The construction of identity in haitian indigenism and the post-colonial debate

Abstract

This article focuses on three moments in the intellectual elucidation of Haitian identity during the time that Haiti was occupied by the United States, from 1915 to 1934. It analyses the intellectual output of writers of Haitian Indigenism, which emerged during this period of crisis and its political developments. The article makes five main points: first, it presents the emergence of Haitian Indigenism; second, it turns to the first manifestation of Haitian intellectuals against the US occupation, considering the so-called ‘writers at the margins of Indigenism; third, it presents the position of authors of the Revue Indigène, particularly of Jean Price-Mars; fourth, it analyses the Revue Les Griots, concentrating on how François Duvalier makes political use of the racial issue. Finally, through these investigations, the article establishes a dialogue with contemporary authors who discuss the construction of identity within post-colonial debate.

The Role of Independence Movements and Colonialism in Societal Development

“…Yet, it could be argued foreign aid has only fostered dependency and corruption, while others argue sums just have not been large enough. There is still no significant relation between more foreign aid and faster economic growth; but over the last 30 years official aid has increased African countries GDP on an average of 1% per year, which can be powerful for countries in poverty (Edwards, 2014). MIT professors and Nobel Prize winners Banerjee and Duflo said there needs to be a "radical rethinking of the way to fight poverty", in which international institutions look at programs that have succeeded, such as economic recovery in Rwanda after the genocide, to help devise specific aid programs in the war against underdevelopment (Edwards, 2014).…”