m? tande kèk nèg parèy mwen pale Se mwen k? konnen sa ou ye pou mwen Se pou tout nèg di: Se ou k? montre nou chimen nou Se ou k? limyè nou Se ou ki ban?n tè n? ap pile a Se ou ki fè-n youn jan youn mannyè Se ou ki ban-n dlo pou n? bwè Ou ki ban-n manje pou n? manje Epi, se ou ki ban-n kay pou n?rete Se ou k? montre-n chante Ou k? montre-n di: non Yo di gan nèg ki di: wi,wi. Desalin, montre tout nèg Gan nèg ki vle esplike: Mwen menm, se Desalin m? konnen Se ou k? fè-m Pitit-pitit mwen, se pitit ou M? pa bezwen pale pou drapo a! Mès rekwiyèm 17 oktòb? Diskou Minis? Men, sa m? di la a Gan mounn ki pa konnen Epi, fini ak Patè Nostè-w la a Ase pale franse, Minis Desalin nan kè-m Desalin ap veye Jou sa a, nou tout n? a konnen Desalin pa bezwen labsout Youn jou Desalin va leve W? a tande nnan tout Lamerik Vwa Desalin deja an radyo Nan tout “Harlem” Desalin ap mete lòd Jouk “Dakar” Okontrè: Desalin se bra Bondye Pou tou sa l? fè m? di: papa Desalin, mèsi Pou tou sa l? pral fè * Tèks sa a ekri daprè òtograf lwa 18 sektanm 1979 la. ********************** Defile Manman “Chimè”? Adye Bondye! yo wete inifòm Lanperè sou li yo rache dwèt men li Yo voye kout manchèt adwat, O graslamizèrikòd! Men y ap trennen kadav Papa Nanchon an, O mezanmi gade yon krim san parèy! Men kadav Lanperè blayi, Depi gwo solèy midi, Men solèy pral kouche Anfen ! Men yon Ayisyen ki nan nòmal li. Men yon fanm, Yon fanm ki gen fyèl Li bese, li benyen kò Papa Dessalines, Wi! mezanmi, Mèsi Défilé, Jafrikayiti ******************************************** Mèsi Papa Desalin ********************** Thank you Father Dessalines* by Morisseau-Leroy Thank you Dessalines, When I realize who I am today Every time I hear a colonized Negro, If I am a whole human being today If I can open my eyes and look at my surroundings If I walk with my head up high Every time I look at another Negro When I look at what?s happening in the world When I hear the White men?s voices When I hear my brothers and sisters Only I, know, what you mean to me Only I know why Dessalines, It is you who shaped us this way We are not like other Negroes When I look people straight in the eye It is you who gives us water and who quenches our thirst And, it is you who gives us shelter It is you who taught us to sing It is you who taught us to say : NO They say some Negroes say : yes, yes! Dessalines taught all Negroes on earth how to say : NO Some Negroes try to explain All I know is Dessalines! You gave me life My grandchildren are your children No need to mention our flag! We already mentioned it! October 17th requiem mass? The Minister?s speech? As far as I am concerned Some do not know, Let us finish with our Pater noster Stop speaking French, Minister Dessalines is in my heart He?s watching The day will come when Dessalines will rise We will know if Dessalines made Dessalines does not need absolution One day Dessalines will rise Dessalines? voice will already be on the air In Harlem, Dessalines is putting the house in order All the way to Dakar On the contrary : Dessalines is God?s hand He does not need Your Eminence?s Pater noster Some men are requesting the White men?s excuses Dessalines does not need these actions For all Dessalines accomplished : Father Dessalines, thank you * Translated by Marie-Hélène Destiné ********************** Papa Desalin, mèsi Chak fwa m? santi sa-m ye Chak fwa m? tande youn nèg koloni Se mwen k? konnen sa ou ye pou mwen Si m? youn nonm Si m? ouvè je-m gade Si m? leve tèt mwen pou m? mache Chak fwa m? gade lòt nèg Lè m? wè sa k? ap pase lòt kote Lè m? tande kèk nèg parèy mwen pale Se mwen k? konnen sa ou ye pou mwen Se pou tout nèg di: Se ou k? montre nou chimen nou Se ou k? limyè nou Se ou ki ban?n tè n? ap pile a Se ou ki fè-n youn jan youn mannyè Se ou ki ban-n dlo pou n? bwè Ou ki ban-n manje pou n? manje Epi, se ou ki ban-n kay pou n?rete Se ou k? montre-n chante Ou k? montre-n di: non Yo di gan nèg ki di: wi,wi. Desalin, montre tout nèg Gan nèg ki vle esplike: Mwen menm, se Desalin m? konnen Se ou k? fè-m Pitit-pitit mwen, se pitit ou M? pa bezwen pale pou drapo a! Mès rekwiyèm 17 oktòb? Diskou Minis? Men, sa m? di la a Gan mounn ki pa konnen Epi, fini ak Patè Nostè-w la a Ase pale franse, Minis Desalin nan kè-m Desalin ap veye Jou sa a, nou tout n? a konnen Desalin pa bezwen labsout Youn jou Desalin va leve W? a tande nnan tout Lamerik Vwa Desalin deja an radyo Nan tout “Harlem” Desalin ap mete lòd Jouk “Dakar” Okontrè: Desalin se bra Bondye Pou tou sa l? fè m? di: papa Desalin, mèsi Pou tou sa l? pral fè * Tèks sa a ekri daprè òtograf lwa 18 sektanm 1979 la. Defile Manman “Chimè”? Defile Manman “Chimè”? Adye Bondye! yo wete inifòm Lanperè sou li yo rache dwèt men li Yo voye kout manchèt adwat, O graslamizèrikòd! Men y ap trennen kadav Papa Nanchon an, O mezanmi gade yon krim san parèy! Men kadav Lanperè blayi, Depi gwo solèy midi, Men solèy pral kouche Anfen ! Men yon Ayisyen ki nan nòmal li. Men yon fanm, Yon fanm ki gen fyèl Li bese, li benyen kò Papa Dessalines, Wi! mezanmi, Mèsi Défilé, Jafrikayiti ******************************************* October 17, 2006, the bicentennial of Dessalines’ assassination – Join HLLN, throughout the month of October, 2006 in celebrating the life, triumphs, achievements and ideal of Haiti’s revolutionary hero and founding father October 17 – A Day of Heroes, (See last years commemoration) *********************** *********************** Ezili Danto Spoken Word Dance Theater The Premier Performance, Poetry, West African and Haitian Dance Company Haitian Death Squad Leader October 17, 2006, the bicentennial of Dessalines’ assassination The Haitian National Anthem | La Dessalinienne ************************* *********************** President Preval and Jacques E. Alexi ******************* ******************* *********************** October 17, 2006 marks the bicentennial of the assassination of Haiti’s revolutionary hero and founding father – Join HLLN, throughout the month of October 2006, in celebrating the life, triumphs, achievements and three greatest ideals and philosophical contributions of Jean Jacques Dessalines for a more humane and unted world , an October 17th Event| The Free Haiti Movement, Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network, September 19, 2006 ********************** Onè e respè la sosyete, President Preval is now in office in Haiti. Some of the most recognized political prisoners have been released and through the Leadership Network’s international agitations and the ceaseless sacrifices of the people of Haiti, the truth about the neo-liberal agenda that led to the 2004 coup d?etat is more readily visible and in the news than it was at the beginning of the 2004 occupation and dictatorship years. But we still have many basic human rights, as outlined in HLLN’s FreeHaitiMovement 2006 Haiti Resolution that have yet to be fully realized, including release of all the political prisoners, the de-militarization of Haiti, the equal application of DDR, full investigation of the bi-centennial coup d?etat, justice for its victims, respect for Haiti?s independence, sovereignty and its February 7th vote; a stop to the UN killings of Haitian civilians, and a stop to the coup d?etat killings, rapes, arbitrary arrests and political persecutions in Haiti. (For the full text, see, the 2006 Haiti Resolution at www.margueritelaurent.com/law/res2006.html .) HLLN appreciates all of you, worldwide, who have supported and joined the Free Haiti Movement over the years and helped Haitians press forward these most basic of freedom goals. We believe there is no nobler a cause than to defend the most powerless against the atrocities, tyranny and ravages of the most powerful nations and military powers on earth. October 17, 2006 will mark the last of HLLN’s four yearly events for the FreeHaitiMovement in 2006. Consider sponsoring, as a show of solidarity with the struggling peoples of Haiti, or, if you’re Haitian, to honor Haiti’s founding father, an October 17th FreeHaitiMovement event, activity or essay/article on Jean Jacques Dessalines’ achievements. All creative ideas are encouraged. HLLN will gather all the “Dessalines is Rising” events, essays and contributions to promote and circulate them through our international network. The best essays and creative contributions on Dessalines? achievements shall be published on our website. To endorse ans sponsor, write to Erzilidanto@yahoo.com with your contributions, and any flyers and announcements dealing with Dessalines events in the month of October, 2006 (See last year?s commemoration: Oct 17 ? ?Day of Heroes In Haiti? www.margueritelaurent.com/pressclips/papadesalin.html ) You may also support the work of the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network by making financial contributions to this work. Go to: www.margueritelaurent.com/donate/donate.html BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Haitians were the first Blacks to be brought, in chains, to the Western Hemisphere. After more than 300 years of European enslavement, Haitians were also the first and only captives, in world history, to gain their independence in combat with their enslavers. General Jean Jacques Dessalines is Haiti’s founding father. When, in 1802, the French kidnapped and spirited away Haiti’s first revolutionary hero, General Toussaint Louverture, Jean Jacques Dessalines would rise up to lead the struggle which would defeat the white settlers and create the nation called “Ayiti,” meaning “land of mountains” in the Taino-Arawak Amerindian language. Dessalines was assassinated on October 17, 1806. This was Haiti’s very first coup d’etat. One month from now, on October 17, 2006 Haitians will mark the bi-centennial of Dessalines’ assassination. For its part, HLLN will honor the achievements of one of the modern world’s greatest heroes – Haiti’s brilliant founding father, Jean Jacques Dessalines, by underlining the greatest of Dessalines philosophies and ideals. We shall do this by bringing, on-line, to our Ezili Danto Listserve, on October 17, 2006, an HLLN ?To-Tell-The-Truth” About Haiti Forum centering on the achievements of Jean Jacques Dessalines. By then, those interested will know a bit more about: 1. The three most important philosophies and ideals of Jean Jacques Dessalines; 2. Haitian Culture: The Symbolic and Archetypal nature of Vodun; 3. How the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network (HLLN) empowers Haitians, encourages Haitians to network with one another, be self-reliant and address their grievances people-to-people; 4. The biggest problems facing Haitians in the Diaspora; 5. Why Haiti is so poor; 6. Why the 2004 Coup D?etat, and 7. Why Haitians are the most hated and discriminated against peoples in the Western Hemisphere. The post on these issues will be taken directly from interviews, workshops, writings or the “To-Tell-The-Truth”-About-Haiti forums held by HLLN since the February 2004 coup d?etat. ********************** We begin by outlining what Ezili Dantò/HLLN teaches are the three most important philosophies and humanitarian contributions of General Jean Jacques Dessalines: 1. Black is the color of liberty. All Haitians, – Ayisyen yo – “shall hence forward be known only by the generic appellation of “Blacks.” (See, Dessalines’ 1805 Constitution). Thus, in Dessalines’ Haiti, “Black,” is deracialized. We all now know that raceis purely a social construct with no scientific grounds. The truth is there is just one race, the human race. But back at its creation, the country of Haiti was based on this truth. For, Dessalines defined those who fought for the abolishment of chattel slavery in Haiti and against colonialism, including the few whites that did fight on the side of the Africans, as “Blacks.” To study Dessalines’ life, achievements and first Constitution is to come to know that a “Black” is a person (no matter his/her skin color, European or African) who stands for freedom, human dignity and against slavery, colonialism and imperialism. No ideal in this modern world so directly confronts and conquers the biological fatalism of white privilege. In Dessalines’ 1805 Constitution, Haitians are Blacks. And “Blacks” included even the Polish and Germans who fought with the African warriors on the side of liberty and equality, not slavery, plunder and profit. Black people in Dessalines’ Haiti are “lovers of liberty” who are willing to live free or die. To reiterate, there is no modern philosophy or ideal that has so directly provided the world with an ALTERNATIVE to the manufactured “race game,” based on skin color, as this Dessalines ideal. Haiti is a nation of Blacks, of lovers of liberty. This Dessalines philosophy directly and humanely defeats the socially manufactured white/black ?race? dialogue of the US/Euro powers that Dessalines and his peoples in Haiti confronted and is one of the primary reason why the spread of Haiti’s revolution, was, and still is, so feared by the US/Euro slave owners and their descendants. 2. What’s in a name? The name ?Ayiti? or “Haiti” honors the spirit, calls forth the force, of the original inhabitants of Haiti who suffered complete genocide at the hands of the white settlers. When it came to naming the island the African warriors had freed from the white settlers’ tyranny, it took a great humanist to remember the original inhabitants, the Taino/Arawaks, who had been brutally decimated by the white settlers. Dessalines is that great genius who would name the country that defeated white privilege and imperialism “Haiti” – Ayiti- an Amerindian term. Though the original inhabitants are no more, the country called “Ayiti” lives, still exists through the African peoples who defeated the slaughterers of the original Ayiti. Taino/Arawak bloodlines and culture live in African bloodlines in Haiti and in Haiti?s syncretic Vodun culture. Through the living of Africans who name themselves in their language, they did not die out. To name the country “Ayiti” is to honor the spirit, the memory of these native Taino/Arawak Amerindians who owned the land before the white settlers arrived. This too also unnerves the imperialists. HLLN’s To-Tell-The-Truth-About-Haiti Forums teach that, ?To say ?Haitian? ? Ayisyen ? is a profoundly important utterance. For to say ?Haitian? – Ayisyen ? is to raise up the souls of the destroyed Amerindians. To vilify a Haitian because of his/her revolutionary legacy and desire for independence, is to stand against all that Haiti is. It is to stand against the courageous Amerindian spirit Haitians animate with each breath of existence. It is to undermine, not only the former owners of the land called Ayiti, but also the amalgamated African tribes and the few European freedom lovers who were the first to put liberty into application since the coming of Columbus to the Americas. 3. Black ruled Independent Nation And finally, the greatest of Dessalines vision and ideals is that Haiti would be a Black independent nation. Dessalines v. Toussaint (Black ruled Independent Nation vs. Black ruled French Colony, with Black overseers/feudal lords governing for the colonist/imperialist.) Toussaint Louverture fought for a Black ruled French colony. This was absolutely unthinkable to the slave-owners. Until, that is, Dessalines came along with a greater demand, the bigger achievement – to make Haiti a Black ruled independent nation. Then, to the Euro/US tribes, Toussaint Louverture’s aspirations for a “Black ruled French colony” didn’t seem so extreme! You’ll notice even today Louverture is lauded; Dessalines still vilified, criminalized and demonized. His achievement is still unthinkable to the powers-that-be. For centuries now these powers, with their black overseers in Haiti, have press forward Toussaint Louverture’s vision of Haiti as a Black-ruled colony first for the French and now for the US and demonized Dessalines’ dream. In fact, Dessalines? very name was made illegal in Haiti and to just speak his name was to face prison, criminalization and assassination. But, as we all know, criminalization, imprisonment and assassination cannot destroy the indestructible. Dessalines’ dream of a “Black ruled independent Haiti” is what Haitians have been struggling to achieve, within a hostile American Mediterranean, for over 200 years. Dessalines is so revered by Haitians, he is the ONLY one of the revolutionary heroes of Haiti, to become a Lwa. He’s Haiti’s liberator, founding father, first ruler, teacher, guide and spiritual father. (See, Felix Morrisseau-Leroy poem, “Thank you Father Dessalines”; see Haiti’s National Anthem called Dessaline’s Song or La Desalinyen. Listen to the audio.) Dessalines? faith, insistence on the natural right of a Black person to take up arms in self-defense, his dream of a Black independent nation and ideas for equal and equitable economic redistribution is what all the coup d’etats since 1806, including the latest one in February of 2004 are trying to bury. Dessalines? faith and dream is what all the coup d’etats since 1806, including the latest one in February of 2004 are trying to bury. Yet, no matter the atrocities suffered by the most vilified peoples in this Western Hemisphere, Dessalines dream cannot be cut from them, still lives in Haitian veins. Jean Jacques Dessalines is still being born, rising everyday. No matter what you?ve read, Jean Jacques Dessalines, not Toussaint Louverture, is Haiti?s founding father and the masses? most revered revolutionary hero, a Vodun Lwa – Vodun God, an irreducible essence, indestructible spirit – and one of the world?s greatest humanitarian, political strategist, and wisest of world philosophers. The spirit of Jean Jacques Dessalines is the force the Haitian masses recalled and called upon after the kidnapping of president Jean Bertrand Aristide on February 29, 2004. His vision of a Black-ruled-independent-nation is the vision that still animates Haiti?s Black majority and their current struggle against UN/US orchestrated assassinations, foreign occupation, debt, dependency, domination, imprisonment and criminalization. Dessalines wakes up everyday in Haiti and in the Haitian Diaspora. He left his descendants only one option to slavery and colonialism and his three ideals are brought into focus with this one dictum: live free or die. On October 17, 2006, HLLN and the People of Haiti will mark the 200th anniversary of the assassination of Haiti’s founding father – General Jean Jacques Dessalines. Please join us in the last of our four yearly event for the FreeHaitiMovement. Join HLLN and the grassroots pro-democracy movement in Haiti in honoring Haiti’s centuries of struggle and triumphs over tyranny. Please support this endeavor. Write to Erzilidanto@yahoo.com with your contributions. You may also support the work of the Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network by making a donation. Go to: Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network ***** THE HAITIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM: www.thelouvertureproject.org/wiki/index.php?title=La_Dessalinienne DESSALINE?S SONG For our country, For our forebears, For our country For our forebears, For the flag, ******************************************** Join the Free Haiti Movement: Dessalines Is Rising!! Rename the Island: Quisqueya, not Hispaniola “Quisqueya” honors Taino culture whereas “Hispaniola” recalls the |
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