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Joseph Laroche was the only Black man to perish in the Titanic; that's after he saved his wife and kids. Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti, on May 26, 1889.
Joseph Laroche was born into a powerful family. His uncle, Cincinnatus Leconte, was the president of Haiti. When Joseph was fifteen, he left Haiti to study engineering in Beauvais, France. Several years later, he met Juliette Lafargue, the 22-year-old daughter of a local wine seller. The two eventually married.
Despite having an engineering degree, Joseph's skin color left him unable to find employment in France. The Laroches decided to return to Haiti and booked second-class reservations on the Titanic. After the ship struck an iceberg, Joseph loaded his wife and children onto a lifeboat and he went down with the ship. His body was never recovered.
We need to share OURstory 24/7/365. If we don't spread the word within our villages ... who will do so?What did you think of this bit of history from the Titantic?
Are you watching Black in Latin America? It's the new four-part series on the influence of African descent on Latin America. Turns out that renowned Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has been doing more than drinking beer at the White House. Gates has written and presented 11 documentary films including African American Lives (2006), Oprah’s Roots (2007), African American Lives 2 (2008), Looking for Lincoln (2009), and Faces of America (2010).
Six Latin-American countries are featured in the series: Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru
Black in Latin America, premiering nationally Tuesdays April 19 and 26 and May 3 and 10, 2011 at 8 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings), examines how Africa and Europe came together to create the rich cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Latin America is often associated with music, monuments, and sun, but each of the six countries featured in Black in Latin America including Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, has a secret history. On his journey, Professor Gates discovers, behind a shared legacy of colonialism and slavery, vivid stories and people marked by African roots.
Twelve-and-a-half million Africans were shipped to the New World during the Middle Passage. While just over 11.0 million survived the arduous journey, only about 450,000 of them arrived in the United States. The rest ... more than 10.5 million ... were taken to the Caribbean and Latin America and kept in bondage far longer than the slaves in the United States. This astonishing fact changes the entire picture of the history of slavery in the Western hemisphere, and of its lasting cultural impact. These millions of Africans created new and vibrant cultures, magnificently compelling syntheses of various African, English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish influences.
Despite their great numbers, the cultural and social worlds that they created remain largely unknown to most Americans, except for certain popular, cross-over musical forms. In his new series, Professor Gates sets out on a quest to discover how Latin Americans of African descent live now; how Latin American countries acknowledge ... or deny ... their African past; and how the fact of race and African ancestry play themselves out in the multicultural worlds of the Caribbean and Latin America. Starting with the slave experience and extending to the present, Professor Gates unveils the history of the African presence in six Latin American countries through art, music, cuisine, dance, politics, and religion, but also the very palpable presence of anti-Black racism that has sometimes sought to keep the Black cultural presence from view.
Episode One: Haiti & the Dominican Republic: An Island Divided - In Haiti, Professor Gates tells the story of the birth of the first-ever black republic and finds out how the slaves’ hard-fought liberation over Napoleon Bonaparte’s French Empire became a double-edged sword. In the Dominican Republic, Professor Gates explores how race has been socially constructed in a society whose people reflect centuries of inter-marriage and how the country’s troubled history with Haiti informs notions about racial classification.
Episode Two: Cuba: The Next Revolution - In Cuba, Professor Gates finds out how the culture, religion, politics, and music of this Island are inextricably linked to the huge amount of slave labor imported to produce its enormously profitable 19th-century sugar industry and how race and racism have fared since Fidel Castro’s Communist revolution in 1959.
Episode Three: Brazil: A Racial Paradise? - In Brazil, Professor Gates delves behind the façade of Carnaval to discover how this ‘rainbow nation’ is waking up to its legacy as the world’s largest slave economy.
Episode Four: Mexico & Peru: A Hidden Race - In Mexico and Peru, Professor Gates explores the almost unknown history of the significant numbers of black people—the two countries together received far more slaves than did the United State —brought to these countries as early as the 16th and 17th centuries and the worlds of culture that their descendants have created in Vera Cruz on the Gulf of Mexico, the Costa Chica region on the Pacific, and in and around Lima, Peru.
In Black in Latin America, Professor Gates’ journey becomes ours as viewers are introduced to the faces and voices of the descendants of the Africans who created these worlds. He shows the similarities and distinctions between these cultures and how the New-World manifestations are rooted in, but distinct from, their African antecedents. A quest he began 12 years ago with Wonders of the African World comes full circle in Black in Latin America, an effort to discover how Africa and Europe combined to create the vibrant cultures of Latin America, with a rich legacy of thoughtful, articulate subjects whose stories are astonishingly moving and irresistibly compelling.
Are you watching this PBS series? If so, what are your thoughts about it?
It is estimated that the death toll from the Haiti Earthquake will be over 200,000. These are men, women and children who were dealing with the harsh realities of life in Haiti before the earth shook and the buildings fell.
The nation is now entering a period of rebuilding. It is a time for all of us to rebuild our love for Haiti and Haitians. It is time for a love song to support the people of Haiti.
Philippians 3:13-14 "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
I sense that I'm going to have to provide a name for our rhino-guide myself if other villagers don't have any ideas. Anyhow, please join our un-named rhino-guide as we sojourn through our next blog safari. We use these occassional blog safari expeditions to enjoy the flow from talented bloggers out in the afrosphere. I hope you enjoy these suggested blog posts!
Wyclef returned to his native Haiti at the Port-au-Prince airport the day after the thousands upon thousands were killed in a lethal 7.0 earthquake. The entertainer then began clearing the dead bodies of his country’s inhabitants off of the streets. Among other matters, he’s issued a plea to the President, started to plan telethon with George Clooney and continued his tireless lobbying on behalf of the Haitian people.
"It seems clear that a significant amount of the monies that this charity raises go for costs other than providing benefits to Haitians in need," said Dean Zerbe, national managing director of Alliant Group, a tax services company.
Wyclef responds to his critics in the following video clip:
Hugh Locke, President of Yéle Haiti, countered the notion as well:
"Wyclef Jean, the founder of Yéle Haiti has never profited from his organization. It’s a shame that during this international emergency, we have had to divert resources away from our response efforts to address these allegations. I think people should be very comfortable that any money given to Yele Haiti is going 100 percent to emergency relief."
The Yéle Haiti Foundation had raised over $2 million in contributions, largely through texted donations.
Yéle Haiti provided these 'financial facts' to counter allegations raised by the Alliant Group:
Fact: Yéle Haiti, originally called the Wyclef Jean Foundation, filed a tax return in 2000 and then suspended activities until 2005 and so was not required by law to file a tax return until it resumed operation.
Fact: Yéle Haiti received a clean bill of health in independent external audits conducted in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 by the firm of Tempesta & Farrell
Fact: Yéle Haiti was guided by the firm of Grant Thornton LLP to ensure that all transactions involving board members Wyclef Jean and Jerry Duplessis were conducted to fully comply with both the spirit and letter of the law governing such matters.
Fact: Yéle Haiti offices are located in Platinum Sound, the recording studio owned by Wyclef and Jerry Duplessis in order to save money. The organization pays only $2,600 a month for the space and a shared reception service, instead of considerably more for the same arrangement in midtown Manhattan.
Fact: Wyclef Jean was paid $100,000 in connection with a benefit concert in Monte Carlo in 2006, which was organized by a for-profit organization. The vast majority of that amount went towards costs related to the performance, including the hiring of backing musicians and other costs related to the production.
Fact: Yéle Haiti purchased $250,000 of airtime on the commercial television station Telemax in Haiti that is owned by Wyclef and Jerry. We have documentation allocating the hundreds of hours of Yéle programming, over several years, that addressed a wide range of development and social issues in Haiti.
Villagers must make their own choice about where to donate money in support of Haiti Earthquake Relief.For my part, I'm leaving Yéle Haiti on my list of options that we have to support Haiti.
Obama was more active in his first year than any other president in my memory. As such, I'm not surprised that President Obama took immediate action to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to Haitians living in the U.S. This designation allows relatives living here to financially contribute to their loved ones back in Haiti.
Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Homeland Security Napolitano and a number of Members of Congress urgently requested temporary protected status (TPS) for Haitian immigrants and an end to discriminatory maritime interdictions. The Obama administration responded by granting temporary protected status (TPS) to Haitians in the U.S.
And use this opportunity to urge him to rescind the interdiction-at-sea policy that could return fleeing Haitians to potentially dangerous conditions, in flagrant violation of international law.
The news isn’t good: Officials fear the death toll will reach 100,000. Thousands upon thousands are injured. Port-au-Prince has been flattened. There are millions of Haitians who need help NOW.
Here are three tips for you to consider as you find a way to help:
Donating cash to established relief organizations is the best way to help because it allows professionals to get exactly what they need and does not use up scarce resources such as transportation, staff time or warehouse space.
If you decide to donate supplies and not cash, contact an established relief organization before you collect anything. If you have already collected items, donate them to a relief organization within your community or sell them at a yard sale or charity auction and donate the proceeds.
People who want to volunteer should have previous disaster or international experience or technical skills and should work through a relief organization. More information is available from the Center for International Disaster Information.
Villagers can also help immediately by donating to the Red Cross Haiti relief effort.Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information. Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at (888) 407-4747.
Here are organizations that villagers can contact if they want to help the people in Haiti: DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS USA/MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF) 333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10001-5004 Traditional, yet innovative medical providers spread across the globe.
L'HOPITAL DE LA COMMUNAUTE HAITIENNE Hopital de la Communauté Relief-G. Diederich Routing number 061000104 Account number 1000103902598 Suntrust Bank 11333 South Dixie Highway Pinecrest FL 33156 Raising funds to be able to offer completely free services and still have the capacity to pay the personnel.
LE FLAMBEAU FOUNDATION 1172 S. Dixie Highway, #203 Coral Gables, FL 33146 (305) 596-2819 Foundation established by BMDC member, Brother Jean Gervais of Miami, who is also a native of Haiti OXFAM AMERICA 226 Causeway St., 5th Floor Boston, MA 02114-2206 Charity devoted to stopping hunger and providing nutrition to communities in crisis.
PARTNERS IN HEALTH P.O. Box 845578 Boston, MA 02284-5578 NGO run by Paul Farmer providing health resources to Haiti since 1985.
SAVE THE CHILDREN Haiti Earthquake Children in Emergency Fund 54 Wilton Road Westport, CT 06880 Children-focused relief agency with a special earthquake fund.
THE SALVATION ARMY 615 Slaters Lane; P.O. Box 269 Alexandria, VA 22313 Church-based coordinator of health and family services.
U.S. FUND FOR UNICEF 125 Maiden Lane New York, N.Y. 10038 Charity specifically targeting children—providing educational materials, food, water and medicine. WORLD VISION Haiti Earthquake Relief P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, Wash. 98063-9716
YELE HAITI Text 'YELE' to '501501' to donate $5 Charity operated by Wyclef Jean Please let us know if you are aware of other ways that villagers can help the people of Haiti as they cope with this disastrous 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
Villagers all over the diaspora are doing what they can to support the relief efforts in Haiti. International recording artist Tajh uses his musical talents to encourage Haitian earthquake relief and support.
If you do not have a way to support a Haitian family directly, then we encourage you to donate thru Wyclef Jean's organization. Wyclef has been an informal ambassador for Haiti for many years. He promises to assist directly with efforts on the ground through his Yele Haiti Relief Fund effort.
What are your thoughts on the situation in Haiti now that you've had a few days to see what is happening?
Villager's Voice: There's a time and place for examining the political motivations of our elected officials. But yesterday wasn't that day. Limbaugh should have waited ... instead, he showed a complete lack of class.
Haiti has been struggling for hundreds of years to overcome colonial domination, dictatorial leadership, poverty and the impact of hunger.
Things just got worse this week with the massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake. The lack of infrastructure, disaster preparedness and acute poverty makes a bad situation even worse. Homes, schools, churches have been destroyed. Villagers all over America wait, pray and hope for the safety of the people of Haiti. That nation's long struggle against poverty is now exacerbated, its needs now magnified, and the vulnerability of the Haitian people more greatly exposed.
Haiti is the poorest, least developed country in the Western Hemisphere, and the majority of Haitians live in poverty. The sheer scale of poverty in the country means that the government has limited capacity to meet even the simplest needs of its people, let alone address a disaster of this magnitude. In addition to creating a very real and immediate humanitarian tragedy, this earthquake and the struggle to navigate its aftermath will be an enormous setback to the hard-won gains that Haiti has achieved in recent years in securing a more stable environment and fighting poverty.
I suspect that America and the other nations of the world will respond well in the coming days and weeks. It is relatively simple to send in bottled water and to rush to find people ... living and dead ... in the tumbled buildings.
I don't have personal contact with many people of Haitian descent in person or otherwise. However, Haitian history tells us the Haitian people are resilient and determined to better their lives. I am confident that with the help of strong partners around the world, Haiti will rise from its rubble and Haitians will live their motto: L’union fait la force (Unity is strength).
I wonder if the collective goodwill on a national and international basis continues after the initial compassion being displayed right now?
Consider this an open thread about the earthquake in Haiti.Please share your prayers, thoughts or observations.
Soulclap to Media Matters for pointing us to this story. Republican wingnut Pat Robertson's unique brand of race-baiting flared up again today.
PAT ROBERTSON: And, you know, Kristi, something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, "We will serve you if you will get us free from the French." True story. And so, the devil said, "OK, it's a deal."
And they kicked the French out. You know, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other. Desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti; on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, et cetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God. And out of this tragedy, I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now, we're helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable.
KRISTI WATTS (co-host): Absolutely, Pat.
Where does the Republican Party find these fools?
In the meantime, I encourage all villagers to provide your prayers and other tangible ways to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Our blog joins with others to share information about human rights violations in Darfur, Tibet and around the world.
Often we think that our day-to-day trials and tribulations are worthy of headlines. We want others to stop and listen to our complaints about this or that. Our problems are like a gnat on an elephant's ass when you really get down to it. There are men, woman and children all over the earth that are dealing with horrendous human rights issues. On the 27th of each month we hope to blog for those that cannot do so for themselves.
My focus today is on the island nation in our hemisphere ... Haiti.
Rising food and fuel costs have left the most vulnerable populations hungry. The recent rioting in Haiti speaks to the devastating impact of the global food crisis on the poor and hungry. Already facing food shortages and eating mud cakes, the people of Haiti have been particularly susceptible to the skyrocketing prices. While rising prices mean less food for the hungry, a new face of hunger is emerging. Even where food is available, more and more people simply cannot afford it.
Hermite Joseph, a mother working in the markets of Port au Prince, told journalist Nick Whalen that her two kids "are like toothpicks. They're not getting enough nourishment. Before, if you had a dollar twenty-five cents, you could buy vegetables, some rice, 10 cents ofcharcoal and a little cooking oil. Right now, a little can of rice alone costs 65 cents, and is not good rice at all. Oil is 25 cents. Charcoal is 25 cents. With a dollar twenty-five, you can't even make a plate of rice for one child." [SOURCE]
One of the main causes of the food shortages in Haiti is agricultural policy in the United States. The U.S. and other international financial bodies destroy Haitian rice farmers to create a major market for the heavily subsidized rice from U.S. farmers. This is not the only cause of hunger in Haiti and other poor countries, but it is a major reason that Haiti, a country that was self-sufficient in rice-production 30-years ago, now has hungry families all across the island.
Haiti has become one of the very top importers of rice from the U.S. The U.S. Department of Agriculture 2008 numbers show Haiti is the third largest importer of US rice - at over 240,000 metric tons of rice. (One metric ton is 2200 pounds). Rice is a heavily subsidized business in America. Our government provided $11 billion in rice subsidies to American businesses from 1995 to 2006 . One producer alone, Riceland Foods located in Stuttgart, Arkansas, received over $500 million dollars in rice subsidies between 1995 and 2006. [SOURCE]
Drumbeats from CLNMike told us about the efforts of Wyclef Jean to raise $48 million in the next six months to combat the hunger crisis in Haiti.
Villagers, I hope you will take a moment to sit and reflect on our blessings in this country. Then decide how you can make a difference to help the human condition in Darfur, Tibet or Haiti. Here are some options provided by Cry Haiti blog for Villagers that want to take action right now:
Anyone who wants to assert compassion can contribute to feeding programmes in Haiti.
Anyone who stands for justice can join the fair trade movement.
Anyone who wants action, not words from our politicians can call for the agricultural policies of developed countries to be reformed, to help combat world hunger.
Lovinsky was the co-founder of Fondsayon Kore Timoun Yo (Foundation for the Support of Children) for young street children in Port au Prince, FAM (Foyer pour Adolescentes Mères), a center for teenage mothers, and Map Viv ("I Live"), a program designed to give medical and psychological aid to the victims of the 1991 coup. His present community-based human rights organization Fondayson Trant Septnm grew out of the work of those earlier efforts. He is part of the Lavalas movement and a member of the Lavalas Party, and was a potential candidate for the Haitian Senate.
Lovinsky lived in Washington DC during the turmoil and violence that followed the removal of President Aristide in 2004. During that time he continued his work as an advocate for Haiti's poverty-stricken majority, including gathering support of a wide network of organizations and individuals in the US, meeting with members of Congress, speaking at human rights forums in Boston, Los Angeles and elsewhere in the US as well as in Brazil, Canada and Venezuela. A month after he returned to Haiti, Lovinsky was instrumental in bringing together a delegation that included journalists and others who hail from Guyana, Barbados and the United States to attend the May 2006 Inauguration of President Rene Preval."
Keep your thoughts and prayers with Lovinsky and his family during these troubling and confusing times in Haiti.
Drumbeats from Femigog for pointing out how slavery is part of the process in creating the sugar that we use in our morning cereal or coffee. Check out trailer for indie film on the quasi-slavery of Haitian citizens to create sugar in the Dominican Republic.
