Haitian Revolution - Toussaint L'Overture

Toussaint L'Ouverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution (1794-1804) against the French. Haiti was the first black republic and the second independent modern nation in the Western Hemisphere. Through the illustrations of paintings by Jacob Lawrence and Edouard Duval-Carrie among others, the re-enactment of the lasts days of Toussaint L'Ouverture and the story of the Haitian Revolution unfolds. This film features actors Danny Glover as narrator and Glenn Plummer in the role of Toussaint, interviews with Dr. Cornel West and Wyclef Jean who also composed original music. 

Created for the Museum of the African Diaspora. All rights and permissions belong to the museum.

I recently saw this series in Cleveland at the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was great:

Jacob Lawrence: The Toussaint L’Ouverture Series

Saturday, October 11, 2014 to Sunday, January 4, 2015

James and Hannah Bartlett Gallery

Influenced by the Harlem Renaissance, Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) believed that art should be a quest for both personal and communal identity, a philosophy he advocated throughout his long and distinguished career. On several occasions, he developed multi-paneled series of works exploring heroic stories and themes. His first of these monumental efforts, The Life of Toussaint L’Ouverture, created in 1936–38, is showcased in this exhibition. Consisting of 41 images—for which Lawrence also composed captions—the series brings to life L’Ouverture’s feats in emancipating Haiti from European rule, thereby establishing the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere.

Courtesy of the Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA.

Oui Haïti - Les coups de coeur des voyageurs en Haïti

I love this video. It is a great showcase of the many wonderful things Haiti has to offer. I'm really happy with the progress the Ministry of Tourism has made in the last 2-3 years. Haiti is an amazing place to visit. It has wonderful sights to discover, amazing food to eat, great music to dance to, and some of the nicest beaches in the world. 

The message I hear from this administration that I love is: You want to help Haiti? Then come to Haiti. Spend some money in Haiti. Then when you get home tell everyone that will listen what a great time you had so they will come to Haiti too. 

Development works of lanes stairs in Jacmel

As part of the project Destination Jacmel, the development work of the lanes stairs, located below the town hall, are progressing rapidly. To inquire about the progress of work, the Departmental Director of Tourism and Creative Industries of Southeast, Dithny Joan Raton, made several visits there, accompanied by key stakeholders including the city authorities, the technical team of the Regional Office of the Southeast, the team of "Art Creation Foundation For Children" (ACFFC) and designers involved in the design, the installation of adequate furniture and works supervision.

This lane will be named Préfète Duffaut, jacmelien painter, known for his work with incredible street stairs. The artistic design of these lanes is performed by the students of ACFFC.

In addition, sanitation and development works are also provided in the adjacent streets, typical elements of the Historic Centre of Jacmel. The artistic design in mosaic includes part of the novel of "René Dépestre" "Hadriana dans tous mes rêves".

(source) http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12970-haiti-tourism-development-works-of-lanes-stairs-in-jacmel.html

Haiti Tourism - South of Haiti

Haiti is the ultimate tourist destination in the Caribbean. There are all these great waterfalls, caves, ruins, and mountain tops that when you get there is no one else there but you and few other local people enjoying the view. It isn't wrapped up in a neat Disney package (at least not yet) so it isn't overrun with tourists. The resorts and hotels that they have built for tourists are top notch. The beaches are beautiful and almost never crowded. The restaurants in Petionville in particular are just fantastic. Haitian food in general is great. Its a little earthy, lots of rice, fun fried things, little spicy with the picklies, and lots of really fresh fruit. If you enjoy a drink, their award winning Prestige beer is usually available and ice-cold. Haiti's rum, Barbancourt, is arguably the best in the Caribbean. 

They tell you Haiti isn't safe, but that isn't true. It is a little rough around the edges, but Haiti is a really safe place in the scheme of things. There are way less guns and violence than in the US. Sure the traffic laws are a minimal, so driving can feel sketchy, but there is a natural ebb and flow to it that you get used to. People are really really nice in Haiti. 

This is beautiful.

Haiti: Paradise Lost & Found

It is imperative that we all work together to change the global perception of Haiti. When we think of the the Caribbean we think of beaches, fun, and vacation. When we think of Haiti we think poverty, corruption, instability, and danger. This is a really unfair perception of Haiti. It has been branded this way. 

It is still paradise, and the best way to change the perception is to talk about it and treat it like it is. We can not be angry when we tell people I was in Haiti and they say things like "oh my god! What was it like?" "Were you doing missionary work?" "Was it safe?" "Did you have running water?" You say, "No I was on vacation visiting family, and we had a great time."

We can't be mad that this is the perception we just need to change the perception by telling people not what Haiti doesn't have, but what it does have. Haiti deserves to benefit from tourism and international business instead of solely being dependent on charity. Does that mean charity is bad? No, but Manma Ayiti deserves more than that.  She deserves you, to visit her and to love her, and to treat her like the pearl of the Caribbean that she is. 

Gallery Opening TONIGHT! "P'Arty"

"P'Arty"

January 16th 2015 7pm-11pm 

HAITI FRIENDS

6739 REYNOLDS ST

PITTSBURGH, PA, 15206

 

Here is a little sneak peek at tonights show!