[R-G] Haitians Celebrated, not without pain, Day of Independence

[Anthony Fenton]

January 5th, 2009
Haitians Celebrated, not without pain, Day of Independence

http://www.haitianalysis.com/2009/1/5/haitians-celebrated-not-without-pain-day-of-independence

By: Wadner Pierre - HaitiAnalysis.com

The dream of the heroic liberators is still - in many ways - far from  
becoming a reality - the dream that every Haitian without distinction  
should live comfortably and without any fear; a dream in which the  
father of the country, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, declared that no  
foreign soldier violate the soil of Haiti.

After defeating the largest and most powerful army at the time, the  
army of Napoleon, on November 18, 1803 in Cap-Haitien, Haiti became  
the first Independent Republic of black people and the second country  
in the Americas to declare its Independence. However, the powerful  
countries branded Haiti an outlaw nation and France extorted a payment  
of 90 million francs in "compensation" for its lost "property" which  
included 600,000 slaves.

Haitian artist and political activist Farah Juste ("La Reine Soleil")  
organized a concert in the Haitian community in Miami to honour those  
who fought to liberate the Haitians of slavery. This year (2009) marks  
the twentieth year of the great traditional concert.

"My brothers and sisters you represent the second largest ethnic  
community in Florida, you represent a force both socially and  
politically. We must unite" said Farah Juste. This year's concert was  
dedicated to the famous Haitian singer Martha Jean-Claude. Martha Jean- 
Claude fled from Haiti to Cuba in 1952. She incurred the wrath of  
Haitian president Paul Eugene Magloire for publishing a journal  
entitled "Avrinette".

Her son, Richard Mirabal Jean-Claude, was in attendance at the  
celebration. Also in attendance were various Haitian artists,  
politicians the Rev. Gerard Jean-Juste of Saint Claire's parish of Ti  
Plas Kazo, well-known as the father of the Haitian community in  
Florida-as well as a famous political prisoner after the coup that  
ousted Haiti's democratically elected government in 2004 and, it is  
widely hoped, a future candidate in Haiti's next presidential election.

Amidst the distinctive Haitian Creole one could sometimes hear "Happy  
New Year" uttered happily. It seems that this date is celebrated by  
not only Haitians, but also by many other peoples on this earth. The  
great day of Haitian Independence provides just further inspiration.

"A year 2009 for a new Haiti," said Father Gérard Jean-Juste.