January 14, 2010
First and foremost the Haitian Revolution had nothing to do with pacts with the devil, it had all to do with the liberation of the People and the Spirit that would extend that Liberation beyond its shores, which we recognize to be the Indigenous Spirit of Hatuey as well as the African Spirits within African based Spirituality, such as Vodou.
I am disgusted but not surprised by the remark of Robertson:
“And you know Christy, 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, uh, you know Napoleon the third and whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said we will serve you if you’ll 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’ve been cursed by one thing after the other desperately poor. That island is Hispanola is one island. It’s cut down the middle. On one side is Haiti on the other side is the Dominican Republic. Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. Uh, 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.”
Clearly Robertson is attempting to insult and demean the African-Indigenous Spirituality which gave birth to the Haitian Revolution. In his statement he is echoing the fear that white male supremacy has had for centuries regarding the history of Haiti as well as exhibiting his ignorance of history and politics. Dominican Republic (Kiskeya) is not as poor as Haiti in terms of the economy however Kiskeya suffers immense poverty and can hardly be called prosperous and healthy.
Demonizing the African Spirituality also demeans Taino Spirituality, as Haiti was originally Taino Lands, and still the Bones and Spirits of the Tainos continue to resonate in every aspect of the Land as well as in its People. The pact made between the Haitians who brought about the Haitian revolution was a Tratado made with the Indigenous and African Spirits of Haiti. The effects of this Tratado were and continue to be far reaching, but the poverty in Haiti has nothing to do with this Tratado, rather has everything to do with attacks on many levels on Haiti over the last 200 years. There is a widespread hatred towards Haiti and her people because of what the Haitian Revolution represents which is the liberation of African Slavery. The Haitian Revolution drove a profound spike of fear in the heart of white male supremacy and shook it to its crumbling foundation; it is still shaking.
The constant challenges that are coming out of Haiti are a direct result of the resistance towards Colonialism and the continuation of white supremacy which is doing all in its might to keep Haiti under deprived conditions, poverty, sickness, and degression. In spite of this attack by white supremacy, people are becoming more and more historically conscious and more aware of the true nature of the Haitian Revolution within the Caribbean, which is the homeland of the Spirit and of the descendants of Hatuey and the Spirit of Vodou which has thrived despite the Hollywood attempts to demonize the practices of the Haitian People.
An attempt to break the Haitian Spirit by racist remarks and an attempt to bring false information to listeners is an attempt which is fruitless because the Spirit of Haiti cannot be broken through the words of degeneracy and hatred. It is a testimony to the nightmares and torments that the memory of the Haitian Revolution is still bringing to white male supremacy.
All Tainos within the Caribbean and in the Diaspora should be very, very concerned with what has occurred through this catastrophe in Haiti, and equally concerned with this demonizing of the Haitian Revolution and demonizing of Haitian Spirituality, because the Spirit of Haiti is the Spirit of the Caribbean which runs through all our veins, whether we accept it or not. You cannot change the rays of the Sun and you cannot change the glow of the Moon and you cannot change the blood that runs through your veins!
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