Fear & Loathing of the Plague Called "Haitianism"

Today we mourn the loss of Eduardo Galeano  (1940–2015)
From The Progressive: Farewell, Eduardo Galeano

Uruguyan journalist, longtime Progressive columnist, and author, after a battle with lung cancer. Galeano was a champion of Latin American progressivism, turning his remarkable talent to civil rights, labor struggles, and pacificism. In his memory we republish this 2002 essay, "Nature is Very Tired," describing the destruction of our natural world by war and corporate power.

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The White Curse
by Eduardo Galeano

Haiti was the first country to abolish slavery. However, the most widely read encyclopedias and almost all educational textbooks attribute this honorable deed to England. It is true that one fine day the empire that had been the champion in the slave trade changed its mind about it. But abolition in Britain took place in 1807, three years after the Haitian revolution, and it was so unconvincing that in 1832 Britain had to ban slavery again.

There is nothing new about this slight of Haiti. For two centuries it has suffered scorn and punishment. Thomas Jefferson, a slave owner and champion of liberty at the same time, warned that Haiti had created a bad example and argued it was necessary to "confine the plague to the island." His country heeded him. It was sixty years before the U.S. granted diplomatic recognition to this freest of nations. Meanwhile in Brazil disorder and violence came to be called "Haitianism." Slave owners there were saved from this fury until 1888 when Brazil abolished slavery-the last country in the world to do so.

And Haiti went back to being an invisible nation-until the next bloodbath. During its brief sojourn on TV screens and front pages earlier this year, the media showed confusion and violence and confirmed that Haitians were born to do evil well and do good badly. Since its revolution, Haiti has been capable only of mounting tragedies. Once a happy and prosperous colony, it is now the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.

Revolutions, certain specialists have concluded, lead straight to the abyss; others have suggested, if not stated outright, that the Haitian tendency to fratricide derives from its savage African heredity. The rule of the ancestors. The black curse that engenders crime and chaos.

Of the white curse, nothing was said.

The French revolution had abolished slavery, but Napoleon revived it.

"Which regime was most prosperous for the colonies?"

"The previous one."

"Then reinstate it."

To reinstate slavery in Haiti, France sent more than fifty shiploads of soldiers. The country's blacks rose up and defeated France and won national independence and freedom for the slaves. In 1804, they inherited a land that had been razed to grow sugarcane and a land consumed by the conflagrations of a fierce civil war. And they inherited "the French debt." France made Haiti pay dearly for the humiliation it inflicted on Napoleon Bonaparte. The newly born nation had to commit to pay a gigantic indemnification for the damage it had caused in winning its freedom. This expiation of the sin of freedom would cost Haiti 150 million gold francs.

The new country was born with a rope wrapped tightly around its neck: the equivalent of $21.7 billion in today's dollars, or forty-four times Haiti's current yearly budget.

In exchange for this fortune, France officially recognized the new nation. No other countries did so. Haiti was born condemned to solitude.

Not even Simon Bolivar recognized Haiti, though he owed it everything. In 1816, it was Haiti that furnished Bolivar with boats, arms, and soldiers when he showed up on the island defeated and asking for shelter and help.

Haiti gave him everything with only one condition: that he free the slaves-an idea that had not occurred to him until then. The great man triumphed in his war of independence and showed his gratitude by sending a sword as a gift to Port-au-Prince. Of recognition he made no mention.

In 1915, the Marines landed in Haiti. They stayed nineteen years. The first thing they did was occupy the customs house and duty collection facilities. The occupying army suspended the salary of the Haitian president until he agreed to sign off on the liquidation of the Bank of the Nation, which became a branch of City Bank of New York. The president and other blacks were barred entry into the private hotels, restaurants, and clubs of the foreign occupying power. The occupiers didn't dare reestablish slavery, but they did impose forced labor for the building of public works. And they killed a lot of people. It wasn't easy to quell the fires of resistance.

The guerrilla chief, Charlemagne Peralte, was exhibited in the public square, crucified on a door to teach the people a lesson.

This civilizing mission ended in 1934. The occupiers withdrew, leaving a National Guard, which they had created, in their place to exterminate any possible trace of democracy. They did the same in the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. A short time afterwards, Duvalier became the Haitian equivalent of Trujillo and Somoza.

And so, from dictator to dictator, from promise to betrayal, one misfortune followed another.

Aristide, the rebel priest, became president in 1991. He lasted a few months before the U.S. government helped to oust him, brought him to the United States, subjected him to Washington's treatment, and then sent him back a few years later, in the arms of Marines, to resume his post. Then once again, in 2004, the U.S. helped to remove him from power, and yet again there was killing. And yet again the Marines came back, as they always seem to, like the flu.

But the international experts are far more destructive than invading troops. Placed under strict orders from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, Haiti obeyed every instruction, without cheating. The government paid what it was told to even if it meant there would be neither bread nor salt. Its credit was frozen despite the fact that the state had been dismantled and the subsidies and tariffs that had protected national production had been eliminated. Rice farmers, once the majority, soon became beggars or boat people. Many have ended in the depths of the Caribbean, and more are following them to the bottom, only these shipwreck victims aren't Cuban so their plight never makes the papers.

Today Haiti imports its rice from the United States, where international experts, who are rather distracted people, forgot to prohibit tariffs and subsidies to protect national production.

On the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, there is a large sign that reads: Road to Ruin.

Down that road, everyone is a sculptor. Haitians have the habit of collecting tin cans and scrap metal that they cut and shape and hammer with old-world mastery, creating marvels that are sold in the street markets.

Haiti is a country that has been thrown away, as an eternal punishment of its dignity. There it lies, like scrap metal. It awaits the hands of its people.

Source: margueritelaurent.com

Liberty or Death Proclamation Jean-Jacques Dessalines of Haiti

Photo / Text credit: The Public Archive | Balance and Columbian Repository

War, even to Death, to Tyrants!" this is my motto; "Liberty! Independence !" this is our rallying cry.

– Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Governor General, to the People of Hayti

What then? Bent for many ages under an iron yoke; the sport of the passions of men, or their injustice, and of the caprices of fortune; mutilated victims of the cupidity of white Frenchmen; after having fattened with our toils these insatiate blood suckers, with a patience and resignation unexampled, we should again have seen that sacrilegious horde make an attempt upon our destruction, withou t any distinction of sex or age; and we, men without energy, of no virtue, of not delicate sensibility, should not we have plunged in their breast the dagger of desperation? Where is that vile Haitian, so unworthy of his regeneration, who thinks he has not accomplished the decrees of the Eternal, by exterminating these blood-thirsty tygers? If there is one, let him fly; indignant nature discards him from our bosom; let him hide his shame far from hence: the air we breath is not suited to his gross organs; it is the pure air of Liberty, august and triumphant.

Yes, we have rendered to these true cannibals war for war, crime for crime, outrage for outrage; yes, I have saved my country; I have avenged America. The avowal I make of it in the face of earth and heaven, constitutes my pride and my glory. Of what consequence to me is the opinion which contemporary and future generations will pronounce upon my conduct? I have performed my duty; I enjoy my own approbation; for me that is sufficient. But what do I say? The preservation of my unfortunate brothers, the testimony of my own conscience, are not my only recompense: I have seen two class of men, born to cherish, assist and succour one another — mixed, in a word, and blended together — crying for vengeance, and disputing the honor of the first blow.

Blacks and Yellows, whom the refined duplicity of Europeans has for a long time endeavored to divide; you, who are now consolidated, and make but one family; without doubt it was necessary that our prefect reconciliation should be sealed with the blood of your butchers. Similar calamaties have hung over your proscribed heads: a familiar ardour to slake your enemies, has signalized you: the like fate is reserved for you: and the like interests must therefore render you fore ever one, indivisible, and inseparable. Maintain this precious concord, that happy harmony amongst yourselves: it is the pledge of your happiness, your salvation, and your success: It is the secret of being invincible.

It is necessary, in order to strengthen these ties, to recall to your remembrance the catalogue of atrocities committed against our species ; the intended massacre of the entire population of this island, meditated in the silence and sang-froid of the cabinet ; the execution of that abominable project to me was unblushingly proposed, when already begun by the French, with the calmness and serenity of a countenance accustomed to similar crimes.

Guadaloupe pillaged and destroyed ; its ruins still reeking with the blood of the children, women, and old men put to the sword; Pelage¹ (himself the victim of their craftiness), after having basely betrayed his country and his brothers ; the brave and immortal Delgresse², blown into the air with the fort he defended, than accept their offered chains. Magnanimous warrior! that noble death, far from enfeebling our courage, serves only to rouse within us the determination of avenging or of following thee.

Shall I again recall to your memory the plots lately framed at Jeremie ? the terrible explosion that was to be the result, not-withstanding the generous pardon granted to these incorrigible beings at the expulsion of the French army? The deplorable fate of our departed brothers in Europe ? and (dread harbinger of death) the frightful despotism exercised at Martinique? Unfortunate people of Martinique, could I but fly to your assistance, and break your fetters! Alas! an insurmountable barrier separates us ; yet, perhaps a spark from the same fire which inflames us, will alight on your bosoms: perhaps, at the sound of this emotion, suddenly awakened from your lethargy, with arms in your hands, you will reclaim your sacred and indelible rights.

After the terrible example I have just given, sooner or later Divine Justice will unchain on earth some mighty minds, above the weakness of the vulgar, for the destruction and terror of the wicked. Tremble! tyrants, usurpers, scourges of the new world!

Our daggers are sharpened, your punishment is ready ! Sixty thousand men, equipped, inured to war, obedient to my orders, burn to offer a new sacrifice to the names of their assassinated brothers. Let that nation come who may be mad or daring enough to attack me.

Already at its approach, the irritated Genie of Hayti, arising from the bosom of the ocean, appears; his menacing aspect throws the waves into commotion, excites tempests, and with his mighty hand disperses, or dashes fleets in pieces; to his formidable voice the laws of nature pay obedience; disease, plague, famine, conflagration, poison, are his constant attendants.

But why calculate on the assistance of the climate and of the elements? Have I forgot that I command a people of no common cast brought up in adversity whose audacious daring frowns at obstacles and increases by dangers? Let them come then these homicidal Cohort! I wait for them with firmness and with a steady eye. I abandon to them freely the sea shore and the places where cities have existed but woe to those who may approach too neat the mountains! It were better for them that the sea received them into its profound abyss than to be devoured by the anger of the children of Hayti.

War, even to Death, to Tyrants!" this is my motto; "Liberty! Independence!" this is our rallying cry.

Generals, Officers, Soldiers, somewhat unlike him who has preceded me, the Ex-General Toussaint L'Ouverture, I have been faithful to the promise I made to you, when I took up arms against tyranny, and whilst the last spark of life remains in me I will keep my oath. "Never again shall a colonist, or an European, set his foot upon this territory with the title of master or proprietor." This resolution shall henceforward form the fundamental basis of our constitution. Should other chiefs, after me, by pursuing a conduct diametrically opposite to mine, dig their own graves, and those of their own species, you will have to accuse only the law of destiny, which shall have taken me away from the happiness and welfare of my fellow-citizens. May my successors follow the path I shall have traced for them!

It is the system best adapted for consolidating their power it is the highest homage they can render to my memory.

As it is derogatory to my character and my dignity to punish the innocent for the crimes of the guilty, a handful of whites commendable by the religion they have always professed and who have beside taken the oath to live with us in the woods have experienced my clemency.

I order that the sword respect them and that they be unmolested. I recommend anew and order to all the generals of departments to grant succours [help], encouragement and protection to all neutral and friendly nations who may wish to establish commercial relations in this Island.

Head-Quarters at the Cape, 28th April, 1804, first year of independence.

The Governor-General, (Signed) Dessalines. A true Copy,
The Secretary-General, Juste Chanlatte.


Jean-Jacques Dessalines, “Liberty or Death. Proclamation. Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Governor General, to the People of Hayti,” Balance and Columbian Repository (June 19, 1804)

Happy birthday Papa Desalin! Janjak Desalin - 20 September 1758 – 17 October 1806

Further reading:
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The full text of Dessaline's declaration can be read here.

"The Republican military establishment in Guadeloupe incorporated gens de couleur in the most senior positions, the mulatto General Magloire Pélage and the black general Louis Delgrés being notable amongst them. In 1801 Bonaparte sent Lacrosse, who had saved the Iles du Vent for the Republic in 1792, to prepare Guadeloupe for the Consulate's special colonial regime. Magloire Pélage quickly divined this threat and arrested Lacrosse on October 24th. Bonaparte thereupon dispatched a large force to the colony commanded by General Richepanse. Magloire Pélage came to terms with Richepanse in May, but Louis Delgrès opted for armed resistance. After a heroic last stand in the crater of the volcano Matouba Delgrès was killed and most of his followers overwhelmed. As soon as Richepanse received the decree of Floréal he decided to reintroduce slavery.

 […] To Leclerc's consternation news of the restoration of slavery in Guadeloupe reached St Domingue [Haiti] in July, demolishing the idea that the decree of Floréal was only applicable to Martinique and other territories where slavery had never been abolished. Leclerc complained to Paris that fear of the restoration of slavery was having a disastrous effect, stimulating the black revolt and undermining the loyalty of his black and mulatto commanders. Dessalines and Christophe had pitilessly repressed the rebels in the areas entrusted to them by the French Captain General.

In August and September they began to hedge their bets, covertly assisting some rebel groups while vigorously eliminating potential rivals. In an effort to retain the loyalty of his black generals Leclerc sent Rigaaud back to France. But the racism of the white colonial establishment had recreated the alliance between black and mulatto which had disappeared in the civil war of 1799. The black commanders, slighted by the French, were also profoundly aware of the depth of popular resistance to slavery and the caste regime. A decade of struggles had fused the pragmatic and the ideological dimensions of anti-slavery in the popular mentality. Intelligence of the restoration of slavery thus triggered the defence of quite specific rights and possessions; as for the anciens libres they sensed that their own civic status would be similarly degraded if black slavery was restored. On October 13th-14th 1802 the most outstanding black and mulatto generals – Dessalines, Christophe, Clerveau and Pétion – simultaneously turned on the French, with regiments comprising some 6,000 disciplined and well-armed troops." -- The Overthrow of Colonial Slavery, 1776-1848 by Robin Blackburn

¹ Magloire Pélage and Louis Delgrés of Guadeloupe:
The impact of the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic world - Page 122 - Google Books Result
by David Patrick Geggus

² Louis Delgrés: Tribute to Louis Delgrès - The Toni Morrison Society (pdf)

Ron Paul -- No Need for "Civil" War to Get Rid of Slavery

Paul: "Other Western nations all got rid of slavery without a Civil War."

Hughley: "You just make way too much sense, you can't be a Republican."

Ron Paul, the former Republican candidate for President was on the D.L. Hughley program on CNN. He opined (at 7:50) that the Civil War did not need to be fought. The North should have just "bought" all the slaves from the South. After all, he stated, other nations did not fight a "civil" war to free their slaves.

Congressman Ron Paul, the slaves of Haiti bought their freedom from the French, English and Spanish IN BLOOD, more than 60 years before American slaves were "freed." Haiti was the first successful slave rebellion in the world. Haiti was a beacon for the enslaved blacks of North America and the Western Hemisphere. Haiti was the second republic in this hemisphere after the US, but stood first as a truly liberated country -- since the U.S. still held slaves in chains. The slave revolt in Haiti (1791-1803) inspired white abolitionists and black slaves in the US, such as Gabriel Posser, Nat Turner, Denmark Vesey and John Brown. Napoleon Bonaparte was forced to give up his ambition to build an empire in the new world. He sold the Louisiana Territory to Jefferson for a song -- doubling the size of the United States. The South American leader Simon Bolivar of Caracas, Venezuela was the second of his country man (Francisco Miranda -- the first to come, died in a Spanish jail) to come to Haiti seeking aid in fighting to end colonialism. The Haitian president Alexandre Petion provided him with provisions, arms, ships and men with one stipulation; free the slaves too. Bolivar went on to liberate a vast portion of South America comprising the present day countries of Colombia, Panama, Venezuela and Ecuador.

Congressman Paul, maybe the wars to free the slaves in Haiti and South America were not "civil" as you say... but they bloody well did the job of tolling a death knell for chattel slavery in this hemisphere. In fact, other nations did fight to keep slavery, but lost to the heroes of the Haitian Revolution and their protege, Simon Bolivar.

Haitians Shackled by Debt &
Dependency -- Fight Back

In Haiti, the neoliberal policies of the U.S. government have bought about debt and dependency at every geopolitical level.

As Haitians continue to struggle for autonomy and sovereignty, a younger generation is taking up the fight to empower themselves. Their inspiration comes from Haiti's founding father Jean-Jacques Dessalines who declared Haiti's independence in 1804 after a bloody 13 year war.

UPDATE:

HISTORY MATTERS: The Brutal US Occupation
of Haiti - 1915 to 1934

Charlemagne Péralte is a national hero. He took up arms to defend Haiti against the US military occupation of 1915. His army, the Cacos was made up of poor people. In 1919 the US Marines assassinated Pèralte, nailed his body to a door and put him on public display. Haitians saw the parallels to Jesus in the manner of the atrocity, thus solidifying his heroic image.

Charlemagne Peralte's call to arms:

People of Haiti!

Soon a day like the 1st of January 1804 will rise. For four years the [American] Occupation has been insulting us constantly. Each morning it brings us a new offense. The people are poor and the Occupation still oppresses us with taxes. It spreads fires and forbids us to rebuild wooden houses under the pretext of keeping the city beautiful.

Haitians, let’s stay firm. Let’s follow the Belgian example. If they burn our cities, it doesn’t matter! As the inscription on the tomb of the great Dessalines states: “At the first canon shot, giving the alarm, cities disappear and the nation stands up.”

The holy battle in the North is led by brave citizens. The South is only waiting for the right man to follow its wonderful example. Don’t worry, we have the arms. Let’s get rid of those savage people, whose beastly character is evident in the person of their President Wilson—traitor, bandit, trouble maker, and thief.

Die for your country.
Long live Independence!
Long live the Union!
Long live the just war!
Down with the Americans!

From Charles the Great Massena Peralte High Commander of the Revolution in Haiti to The French Minister in Haiti Port-au-Prince

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Honored Minister,

Despite the principles, of international law usually adopted by civilized nations, and coming out of Great War in Europe, the American Government got involved in the internal affairs of the small republic of Haiti and imposed a rule whose approval by the Haitian Parliament was guaranteed enforced by military occupation.

We were ready to accept this rule and follow its obligations, despite the threat to our autonomy and the dignity of our free and independent people. But the false promises, given by the Yankees, when they invaded our land, brought in almost four years of continuous insults, incredible crimes, killings, theft and barbarian acts, the secrets of which are known only to Americans.

Today we lost patience and we reclaim our rights, rights, ignored by the unscrupulous Americans, who by destroying our institutions deprive the people of Haiti of all its resources and devour our name and our blood. For four years, cruel and unjust Yankees brought ruin and hopelessness to our territory. Now, during the peace conference and before the whole world, the civilized nations took an oath to respect the rights and sovereignty of small nations. We demand the liberation of our territory and all the advantages given to free and independent states by international law. Therefore, please take into consideration that ten months of fighting has been in pursuit of this aim and that our victories give us the right to ask for your recognition.

We are prepared to sacrifice everything to liberate Haiti, and establish here the principles affirmed by President Wilson himself: the rights and sovereignty of small nations. Please note, honored Consul, that American troops, following their own laws, don’t have any right to fight against us.

Dear Sirs (sic), please, accept our distinguished salutations.

Signed by the High Commander of the Revolution M. Peralte

followed by 100 other signatures

Source: History Matters: Bandits or Patriots?: Documents from Charlemagne Péralte

It Wasn't About Domination, It Was About Liberation

Monument commemorating the battle of Vertières, the last major battle of the Haitian Revolution. In this battle General Jean-Jacques Dessalines delivered the final bow against the the French troops commanded by Rochambeau. The French came to Saint-Domingue (Haiti) to re-establish slavery and brought the greatest armada ever launched out of Europe; supposedly against sub-humans. Napoleon sent his brother-in-law General Leclerc to Saint-Domingue with thirty-five thousand men and ninety-six ships in 1802. The decisive battle of the Haitian Revolution, the Battle of Vertières was on November 18, 1803–General Jean-Jacques Dessalines defeated Rochambeau's forces. The revolution which began in 1791, ended when Dessalines proclaimed the independence of Haiti and its new name on January 1, 1804. The French, lead by Generals Leclerc and Rochambeau were considered at the time the greatest army of Europe. Their war exploits are immortalized in the history books and their skills were praised as an art. They had conquered most of Europe, including Austria, Italy, Poland, Spain, Holland and Westphalia (now part of Germany). However, they were given a lesson in humility by an army comprised mostly of former slaves.