Inspired by the equality-based ideals of the French Revolution learned through colonial education, nearly 500,000 slaves revolted. Under the leadership of Toussaint L’Overture, the Haitian slaves fought and defeated the French Colonialists. Declaring independence in 1804, Haiti became not only the first colonialized country in which slaves won their freedom, but also the first independent … Continue reading Haitian Independence
News from Jeremie: Manifestations Throughout the City
Since 2009, there have been efforts to build a street connecting Jérémie to the rest of the country, but obscurities about land titles and other obstacles allegedly stopped the construction. The people in Jérémie have been protesting against the discontinuance of construction since the company carrying out the construction left the city.
Colonial Times
Haiti became one of the wealthiest Caribbean colonies, due to the heavy importation of African slaves and the exploitation of Haiti’s natural resources. At the height of colonization, almost half of the sugar produced in the world came from Haiti. The country was also the world market leader in the production of coffee, cotton, and … Continue reading Colonial Times
The Birth of a Nation
Haiti was originally settled by Taino Amerindians. The name Haiti means “Mountainous Land” in the Taino language. After Columbus discovered the island Hispaniola in 1492, Spanish settlers nearly annihilated the Taino tribes within twenty-five years. Spain assigned the mountainous western two-thirds of the island to France, thus creating the state of Haiti.
Have You Ever Wondered How Banana Bark Cards are Made?
To create banana bark cards, the first step for the Haitian artisans is to collect the banana leaves – and that is not as easy as you might think. None of the cards are painted or dyed and so the variations of color that you see are because the artisan has selected different colored leaves.