Happy 219th Independence Day to my neighbors, the people of Haiti

[malaise]

The West still will not accept that you beat them and gained your freedom.
One day you will be really free.



https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/haitian-independence/

Frederick Douglass, who served as U.S. minister to Haiti (1889-91) until he resigned in protest, gave a lecture on the history of Haiti and the U.S. treatment of Haiti that is as relevant and informative today as it was when he gave it on Jan. 2, 1893. He begins,

My subject is Haiti, the Black Republic; the only self-made Black Republic in the world. I am to speak to you of her character, her history, her importance and her struggle from slavery to freedom and to statehood. I am to speak to you of her progress in the line of civilization; of her relation with the United States; of her past and present; of her probable destiny; and of the bearing of her example as a free and independent Republic, upon what may be the destiny of the African race in our own country and elsewhere.

He continues on the unique role of Haiti,

Until she [Haiti] 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.

[niyad]

1. The treatment that Haiti received from the US and others is beyond disgusting.

[appalachiablue]

2. Thanks! K/R

[bahboo]

3. best wishes to Haiti....

man, what a tough road they've been on....

[Judi Lynn]

4. Thank you, malaise, for the illumination on Haiti's special day.

The lecture by Frederick Douglass brought to light so much which has never openly been discussed all these years later. It's so important to hear it now. It leaves us with so much food for thought.

Thank you for sharing the link. It's really a valuable one.

Never have heard the song, would like to thank you for sharing it, too.

I appreciate realizing how much earlier the struggle to win independence by the people of Haiti occurred, long before the US overturned the slavery in the US South after its own hard fought war. (It still boggles the mind that some African-descended people were expected to fight for the South in that one...)

Without a doubt a bunch of racists elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere were terrified other people of African descent who were being forced to do the work for the landowners would hear about that successful and necessary revolution. It was probably never even mentioned in the popular news writing of that time.

Everyone should be hoping for the day to come Haiti will really be free of the abuse and torment heaped upon it by people haters and users still operating currently. Looking forward for Haiti's people to see the glory of independence they won so long ago restored.