Haiti: Killing the Dream

Today's TV/radio broadcast of Democracy Now: The War and Peace Report, featured a piece about Haiti with activist/filmaker Danny Glover. The clip includes an excerpt of a 1992 documentary titled “Haiti: Killing the Dream.” The film, narrated by Ossie Davis, gives a complete history of the soaring triumphs and grave disappointments that Haiti has endured. This bit of text from the film gives a telling glimpse of Haiti's obstacles and foes of the past.

OSSIE DAVIS:

Haiti is located on the western part of the island, Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. The French turned it into their most profitable slave colony. But in 1791, the slaves revolted. By 1804, the slave armies defeated Napoleon’s legions, making Haiti the first independent black republic in the world. Fearing the example would spread, the United States refused to recognize Haiti, beginning an uneasy relationship between a country founded by slaves and one founded by slave owners. At the turn of the century, America’s view of Haiti was summed up by Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan, who said, “Dear me, think of it? Niggers speaking French.”

The film, written by Juan Gonzalez, was directed by Rudi Stern and Katharine Kean. Click here to see an excerpt of "Haiti: Killing the Dream," produced by Hart and Dana Perry of Crowing Rooster Productions.