L'occupation Américaine d'Haiti by Suzy Castor

This racism colored how they saw elements of Haitian culture and folklore, and in turn how the rest of the world was to see Haiti.

Faustin Wirkus declared himself to be the “White King of La Gonave.” Many troops were from Jim Crow South, and they took their racism and white supremacy with them. The exploits of the occupying forces were well documented, including by soldiers themselves. Marines, Haiti had 7 presidents, marked with violent clashes between two factions of Haiti’s ruling elites. From 1910 to the 1915 invasion of the U.S. Marines invaded Haiti ostensibly to restore order, disrupted by the kako, an armed peasant resistance. Third, both occupations involved Haiti’s gold resources. Second, a new constitution was installed, centralizing power in the executive. First and foremost, foreign troops are on the ground, controlling the country the military regimes operated with complete immunity and impunity. The phrase “humanitarian occupation” may seem distasteful and even ungrateful to some considering the generosity of the response to the Januearthquake, however there are several parallels between the contemporary aid regime and the U.S. troops have been patrolling the country for over 11 years. Some activists are using the word “humanitarian occupation” to describe the current situation, denouncing the loss of sovereignty, as U.N. has never stopped occupying Haiti, even as military boots left in 1934. Several college campuses, professional associations, social movements, and political parties are marking the occasion with a series of reflections and demonstrations. Marines landed on the shores of Haiti, occupying the country for 19 years. This Tuesday marks the 100 th anniversary of the commencement of the U.S.

L'occupation Américaine d'Haiti by Suzy Castor