Rasanblaj | We gather. We assemble. We reclaim.

An Hour a Day: A Story of Books, Time, and Legacy

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February 14, 2025

I have watched her ascend, this girl of mine, from the moment she could grasp the weight of a book in her tiny hands. Now, at 18, she stands on the precipice of history—the first lawyer on either side of our families—a reality that seems to intrigue her, as though she understands the gravity of breaking old patterns. It is one thing to dream of being first; it is another to be comfortable with what success demands. She seems to be.

By next year, she will hold her college degree at 19, a milestone that leaves friends astonished, their questions laced with disbelief: How did she get there? They ask this of me and her mother, we who took our time, who found our way later than most. I smile at their questions because I know the answer is simple and not simple at all.

It started when she was three. There were books in the back of the car, always books—stacked, scattered, waiting. I was her chauffeur then, the unseen architect of her hours, ferrying her from one place to the next. An hour on the road each day, an hour spent reading. Not once, not twice, but daily, until the days became years, and the years became a life conditioned for the law—a world that demands relentless reading, ruthless synthesis, and the ability to carve meaning from chaos. What she does now, what she will do as an attorney, is simply an extension of what has always been.

We like to romanticize success as an accident of fate, but I have never believed that. Our children rise or fall by the architecture of their environment, the structures we build or fail to build. And so, when they stumble, the fault is not in our stars, as Shakespeare once mused, but in ourselves—in the silences where words should have been, in the empty hands where books should have rested, in the hours lost to the tides of time rather than invested in the foundation of a future.

Banks Protect Their Wealth—Why Can’t Haiti?

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 12, 2025

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Push, Don’t Pull: What Fidelity Taught Me About Banking, Corruption, and Haitian Sovereignty

Money moves, but not freely. It is watched, monitored, tagged, and caged when necessary. You think it’s yours, that you can send it where you please, that a number on a screen represents a fluid reality. But then, the gatekeepers remind you otherwise.

Fidelity did this to me. I transferred my own money—from my own external checking account into my own investment account. And yet, somewhere in the vast, impenetrable fortress of financial algorithms, a silent alarm was tripped. Suddenly, my funds were frozen, locked behind security protocols I neither saw nor consented to.

Fourteen days. That’s how long it took for my money to be declared clean. Fourteen days in which I was reminded that banks are not just places where money is stored. They are fortresses, citadels of capital where nothing moves without scrutiny.

At first, I was annoyed. Then, I was fascinated. Because when I finally got a Fidelity customer service agent on the phone, he let me in on a quiet secret:

“Next time, don’t pull your money into Fidelity. Push it from your external account. That way, you’ll have access to it immediately.”

Push, don’t pull.

That phrase hit me like a bullet to the brain. Here was a financial institution so vigilant, so obsessed with securing its own wealth, that it had created a labyrinth of hidden rules to keep outsiders—money launderers, criminals, and even its own customers—from moving money freely. I don’t necessarily trust banks. I don’t trust their morality, their ethics, or their intentions. But I do trust their paranoia. Because their existence depends on it.

And then, a thought came to me—one that had nothing to do with Fidelity, nothing to do with investment accounts or locked-up funds.

What if Haiti, instead of obsessing about finding new narratives, found new defensive methodologies to protect its most precious assets–the Haitian people?

A Fortress for Sovereignty

For centuries, Haiti has been stripped, not just of its wealth, but of its defenses—its ability to hold and secure the fruits of its own labor. The first free Black republic defeated France on the battlefield, but in the realm of finance, it has been looted by colonial powers, neo-liberal institutions, and the homegrown elites who act as brokers for foreign interests.

What if Haiti built its own fortress? Not of stone or steel, but of financial discipline, of economic strategy, of the same defensive posture that banks use to guard their own assets. What if we studied the paranoia of the world’s financial institutions—not to emulate them, but to wield their strategies in the service of Haitian sovereignty?

The Defensive Postures of Banks—and How Haiti Could Apply Them

Surveillance & Gatekeeping
- Banks do not simply allow money to flow in. They interrogate it. They demand proof of origin. They create barriers. Haiti must do the same. No more open veins, no more unrestricted capital flight. Every contract, every foreign deal, every government expenditure must be scrutinized under the cold, calculating eye of forensic accounting.
Layered Security Measures
- A bank does not rely on one lock. It has many. Biometric scans, multi-factor authentication, withdrawal limits—layers upon layers of security. Haiti must build financial firewalls. No single politician, no single minister, no single institution should have unchecked access to the national treasury. Every transaction must pass through multiple, independent audits. Every government contract must be signed with oversight from trusted, accountable institutions.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
- Banks assume the worst. They do not trust the market, they do not trust their customers, and they certainly do not trust the system itself. Haiti must do the same. Assume corruption is the default. Assume that foreign investors are not here to help. Assume that every deal must be structured not for quick gain but for long-term survival.
Liquidity Control
- Banks never allow all their cash to be withdrawn at once. They control liquidity to prevent collapse.
- Haiti must do the same with its resources. No more selling off land, minerals, and public assets in lump sums. No more sudden influxes of international aid that flood the economy with dependency rather than sustainable growth.
Pushing, Not Pulling
- Fidelity taught me that to keep control, I must push, not pull. When I pull, I invite scrutiny. When I push, I retain power. Haiti must push, not pull. It must push for trade deals on its own terms, push for domestic investment, push for policies that benefit its people before foreign corporations. It must not sit idly, waiting for external forces to dictate the flow of its economy.

The Sovereignty Algorithm

Fidelity locked my money away, not because they hate me, but because their survival depends on protecting their fortress. Haiti, meanwhile, has been left wide open—a country whose wealth is extracted without resistance, whose labor is consumed without return, whose sovereignty has been eroded by the whims of outside forces.

The question is not whether Haiti can protect itself. The question is whether it is willing to adopt the same level of vigilance that financial institutions apply to themselves.

A nation must protect itself like a bank protects its assets—coldly, ruthlessly, without apology. Because in the end, sovereignty is not granted. It is secured.

This is more than a financial strategy—it’s a blueprint for sovereign survival.

Blood as Currency: Gender, Violence, and Power in When the Mapou Sings

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 10, 2025

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Blood as Currency: Gender, Violence, and Power in When the Mapou Sings

When the Mapou Sings: Haiti’s History in Verse and Silence

The minute I opened When the Mapou Sings, I was grateful that I did not suffer from agoraphobia. All that white space. Vast, open, uncharted. The kind that makes you pause before stepping forward, uncertain of whether you’ll find ground beneath your feet.

And yet, in that emptiness, in those careful silences, Nadine Pinede maps an entire nation—its ache, its defiance, its survival.

Coming from a background in math and computer science, I have always found poetry to be a familiar, if unexpected, companion. Certain verses hold meaning the way an equation holds infinity—layered, demanding, refusing to reveal themselves too easily. You must sit with them, turn them over, hold them against the light until the full shape of their truth emerges.

Some passages refuse to let me go.

“Why does a cook/look like she’s starving?”

And there it is, the unbearable paradox of Haiti—where the hands that feed are often the first to go hungry. Where labor is a performance of dignity, and dignity is the last thing that laborers can afford.

And:

“We all know/men like young flesh,/but this is too much!…Will those kind never let girls/just be girls? Never let them/grow into their bodies/and decide for themselves/whose touch they want?”

A single stanza, and yet it unspools an entire history of violence. Haiti—a land where blood is currency, where a girl’s first bleed marks her worth in the market of suffering. A country where exploitation is tradition, cloaked in silence, carried in whispers, passed from one generation to the next like an heirloom no one wants but everyone inherits.

Pinede does not write to make us comfortable. She does not fill the empty spaces with unnecessary words. She lets them stretch, unrelenting, daring us to sit in their discomfort. And in that space—between breath and break, between wound and witness—Haiti sings.

Not a hymn. Not a dirge.

Something older. Something truer.

A song as deep as the roots of the mapou tree.

Stones by Stones. Words to Deeds

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 8, 2025

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The Citadelle Henry and the palace of Sans-Souci still stand, two centuries later. Stone upon stone, carved from sweat and will, they endure. What was once concepts, what once lived only in the mind of a great king, now towers above the hills of Haiti, bearing witness to all that was risked, all that was built, all that could not be undone.

You can’t sell a thing until you’ve already sold it.

That is the riddle, the quiet truth behind all ambitions. The Haitian world is flooded with powerful ideas—brilliant, beautiful, world-changing ideas. They live in hushed conversations, in the scribbled notes of the hopeful, in the cheers of friends who say, Yes! You should do that! But ideas are not currency. Execution is.

Reality is the best bullshit-detector, and so you have to build something, something that breathes, something that lasts. A consultancy, a movement, a structure that does more than impress those who already believe in you. Otherwise, all you have is a whisper, a maybe, a story of what could have been.

Take a Fet Gede in Leeds. Once, it was an idea–a powerful one to be sure. A dream from a friend who took it further. She carried it from thought to form, from whisper to weight. She did it twice. And now, when someone in Leeds speaks of Vodou, when they seek its presence, its ritual, its force, they think of her. Not because she spoke of it only. Not because she dreamed of it. But because she did it. She laid the foundation, bore the weight, the cost in time and money (and my patience), and proved that the idea could live outside of her own mind.

And that—more than any slogan, more than any well-crafted argument—is how you prove your worth. Your ideas are only as powerful as the work you put behind them. And the work—the undeniable, unshakable proof—is what brings paying clients through the door.

But between thinking and building, between inspiration and manifestation, there are steps. And they are not glamorous, not poetic, but they are the difference between what is, what never was, and what will be:

Refine the Vision – Not just what you want to do, but who it will serve, why it matters, and how it will stand apart.

Research the Landscape – Who else is here? What gaps remain? What needs are unspoken, unmet? This is a crucial one because finite resources (time and money) going to organizations doing the same thing diminishes the effectiveness of the singular problem they’re all trying to address individually, leading to resource dilution. To fill the gaps left by each organization, organizational coordination is crucial here. Use the one-tree-many-branches approach. L’union fait… .

Lay the Foundation – A name. A mission. A structure that gives your idea form.

Test on a Small Scale – A prototype, a first run, an experiment.

Establish Credibility. Do first. Then talk about it. – Show people, through action, that you are the one to call. Your work, your history, your name—let them speak before you do.

Find Your People – Community is everything. Clients, believers, collaborators who will stand beside what you are building.

Refine and Improve – The first version is never perfect. Learn. Adjust. Build again. This is your first confrontation with reality. Prove that it breathes before you build it to last. Each attempt in the real world forces you to not only build, but to fail, fail again, fail better.

Make It Official – If you want paying clients, move and talk like a business. Register. Price your work. Own your space.

Promote with Proof – No need for empty words. Show the work. Let your execution be your loudest voice.

The Lindy Effect – It is not enough to do it once. What makes a thing real is that it endures.

This is the way. This is the distance between dreaming and doing. Between being someone who talks about great ideas and someone who lives them.

Breaking the Cycle: Why Haiti’s “Fixes” Fix Nothing

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 6, 2025

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If a factory is torn down but the rationality which produced it is left standing, then that rationality will simply produce another factory. If a revolution destroys a government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will repeat themselves.… There’s so much talk about the system. And so little understanding.
Robert Pirsig, Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Some books don’t just sit on your shelf—they settle into your bones, whispering their truths long after you’ve turned the last page. Robert Pirsig’s words did that for me. That line about factories, about how you can tear them down but if the logic that built them remains, another will rise in its place—that is Haiti. That is the endless loop of fixes that fix nothing, revolutions that change rulers but not the machinery beneath them, interventions that claim to break the cycle but instead reinforce it.

Haiti has never lacked solutions. The world has thrown money at it, policies, experts, peacekeepers, strongmen, technocrats. They have dismantled governments, rewritten constitutions, redrawn borders of power. And yet, the system remains. The logic that built the chaos is still intact, the structures that choke the people’s progress are still standing, their roots deep beneath the rhetoric of reform.

Look at our history. Every supposed breakthrough, every imposed solution, has been laced with the seeds of the next problem. Independence came in 1804, but the world decided Haiti’s freedom was a debt to be repaid. They called it diplomacy, called it reparation, but what it really was—a noose. One that tightened with every loan, every embargo, every deal cut in foreign halls to dictate the shape of people’s sovereignty.

They said Duvalier would bring stability, said foreign intervention would bring order, said NGOs would bring development. But each time, the logic of dependence, of external control, of manufactured crisis remained untouched. The system does not die—it adapts. It learns how to wear new names, new faces, how to march under banners of reform while replicating itself, unbothered, unchanged.

And so Haiti keeps rebuilding, keeps restarting, keeps being told to follow blueprints drawn by hands that have never held its struggle. But the house never stands. Because what needs breaking is not just the factory but the thinking that keeps rebuilding it. What needs revolution is not just leadership but the very idea of what Haiti is allowed to be.

That is the haunting truth of Pirsig’s words. And that is the weight of Haiti’s history—not a failure to rise, but a world that refuses to let it stand on its own two feet.

The Quiet Architecture of Haitian Excellence and the Death of the White Watermark

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 5, 2025

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The Quiet Architecture of Haitian Excellence and the Death of the White Watermark

A friend from the neighborhood stopped by last night with his wife and their 18-year-old daughter, bright-eyed, standing at the edge of her future, curious about what it means to become a pediatrician. My wife—a woman whose wisdom could fill libraries—sat with her, pulling back the curtain on what medicine really demands. Not just the white coats and stethoscopes, but the grit, the sacrifice, the quiet resilience no textbook ever teaches. What started as a simple visit unraveled into three hours of conversation, laughter, and reflection, punctuated by my friend’s hungry pleas to leave—his stomach impatient, but his heart tethered to the warmth of the room.

The conversation moved to our driveway, and another neighbor joined us from across the street, cracking jokes like family does. Suddenly, it hit me—this is it! This is how you build strong communities. Not in grand speeches or policy papers, but in living rooms, in spontaneous gatherings where Black folks show up as their full, unfiltered selves. We weren’t just talking careers; we were stitching together the fabric of something deeper—belonging, visibility, legacy.

I watched the women, regal in a way that didn’t need announcement. There’s nothing like an elegant Black woman—her presence a masterclass in grace and power, the kind of royalty that doesn’t need a crown because it’s woven into her being. They clicked instantly, swapping numbers, planning future meet-ups, and yes—gently ribbing their husbands like it’s a sport passed down through generations. There was a rhythm to it all, a quiet chorus of shared history and mutual respect.

And as I sat there, I couldn’t ignore the weight of what we represented. Growing up, success always had a white face pinned to the top of the pyramid, as if excellence needed a Eurocentric watermark to be validated. But look at us now. Our benchmarks are different. The Obamas reset the constellation—Barack, a Black man with a name the world tried to pronounce like it didn’t belong, and Michelle, a dark-skinned woman whose very existence in the role of First Lady shattered every mold they tried to fit her into.

Our children aren’t reaching for borrowed stars anymore. They’ve got fixed points in the sky, permanent and undeniable. No amount of whitelash, no desperate clutching of a fading status quo, can erase the image of Black excellence etched into the global psyche. And here, in this gated community in Florida, success doesn’t wear someone else’s face. It lives next door. It takes out the trash across the street. It laughs in your living room.

This is how we raise the ceiling—not just for our children, but for the generations watching us, quietly taking notes. The sky isn’t the limit anymore. It’s just the view.

You Can’t Win Tomorrow’s Game with Yesterday’s Points

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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February 3, 2025

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During one of our monthly Afro-Caribbean men’s domino gatherings—the kind where the slap of the tiles carries the weight of history and pride—a debate erupted, fierce as the midday sun on Côte des Arcadins. On one side stood the 1804-Fanatic, his chest swelling with the unyielding glory of Haiti’s independence, reciting the names of Dessalines, Christophe, and Pétion like scripture. For him, 1804 wasn’t just a year; it was a cathedral, and he knelt at its altar with reverence sharp enough to cut glass.

But the other side pushed back, frustration etched deep into his voice like old scars.

“You can’t keep celebrating when you were born!” the other brother snapped, his domino clattering down like a gavel. The room paused—half in laughter, half in reflection.

The truth hung in the air, undeniable. 1804-Fanatics are the Haitian version of Al Bundy from Married with Children—that sad, shoe-selling icon who, when life grew too heavy, retreated into the dusty trophy case of his past, reliving his glory days as a high school football star. But at some point, nostalgia ain’t enough. You can’t win tomorrow’s game with yesterday’s points.

It’s easy to show up once a year, draped in blue and red, waving that dime-store Haitian flag like it’s doing the work for you. It’s easy to sip on soup joumou every January 1st, letting its warmth trick you into thinking tradition is the same as contribution. But our ancestors didn’t just sip soup—they spilled blood, made choices, carved futures with hands calloused from the grip of both machetes and hope.

I remember what Dr. Marlene Daut told me once:

“Our zanzets were doers.”

Not talkers. Not sideline cheerleaders. Doers.

But today, some of us are content with the bare minimum—content to ride the echoes of revolutions we didn’t fight, standing on the sidelines as if the work is done. We clutch symbols but ignore substance. We’ve got history books collecting dust, podcasts left unplayed, and lessons from others that could reshape us—if only we cared enough to put in the work.

Our ancestors got shit done.

The question is: Are we?

The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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January 30, 2025

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The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henry Christophe

Summary

Whenever I hear 1804 Haitian fanatics—those who shout with fevered breath about the glories of the Haitian Revolution, about the unshakable will of Christophe, the unbreakable fire of Dessalines, the brilliant tactical and strategic maneuvers of Louverture—I think about something James Joyce once wrote, something about heroism and the lie that holds it together:

“Do you not think the search for heroics damn vulgar? I am sure however that the whole structure of heroism is, and always was, a damned lie and that there cannot be any substitute for individual passion as the motive power of everything.”

And maybe he was right. Maybe all the grand statues, all the history book renderings of haitian men and women who lived and fought and bled—maybe they were always meant to obscure something harder to face: that there are no perfect person, no unblemished saviors, no mythic warriors who moved through the world without doubt, without error, without contradiction. That the stories we Haitians tell ourselves, the way we flatten our historical figures into marbles, the way we sand off their edges, all of it is less about truth and more about our comfort.

That’s what struck me reading Dr. Marlene Daut’s “The First and Last King of Haiti.” It isn’t a portrait built for worship. Christophe emerges not as an untouchable legend but as a man—a man who built, a man who ruled, a man who inspired (and also a man who made shitloads of mistakes), who punished, who carried the weight of the impossible on his shoulders. There is no neat symmetry to his life here, no easy moral at the end. But there is something real, something tangible. There is a man who shaped history and was, in turn, destroyed by it.

And this is where I think Joyce and the 1804 purists miss each other. Heroism, as an idea, is flawed because we are all flawed. But Haitian history does not belong to those who refuse to see the fullness of its historical figures. It belongs to those Haitians who can hold contradiction, who can see Christophe not as some distant legend but as a man who, for all his flaws, left something behind that still stands.

And maybe that is the only kind of heroism worth anything at all.

Episode Notes

I. OVERVIEW

This document summarizes the discussion with Dr. Marlene Daut, author of “The First and Last King of Haiti: The Rise and Fall of Henri Christophe.” The conversation explores the book’s biographical approach to Henry Christophe, highlighting Daut’s methodology, key biographical points about Christophe and his contemporaries, the political and social dynamics of post-revolutionary Haiti, and the enduring legacy of the period. A central theme is the author’s deliberate decision to challenge traditional biographical objectivity and to actively intervene in the narrative to provide context and highlight differing perspectives, particularly those of Christophe’s allies and enemies.

II. KEY THEMES & IDEAS

Biographical Ethics and Intervention: Dr. Daut rejects the notion of a purely objective biographer, especially when dealing with marginalized or historically maligned figures like Henri Christophe. She emphasizes the need to reveal the biases and motivations of historical sources, particularly the accounts of enemies, and to provide necessary context for the reader. This approach is deemed “unapologetic” and a “more dimension to this book.”
Quote: “in telling the story of the very of the very life of Henry Christophe, father and son, brother and friend, husband and soldier, slave and king. I have tried to hue as closely as possible to narratives from the king himself, his family members, his allies, and those who personally knew him or claim to have. Regardless of their ultimate feelings and conclusions about him, at times, I felt forced to rely on the accounts of his enemies. But baking with the ordinary tradition of the biographer who possess silent judgment on the reliability of sources, I also felt it necessary to use my voice to intervene, to provide context and background to help the reader understand the relationship between the chronicler and this subject of the chronicle.”
Quote: “we need to know who’s doing the talking. What’s their motive? What’s their point of view? What are they hoping to accomplish?”
The Importance of Terminology and Spelling: Daut begins her book by addressing seemingly minor details like the spelling of names (e.g., Henry with a ‘y’ vs. ‘i’). This is crucial for respecting historical figures’ self-representation and correcting common misconceptions, which are often perpetuated by editors or popular belief.
Quote: “King Henry always spelled his own name with a y, so I’m not gonna change it to an I.”
Christophe’s Complex Legacy and Portrayal: Christophe is depicted as a multifaceted figure simultaneously viewed with “wonder and disdain.” Daut aims to understand the man, acknowledging his flaws while also highlighting his visionary qualities. She pushes back against simplistic labels like “monster” or “tyrant,” arguing that his experiences, particularly his exposure to extreme violence and brutality from a young age, must be considered to understand his later actions.
Quote: “Christophe was a visionary, but, of course, he’s a he’s a flawed man as are all human beings. He’s a flawed character. He’s he’s troubled.”
Quote: “to think that a person could walk away from, like, the battle of Savannah, which is extremely violent and where he was wounded and where he saw people dying and shot all around him…and to come out of that and say, I believe in humanity, and I wanna create this beautiful society…I find that fascinating, and I find it visionary.”
Source Reliability and Bias: The discussion emphasizes that all historical sources are subjective and biased. Trusting accounts solely based on the chronicler turning against their subject (e.g., Julien Prevot becoming critical of Christophe after his death) is problematic as it suggests a pre-existing judgment. Including accounts from allies (like Vastey, Wilberforce, Clarkson, Saunders) is essential for a complete picture of a historical figure’s reception during their lifetime.
Quote: “every single person is [subjective and biased].”
Quote: “To discount Vastey is also to discount then Wilberforce, to discount Thomas Clarkson, to discount Prince Saunders, to discount so many because that’s why we need all the accounts. We need to see that people had different opinions of this human being.”
The Prolific Print Culture in the North: The northern part of Haiti under Christophe fostered a voluminous print culture that actively challenged colonial and pro-slavery narratives. This “free press,” as they termed it, was not about diverse independent newspapers but about having the means to speak back to the dominant colonial world and expose the truth of slavery and colonialism.
Quote: “The northern writers were prolific, and they created an entire culture of black sovereignty that was antislavery and anticolonial and antiracist at the same time.”
Quote: “when Baron de Vastey and Christophe and other writers are using that word free press, what they mean is they can say what they want back to the colonial world powers, that they are not silenced and hamstrung by a world of proslavery and pro colonial apologist.”
The Trauma and Resilience of Enslaved and Formerly Enslaved People: The accounts highlight the extreme brutality of slavery in Saint-Domingue and the extraordinary resilience and determination of those who resisted. Even young children preferred escaping into the wilderness to remaining on plantations, demonstrating the depth of their desire for freedom and their refusal to live under such conditions.
Quote: “They kept running away no matter what their the these very evil people because it’s the only way to describe them. It it is absolutely unconscionably evil.”
Quote: “That that spirit of of resisting when they said liberty or death, It’s they they meant it in ways again that I think are are really unfathomable to most people.”
Social Mobility in Post-Revolutionary Haiti (1794-1802): This period saw unprecedented social mobility for Black men, including formerly enslaved individuals, who rose to positions of power as generals and administrators. This swift rise from extreme oppression to leadership roles is described as “meteoric” and was facilitated by the French abolition of slavery, though it ultimately contributed to the French desire to reinstitute colonial control.
Quote: “a lot of black men experienced forms of social mobility that are actually quite astonishing for this time period…they are the people in society whose chance to survive is so limited…this rise is really meteor meteoric.”
Christophe’s “Two Tragic Mistakes”: Daut identifies two key decisions in 1802-1803 that had devastating consequences for Christophe: his decision to join the French under Leclerc based on false assurances that slavery would not be reinstated, and his decision to send his eldest son, Ferdinand, to France for education. Both actions stemmed from a misplaced faith in the French government and resulted in the betrayal and death of Toussaint Louverture and the tragic death of his son in Paris.
The “Massacre” in Quotes: Daut questions the term “massacre” when used to describe the killings of white French people under Dessalines. She points out the selective application of this term (often used for non-white violence against white people) and highlights the context of ongoing French genocidal actions and plans, as well as the possibility that some killings were in response to attempts to overthrow the independent Haitian government. Understanding the different perspectives and the ambiguity of historical events is crucial.
Quote: “first of all, what gets to be a massacre. Right? That I find that when black people kill white people, it’s a massacre. It’s a it’s terrorism. You know? When nonwhite people it’s it’s terrorism.”
Quote: “with the massacres, what we see is there’s a lot of disagreement about, is this a continuation of the war? Are these white French people trying to overthrow the now independent Haitian government after 1804, or are these wanton executions for revenge or just a bloodthirsty kill the there are so many different opinions.”
Christophe’s Versatility and Capacity (“Equal to Many Tasks”): Christophe served in numerous roles under Dessalines beyond his military duties, including planning national celebrations, overseeing the legal system, managing infrastructure projects (like the Citadelle), and engaging in diplomatic and economic matters. This diverse experience prepared him for his later role as king.
Quote: “he is he is equal to many tasks, which I think makes him not unequal to many.”
The Civil War and Constitutional Differences: The civil war between the North (under Christophe) and the South (under Petion) was sparked by disagreements over the 1806 constitution drafted by the southerners. While Christophe was elected president, the constitution’s republican model with a rotating head of state and limitations on his power, coupled with perceived disenfranchisement of northern delegates, led him to reject it and initiate hostilities.
French Attempts at Re-Subjugation and Haitian Resistance: Despite Napoleon’s defeat, the Bourbons repeatedly sent spies and delegations to Haiti with the explicit aim of reinstating slavery and French control. These attempts, fueled by French “hubris,” were met with varying responses from Petion (willing to consider some concessions for recognition) and Christophe (adamantly refusing any negotiation that implied French sovereignty or the possibility of indemnity). The publication of French plots solidified Haitian public opinion and gained international sympathy for Haitian independence.
Quote: “The Haitian people are incredulous during this time period, and the government is incredulous. And they publish all the stories detailing all the plots and all the things that the French king is trying to do.”
Christophe as a “Complicated Anti-Hero”: Daut describes Christophe as an anti-hero because, while he genuinely believed he was acting in the best interest of his people and aiming to secure their freedom and prosperity, his methods became increasingly authoritarian. His view that only he could lead and that those who opposed him were enemies led to tyrannical actions, even if his initial intentions were noble.
Legacy of Strong Sovereignty and Independence: The era of Christophe and Dessalines represents a period of fierce independence and self-sufficiency, in contrast to the dependent state Haiti faces today. The founders prioritized national sovereignty and actively worked to build institutions and a culture of self-reliance. While the indemnity and subsequent challenges hindered this trajectory, the founding era demonstrates the potential for a proud, independent Haiti with a rich cultural output.
Quote: “this is the era of strong sovereignty and independence, and I mean that as a as a the opposite of dependence in that sense.”
Quote: “the way that rulers view their people as in Haiti as people who can be used as collateral damage. The lack of concern for human life is not actually from the era of this period.”

III. KEY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

Dr. Marlene Daut: Author and historian, whose biographical approach emphasizes intervention and contextualization.
Henri Christophe: Subject of the biography, portrayed as a complex visionary, soldier, and king with both strengths and significant flaws.
Patrick Jean-Baptiste: Interviewer, probing Daut on her methodology and key aspects of Christophe’s life and the historical period.
Toussaint Louverture: Haitian revolutionary leader, rival of Rigaud, ultimately betrayed and deported by the French, serving as a cautionary tale for Christophe and Dessalines.
Jean-Jacques Dessalines: First ruler of independent Haiti, under whom Christophe served in numerous capacities. Daut discusses the complexities of his leadership and the differing opinions on his actions.
Alexandre Pétion: Leader of the southern Republic of Haiti, rival of Christophe during the civil war. Daut presents him as a pragmatic leader willing to negotiate for recognition, distinct from Christophe’s rigid stance against the French.
André Rigaud: Toussaint Louverture’s main rival, later returned to Haiti and contributed to the instability that led to the civil war.
Paul Romain Vastey: Christophe’s personal secretary and key figure in the northern print culture. Daut emphasizes the need to read his accounts with an understanding of his bias as an ally.
William Wilberforce and Thomas Clarkson: British abolitionists who admired Christophe, highlighting his positive global standing among some figures despite his perceived flaws.
Marie Louise: Christophe’s wife, whose lesser-known birth name (Malgrin) is mentioned, illustrating Daut’s attention to biographical detail.
François Leclerc: Commander of the French expedition to retake Saint-Domingue, notorious for his brutal and genocidal tactics.
Donatien de Rochambeau: Succeeded Leclerc, continued and intensified the brutal attempts to reinstitute slavery.
The Chasseurs Volontaires: Free men of color who fought alongside the French and Americans in the Battle of Savannah, including Christophe.
The Bourbons (Louis XVIII): The French monarchy after Napoleon, who repeatedly attempted to reassert control over Haiti and reinstate slavery, highlighting their continued colonial ambitions.
French Spies (Augustin Franco de Medina, Jean Francois, Doxien Lavais, Herma): Sent by the Bourbons to undermine Haitian independence and prepare for the return of slavery, their mission highlights French “hubris.”
Maroons: Enslaved people who escaped to form independent communities, representing a fundamental form of resistance against slavery.

IV. SIGNIFICANT FACTS AND EVENTS

Battle of Savannah (October 1779): Christophe served, likely as a drummer or trumpeter at a young age, in this battle alongside the Chasseurs Volontaires. He was reportedly wounded.
French Abolition of Slavery (1794): A key turning point that opened opportunities for social mobility for Black men.
Leclerc Expedition (1802): French attempt to retake Saint-Domingue and reinstate slavery, a period of intense violence and conflict.
Defection to the Armée Indigène (Fall 1802): Christophe and others defected from the French after realizing the true intentions of reinstating slavery.
Haitian Independence Declared (January 1, 1804): A monumental achievement of the Haitian Revolution.
Dessalines’ Assassination (October 17, 1806): A pivotal event that led to the division of Haiti and the civil war. Responsibility for the assassination is debated, with Petion claiming it was an accidental but ultimately positive outcome.
The Civil War (1806-1820): Conflict between the northern State/Kingdom under Christophe and the southern Republic under Petion. Characterized by both military conflict and a “paper war” of competing print cultures.
Establishment of the Kingdom of Haiti (1811): Christophe is crowned King Henry I in the North. This decision was influenced by the perceived fragility of the southern Republic and the return of Rigaud.
French Spying and Delegation Attempts (after 1814): Repeated attempts by the restored Bourbon monarchy to undermine Haitian independence and prepare for re-conquest and the return of slavery.
The Indemnity (Signed after Christophe’s Death): A significant financial burden placed on Haiti by France, viewed as a crucial turning point that shifted the country’s trajectory towards dependency.

V. CONCLUSION

Dr. Daut’s biography of Henri Christophe challenges conventional historical narratives by embracing the complexity and inherent biases of historical sources. By highlighting the perspectives of both allies and enemies, contextualizing Christophe’s actions within the brutal realities of his time, and exploring the vibrant print culture of the North, the book offers a nuanced understanding of Christophe and the tumultuous post-revolutionary era. The discussion underscores the importance of studying this period of “strong sovereignty” for lessons on resistance, self-reliance, and the enduring challenges faced by Haiti in the face of external pressures and internal divisions.

Study Guide

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, drawing from the provided text.

According to Dr. Daut, what was one of the main ethical considerations she grappled with as a biographer of Haitian figures like Henry Christophe?
Why did Dr. Daut feel it was important to explain the spelling of Henry Christophe’s first name at the beginning of her book?
How does Dr. Daut suggest one might understand the apparent contradiction of Henry Christophe being simultaneously portrayed with “wonder and disdain” by his rivals and enemies?
What does Dr. Daut suggest was a major influence on Henry Christophe’s character and actions, even later in life?
Why does Dr. Daut find it fascinating that the reliability of sources like Baron de Vastey is often questioned while others are accepted without scrutiny?
How does Dr. Daut redefine the concept of a “free press” in the context of the northern kingdom of Haiti under Christophe?
What were the two tragic mistakes Dr. Daut highlights regarding Christophe’s decisions around 1802-1803?
Why does Dr. Daut put the word “massacre” in quotes when discussing events after Haitian independence?
What was one of the key differences in approach between Christophe and Petion when dealing with French delegations seeking re-establishment of control?
How does Dr. Daut characterize Christophe as a “complicated anti-hero”?

Essay Questions

Consider the following questions in an essay format. Do not provide answers here.

Analyze Dr. Daut’s approach to biography as presented in the text. How does she challenge traditional biographical methods, and what are the implications of her approach for understanding historical figures, particularly those from marginalized communities?
Discuss the significance of source material in Dr. Daut’s work on Henry Christophe. How does she use and interpret different types of sources (e.g., accounts of allies, enemies, official documents, oral history) to construct her narrative?
Examine the various challenges faced by the newly independent state of Haiti as described in the text. How did internal divisions, external pressures, and historical context shape the actions and legacies of figures like Dessalines, Christophe, and Petion?
Explore the concept of “resistance” as presented in the text, extending beyond armed conflict to encompass other forms of defiance and resilience. How did individuals and communities in Saint-Domingue/Haiti resist oppression, and what does this reveal about their motivations and experiences?
Analyze the complex legacy of Henry Christophe as discussed in the text. How does Dr. Daut’s portrayal challenge or confirm existing understandings of his rule, and what aspects of his leadership and impact does she emphasize as particularly significant?

Glossary of Key Terms

Armeé Indigène: The army formed under Dessalines after the break with the French forces under Leclerc, which ultimately fought for Haitian independence.
Battle of Savannah: A battle during the American Revolutionary War in 1779, where free men of color from Saint-Domingue, including possibly Henry Christophe, fought alongside French and American forces against the British.
Biographies of Resistance: A panel discussion format that explores the ethical considerations and unique challenges of writing biographies about individuals who were involved in acts of resistance against oppressive systems, specifically focusing on Haitian lives.
Chasseur Violonterre: Free men of color from Saint-Domingue who formed military units and fought in various conflicts, including the American Revolutionary War.
Citadelle Henry / Citadelle Laferrière: A large mountaintop fortress constructed in the northern kingdom of Haiti under the direction of Henry Christophe, intended as a defense against potential French invasion.
Commissioner: Representatives sent by a foreign government, in this context, by the French after the Bourbon Restoration, to negotiate with the Haitian government.
Constitution of 1801: The constitution of Saint-Domingue under Toussaint Louverture, which declared him Governor-General for life.
Constitution of 1805: The constitution of the Empire of Haiti under Jean-Jacques Dessalines, which declared him Emperor for life.
Constitution of December 1806: The constitution of the Republic of Haiti formed in the south after the assassination of Dessalines, which established a republican system with a president and legislative branch, notably not naming a head of state for life.
Cradle to Grave Biography: A type of biography that covers the entire life span of a person from birth to death.
Dessalines, Jean-Jacques: A leader of the Haitian Revolution, the first ruler of independent Haiti as Governor-General and then Emperor.
Dictionnaire biographique: A biographical dictionary, in this context, referring to one compiled by Danielle Soupis containing information about historical figures.
d’Estaing, Comte: The French count who was in charge of the French forces during the Battle of Savannah.
Duvalier: Refers to the Duvalier dynasty, a period of authoritarian rule in Haiti (François “Papa Doc” Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier), known for brutality and systematic oppression.
Aide de Campe: A military aide-de-camp, a personal assistant to a high-ranking officer.
Elba: The island where Napoleon Bonaparte was first exiled after his defeat in 1814.
Genocidal Imaginings: The contemplation or planning of genocide by powerful individuals or groups, even if not fully carried out.
Gazette a commercial and political Gazette: The official newspaper of Saint-Domingue under Dessalines, used to disseminate information and justify the revolution.
Huane, the printer: An individual responsible for printing in Haiti during Christophe’s era, potentially involved in producing newspapers and official documents.
French Hubris: Excessive pride or self-confidence, in this context, referring to the French belief in their ability to reassert control over Haiti despite past defeats.
Indemnity: A payment made to compensate for loss or damage. In the context of Haiti, this refers to the exorbitant payment demanded by France in 1825 in exchange for recognition of Haitian independence.
Inscrutability: The quality of being difficult to understand or interpret.
Julien Prevost: One of Christophe’s former allies who later turned against him after his death, whose accounts Dr. Daut suggests should be viewed with scrutiny due to their potential bias.
Kapo a lot more: Refers to Capois-La-Mort, a Haitian revolutionary general famous for his bravery in battle, particularly at the Battle of Vertières. His relationship with Christophe and Dessalines is discussed as complex.
King Henry’s World: A potential newsletter Dr. Daut considered starting to share material cut from her book on Henry Christophe.
Leclerc expedition: A large French military expedition sent by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to Saint-Domingue with the aim of restoring French authority and potentially re-establishing slavery.
Lehi: A region in Haiti, likely referring to a specific area or stronghold.
Liberty or Death: A revolutionary slogan adopted by Haitian revolutionaries, signifying their unwavering commitment to freedom even at the cost of their lives.
Louis the 18th: The Bourbon king of France who was restored to the throne after the fall of Napoleon. He attempted to regain control of Haiti.
Malgras: Marie-Louise Christophe’s original last name before she was known as Qua-David.
Malinard: Likely a misspelling of a place or person related to resistance, though the context isn’t entirely clear from the provided text.
Malouet: The French minister of the marine under Louis XVIII, who sent spies to Haiti with instructions to pave the way for re-enslavement.
Marpah: Likely a misspelling of a Haitian general or figure from the revolutionary era.
Maroon: An escaped slave who established independent communities in remote areas.
Marie Claire: The wife of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, mentioned in relation to the planning of independence celebrations.
Marie Louise: The wife of Henry Christophe, whose original last name was Malgrin.
Moisé: Toussaint Louverture’s nephew and a key figure in the Haitian Revolution, though he was executed by Louverture before the Leclerc expedition.
Napoleon: Napoleon Bonaparte, the French leader who sent the Leclerc expedition to Saint-Domingue.
Ni aequioribus imperium (You necuribus empire): A Latin phrase discussed in the text, translated by Dr. Daut as “not unequal to many,” and also interpreted as “equal to many tasks,” used in relation to Christophe’s capabilities and eventual crowning.
Oral Historical Claims: Accounts or narratives passed down through generations verbally, which Dr. Daut acknowledges as potentially valuable historical sources.
Paper War Book: Refers to Chelsea Steiber’s book “Haiti’s Paper War: Post-Independence Writing, Civil War, and the Making of the Republic of Haiti,” which discusses the role of print culture in Haiti’s early years.
Petion, Alexandre: A leader of the Haitian Revolution and the first president of the Republic of Haiti in the south, a rival of Henry Christophe.
Port au Class: Likely referring to Port-au-Prince, the capital of the southern Republic of Haiti.
Prince Saunders: An African American educator and diplomat who visited Haiti and was associated with Henry Christophe.
Pro-colonial apologist: Someone who defends or excuses colonialism.
Pro-slavery crowd: Individuals who supported and advocated for the continuation of slavery.
Reconquest Pamphlets: Pamphlets written by individuals exiled from Haiti (like Rigaud) outlining plans for the French to retake the colony.
Renee de Vester: A figure who is the subject of a biography being written by Kyoma Glover, mentioned in the context of the “Biographies of Resistance” panel.
Repopulate this colony: The stated intention of Rochambeau to kill the existing Haitian population and bring in new enslaved people from Africa to repopulate the colony.
Rigaud, André: A leader of the Haitian Revolution and a rival of Toussaint Louverture and later Henry Christophe, known for his military career and eventual return to Haiti.
Rochambeau, Donatien-Marie-Joseph de Vimeur, vicomte de: The French commander who took over from Leclerc during the expedition to Saint-Domingue, known for his extreme brutality and genocidal intentions.
Rural Code: Laws enacted in Haiti after independence that regulated agricultural labor and land ownership.
Saint Domingue: The French colony on the island of Hispaniola that would become Haiti after the revolution.
Saint Susie: Likely referring to the Sans-Souci Palace, the royal residence of Henry Christophe in the northern kingdom of Haiti.
Schizont: A division or split, referring to the split between Rigaud and Petion after Rigaud’s return to Haiti.
Secessionist: Someone who advocates for formal withdrawal from an organization, state, or union. In this context, likely referring to the split between the northern and southern parts of Haiti.
Sedition: Conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
Sovereign world where black people can thrive: The vision articulated by Haitian writers of a world where Black people have self-determination and the opportunity to flourish, free from colonial and racist oppression.
State of Haiti: The northern part of Haiti under Christophe after the assassination of Dessalines, before it became the Kingdom of Haiti.
Suzanne Duverture: Toussaint Louverture’s wife, who is the subject of a biography being written by Robin Mitchell, mentioned in the context of the “Biographies of Resistance” panel.
Thomas Clarkson: A British abolitionist who was a friend and supporter of Henry Christophe.
Tonton Macoute: The private militia created by François Duvalier, known for its brutality and terror.
Toussaint Louverture: A key leader of the Haitian Revolution, who rose from enslavement to become Governor-General of Saint-Domingue.
Turncoat: A person who deserts a party or cause in order to join an opposing one.
Vate, Baron Duvatte: Charles-André-Rémy Lasalle, Baron de Vastey, Henry Christophe’s private secretary and a prolific writer who defended Christophe’s rule and the northern kingdom.
Vertières: The site of the final major battle of the Haitian Revolution in 1803, where the Haitian forces defeated the French.
Vilton, Commander: A general mentioned as a friend of Christophe, who convinced him to join forces with the French during the Leclerc expedition.
Vincent Oje: A leader of an early rebellion against French colonial rule in Saint-Domingue.
Wilbur Force: Likely referring to William Wilberforce, a British abolitionist who was a friend and supporter of Henry Christophe.

Quiz Answer Key

Dr. Daut characterizes Christophe as a “complicated anti-hero” because he had a vision for a free and thriving society and believed his actions were for the good of his people, but his methods could be seen as tyrannical, and his belief in his own indispensability led to dangerous views.

Dr. Daut’s main ethical consideration was the responsibility to provide context and background for the reader, acknowledging the relationship between the chronicler and the subject, rather than presenting an objective, silent judgment on the reliability of sources.

Dr. Daut felt it was important to explain the spelling of Henry Christophe’s name because editors had often tried to “correct” her spelling, and she wanted the reader to understand that she was using the spelling Christophe himself preferred and which had historical precedent.

Dr. Daut suggests that to understand Christophe being portrayed with both wonder and disdain, one must consider the various perspectives of those who knew him, acknowledging that different people had different opinions of him and their accounts contribute to a complex picture.

Dr. Daut suggests that Henry Christophe’s experiences as a child growing up in brutal environments and witnessing extreme violence profoundly influenced his character and outlook, even in later life.

Dr. Daut finds it fascinating that the reliability of sources like Vastey is questioned while others are accepted without scrutiny because it suggests a pre-existing conclusion or bias, where people are more inclined to trust accounts that align with their own views.

In the context of the northern kingdom of Haiti, Dr. Daut explains that a “free press” meant the ability for Haitians to speak back to the colonial world powers and tell the truth about slavery and colonialism, rather than the modern conception of having numerous independent newspapers.

The two tragic mistakes Dr. Daut highlights are Christophe’s decision to join forces with the French during the Leclerc expedition based on their promises of freedom, and tragically, sending his eldest son to France for education around the same time, leading to his son’s death in difficult circumstances.

Dr. Daut puts the word “massacre” in quotes when discussing events after Haitian independence to highlight the contested nature of these events and challenge the often-used term, suggesting it’s important to consider what qualifies as a massacre and whose experiences are centered.

One key difference was Christophe’s refusal to negotiate with French delegations who called him “general” or referred to Haiti as a “mother country,” insisting on recognition of Haitian sovereignty, while Petion was more willing to entertain negotiations and potential payments for recognition.

Haiti Fights Back: The Life and Legacy of Charlemagne Péralte

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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January 27, 2025

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Haiti Fights Back: The Life and Legacy of Charlemagne Péralte

This second reading is nothing less than a conscientious effort to weave together the manifold strands of Charlemagne Péralte’s remarkable and harrowing life—a fractured life to be sure, reduced to a series of grim and tragic tableaux: his arrest, his untimely demise, and the shocking public exhibition of his mortal remains. Such moments, though indelibly etched into the collective Haitian memory, failed entirely to account for the full scope of the man, whose existence and legacy reverberate far beyond those singular events. This book tries (and mostly succeeds) to illuminate the entirety of Péralte’s trajectory, from his birth in 1885 to his extraordinary resurrection in the imagination of his Haitian compatriots well into the twenty-first century.

Dr. Yveline Alexis, with no small measure of intellectual courage and emotional clarity, places before us a tapestry of voices that speak not only from the soil of Haiti but also from the distant corridors of American power. It is within this dialogue, fraught and layered, that Péralte emerges anew—not as a relic of the past but as a figure continually reshaped and reimagined. Through the intimate juxtaposition of Péralte’s own writings from 1918 and the haunting recollections of his granddaughter nearly a century later, Alexis reveals the persistent ingenuity with which his story has been preserved and reinterpreted by those who refuse to let him be forgotten.

Yet her project’s significance lies not merely in its careful excavation of memory but in its subtle, unyielding insistence on the double meaning of Péralte’s legacy. For his story, as told and retold by the Haitian people, carries with it a quiet but profound reproach: a condemnation of the foreign forces that sought to impose their will upon a nation, and an exaltation of the defiance that rose in their wake. In this, Alexis achieves not merely an act of historical recovery but a meditation on the enduring power of resistance, on the capacity of a people to transform pain into meaning, and on the infinite complexity of memory itself. Here is history rendered luminous, a testament to both the fragility and the indomitability of the human spirit.

Key term(s): Voye wòch, kache men

Haitian Sovereignty & Exported Identity

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Patrick Jean-Baptiste

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January 15, 2025

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Under the presidency of Élie Lescot, on May 5, 1941, Haiti embarked on a bold endeavor, not of conquest, but of cultural export, proclaiming to the world the treasures of its spirit and heritage.

What do we export now?