More details are available from Yahoo!News. The WIDE ANGLE home page is here.

The deadline for submissions is August 31, 2005, and a broad range of manuscripts will be accepted. See the website for full details.

You can find a bit more information about the show at the Haitian American Ministries website.

Theme:
‘HAITI CHÉRIE’: CREATING NEW PATHWAYS FOR TOMORROW

The Seventeenth Annual Conference of the Haitian Studies association, to be held on October 13-15, 2005, at the University of Massachusetts Boston, will be devoted to the theme ‘Haiti Chérie’: Creating New Pathways for Tomorrow.

As Haiti enters its third century, it has reached yet another crossroad at which it needs to reevaluate its past and set its course for the future. The 17th annual conference of the Haitian Studies Association will foster dialogues about the abundant richness of Haiti’s heritage, capture the creative spirit of its people, envision solutions to its present impasse, and trace new pathways for the future.

The 17th Annual Conference is accepting panel proposals, and individual papers on all aspects of Haiti’s rich legacy, past, present, and future. Among the topics that might be considered are Haiti’s distinguished historical, cultural, and political traditions that have shaped the creative spirit of its people. Creating new pathways for tomorrow is rooted in the conception of envisioned models that rely on fundamental choices between continuity with the past and change for the future. The presentations may examine economic and political possibilities that lay ahead. Participants may focus on issues crossing multiple race/class/gender and population lines and covering topics from forced migration, life histories, immigration, environment, health, contemporary Haitian popular culture and arts are strongly encouraged.

Deadline for submission is June 15, 2005.

For additional information please contact Cassandra Villari at: hsa@umb.edu

Haitian Studies Project
University of Massachusetts Boston
Boston, Ma 02125-3393
Tel: (617) 287-7138 or 7166 Fax: (617) 287-6797

Haiti Travels maintains a focus on history, too, with tours to places like former sugar plantations and colonial-era forts. From their website:

We have also developed a specialty called the “Road to History” tour which involves an intense personal historical experience through visualization techniques and some theatrical reenactment.

They also have ambitious plans for a permanent interactive park called “The Memory Village.” Again, from the website:

The Memory Village is envisioned as a living interactive historical village where people from all over the world will have the opportunity to relive the three main cultures of the transatlantic slave trade from before the turning point of 1492 through the ensuing 500 years either by vicariously experiencing or by observing the historical reenactment of capture, selling, shipping and enslaving African people up to the time of the revolution and the 200 years following the victory of independence in Haiti.

There are plans and a budget online, and lots more about DOA/BN, the organization that runs Haiti Travels. I encourage you to visit the website and learn more about this unique company.

• THIS WEEK IN HAITI *
  March 2 – 8, 2005
  Vol. 22, No. 51

  FEBRUARY 28, 2005:

  A TRIBUTE TO OSSIE DAVIS
  by Milton Leblanc

  Ossie was a friend of mine.

  Ossie was a friend of all of us who fight for justice and dignity for
  every human being.

  This kind a gentle man was able with his soft demeanor to affect
  monumental changes in the world.

  He eulogized the great Malcolm X, after his brutal assassination on
  February 21, 1965. He then eulogized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, after
  his assassination on April 4, 1968. There are no eulogies left for
  Ossie.

  He gave us the best that can be found in any man. He lived a life of
  struggle, with his lovely queen, Ruby Dee, he walked the walk and
  talked the talk.

  For those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him, he left an
  unforgettable mark. For those that experienced his presence through
  films and other public appearances, he always portrayed the honest
  and the good in all us. He left us an incredible legacy… that of a
  sensitized man who championed the cause of the less fortunate.

  The quintessential “artiste engagé,” he participated in the major
  struggles of the 20th century. He ranks among those who attain a
  privileged and popular place in society but never forget their roots:
  the roots of poverty, discrimination, apathy and abuse performed by
  those who have material means at their disposal against those who do
  not have those means.

  Ossie will be missed. It is so hard to fill the shoes of one who
  accomplished so much and meant so much too so many. He was a tireless
  worker. He engaged all his faculties and all his artistic talents to
  bring change where change was needed. He opposed despots and despotic
  measures that impede human progress.

  It was in that capacity that he graced the Haitian people and the
  Haitian struggle when he hosted for the Haiti Support Network (HSN)
  the New York premiere of Raoul Peck’s film “Man by the Shore” on
  January 25, 1996. Along with his lifelong companion Ruby Dee, he
  joined other hosts of the evening including Ramsey Clark, former U.S.
  attorney general, Michael Moore, the noted documentary filmmaker,
  David Dinkins, former mayor of New York City, and other freedom
  loving people in support of the Haitian cause.

  Our paths crossed again when Ossie spoke at an April 7, 2004 rally at
  Brooklyn College organized by the HSN and the International Action
  Center to protest the February 29, 2004 coup. There, Ossie spoke
  about his childhood interest in Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques
  Dessalines and about the Haitian revolution as an inspiration for his
  own life and of the pride that he felt speaking about the first
  successful slave rebellion in the world.

  Ossie identified with Haiti and Haitians because he knew that
  injustice against and indifference to Haitians and Haiti meant the
  same injustice against and indifference to all people who fight for
  justice everywhere.

  Ossie knew that the same oppressors responsible for the Haitian
  debacle were the same oppressors that are responsible for abusing the
  materially poor peoples of the world. From Ossie, we learn that
  Haiti’s current struggle reflect the struggles against slavery and
  against world domination by the remaining “superpower.”

  The people of Haiti have lost a great friend, someone who understood
  our struggle,who lived our struggle, and who walked comfortably in
  our shoes as if they were his own. We lost one of us.

  Ossie was one of our most prominent soldiers. We have lost a true
  warrior, and we are poorer because of it. But we march on because
  this great man, this great advocate of freedom, always marched with
  us and for us.

  Thank you Ruby. Thanks Ossie. Brother, you will be missed.

  All articles copyrighted Haiti Progres, Inc. REPRINTS ENCOURAGED.
  Please credit Haiti Progres.

  ]]> http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/a-tribute-to-ossie-davis-from-haiti-progres/feed/ 0 http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/list-of-famous-people-of-haitian-descent/ http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/list-of-famous-people-of-haitian-descent/#comments Thu, 03 Mar 2005 19:40:56 +0000 stumax http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/?p=107 He died in a french jail before seeing a free Haiti, which in 1804 became the 2nd country in the Americas after the U.S. to become independent Jean-Jacques Dessalines – Leader of the First Black Republic in the World Alexandre Petion - Haitian Leader who would help the founder of Latin American Independence, Simon Bolivar (The country of Bolivia is named after him), by providing weapons and soldiers with the promise Bolivar would free all the slaves in places he liberated.... The Audubon Society is named after him Jean Michel Basquiat - Son of Haitian and Puerto Rican parents who was a graffiti artist in NYC using the tag SAMO who would later become one of the most successful, controversial and glamorous artists in the world Jacques Stephen Alexis – Haitian writer who is a descendant of Jean-Jacques Dessalines.... Some of her acting credits is THE JEFFERSONS, THE COSBY SHOW, A DIFFERENT WORLD… Rene Depestre – Famous Haitian writer of many books, one of which is THE FESTIVAL OF THE GREASY POLE Jacques Roumain – Famous Haitian writer and one of his most famous work is GOUVERNEURS DE LA ROSEE Jean-Jean Pierre – Haitian composer, musician, journalist, and playwright, who was profiled on the New York Times Public Lives segment in December 23rd 2004 Ronal and Rony Delice – Haitian Brothers who are acclaimed fashion designers in New York City RELIGION Pierre Toussaint - Haitian born slave who is under consideration by the Vatican for canonization for his humanitarian work in New York Elizabeth Clarisse Lange - Freed slave who first migrated to Cuba then to Baltimore, Maryland.... Dr. Rose Marie Toussaint - One of only two women liver transplant surgeon in the world Joseph Laroche - Haitian businessman traveling with his french wife and kids on the Titanic which was somewhat of a choc to people to see a black man and his white wife traveling aboard a very expensive ocean liner at that time.... His wife and kids never made it to Haiti as they decided to return to France Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph – She is the new president of MassBay Community College in Massachussetts SPORTS Joe Gaetjens – Haitian born soccer player who scored amazing goal for the underdog U.S. in match against mighty England in 1950 World Cup of Soccer in Brazil.... William Joseph - DT for NY Giants Jonathan Vilma - LB for NY Jets Samuel Dalembert - C for Philadelphia 76rs Mario Elie - Former G for Houston Rockets Olden Polynice - Former NBA player Bruny Surin – Haitian / Canadian Track and field star WISH THEY WEREN’T HAITIANS Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier along with his father Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, combined to ruled Haiti under a brutal dictatorship for about 30 yrs. Papa Doc was the inspiration of Graham Greene in his book and movie adaptation of THE COMEDIANS.
  ]]> Thanks to James L-C for permission to reprint the following list of famous people of Haitian descent. There were some surprises for me on this list. Anyone know of any to add? ~ed.
  

  
  UPDATE: J.S. Alexis has emailed the following to the editors: “In your list of famous people of Haitian descent, you should add actor Sydney Poitier. His father was a Haitian farmer.”
  

  
  POLITICAL
  

  
  W.E.B. Dubois – Famous American Civil Rights Leader whose parents migrated from Haiti
  

  
  Toussaint Louverture “The Black Napoleon” – Black Freedom fighter who in 1803 would open the way for the First Black Republic in the World, Ayiti (Haiti). He died in a french jail before seeing a free Haiti, which in 1804 became the 2nd country in the Americas after the U.S. to become independent
  

  
  Jean-Jacques Dessalines – Leader of the First Black Republic in the World
  

  
  Alexandre Petion – Haitian Leader who would help the founder of Latin American Independence, Simon Bolivar (The country of Bolivia is named after him), by providing weapons and soldiers with the promise Bolivar would free all the slaves in places he liberated. The flag of Venezuela was actually sewed together in Haiti
  

  
  Henry Christophe – Famous Haitian King who build the Citadelle in Haiti which is a huge fortress representing freedom. As a young boy, he was one of many slave soldiers recruited by the French in then the colony of Saint Domingue (which would later become Haiti) to fight alongside the Americans in the American Revolution in 1779 against the British in Savanah Georgia. Today, there is a Statue in Savanah Georgia representing the little known fact of Haiti’s small contributions in U.S. History
  

  
  ARTS & CULTURE
  

  
  John James Audubon – Was born in Haiti and would become a legendary, revered bird watcher and art enthusiast in America. The Audubon Society is named after him
  

  
  Jean Michel Basquiat – Son of Haitian and Puerto Rican parents who was a graffiti artist in NYC using the tag SAMO who would later become one of the most successful, controversial and glamorous artists in the world
  

  
  Jacques Stephen Alexis – Haitian writer who is a descendant of Jean-Jacques Dessalines. One of his works is GENERAL SUN, MY BROTHER
  

  
  Ludovic Lamothe – A graduate of L’Institution Saint Louis de Gonzague in Port-au-Prince Haiti, he was sent to Paris to study music composition. He is one of Haiti’s most renowned classical composers
  

  
  Wyclef Jean – Musician, singer and producer who founded the Fugees
  

  
  Praz – The other guy from the Fugees
  

  
  Won-G – Haitian American Rapper who has a video out with Paris Hilton. Wait…Not that kind of video (imagine the outrage of P.H. caught doing it with a black guy). This one is actually not rated X and is a music video
  

  
  Edwidge Danticat – Famous Haitian American writer of such books like THE FARMING OF THE BONES and KRIC? KRAC?
  

  
  Quddus – Haitian Canadian MTV VJ / Model
  

  
  Oswald Durant – Haitian Poet who wrote “choucoune” which would later become the lyrics for the songs “little bird” by Harry Belafonte.
  

  
  Alexandre Dumas – French writer who is the son of a Haitian slave woman and a French soldier. His famous writings includes, THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO
  

  
  Gabrielle Casseus – Actor in movies such as BLACK HAWK DOWN, and BEDAZZLED
  

  
  Vanessa Williams – Not the singer, but the one who acts in SOUL FOOD the series.
  

  
  Tyrone Edmond – Famous Haitian model
  

  
  Jimmy Saint Louis – Famous Haitian actor / model. He was in THE BOURNE IDENTITY, TEARS OF THE SUN, and soon to be released THE GAMES OF THEIR LIVES where he plays the role of Haitian Joe Gaetzens (see sports below). {I have a cameo in this movie by the way, where I play the role of soccer players Eddie Pope and Robin Frazer _J
  

  
  Garcelle Beauvais – Born in Haiti and moved to NY. She would become a model than an actress on NYPD Blue
  

  
  Gary Dourdain – Actor from CSI Las Vegas. His parents or grandparents came from Haiti. Sadly enough, his older brother died in Haiti (there are questions as to whether he was pushed off a balcony, or simply fell) while on a visit there to research his Haitian lineage
  

  
  Marjorie Vincent – Daughter of Haitian immigrants who would become Miss America in 1991
  

  
  Raoul Peck – Haitian Film director who has many films in his credits. One of which is the famous documentary LUMUMBA: Death of a Prophet
  

  
  Josephine Premice – Haitian born American actress/dancer/singer. Some of her acting credits is THE JEFFERSONS, THE COSBY SHOW, A DIFFERENT WORLD…
  

  
  Rene Depestre – Famous Haitian writer of many books, one of which is THE FESTIVAL OF THE GREASY POLE
  

  
  Jacques Roumain – Famous Haitian writer and one of his most famous work is GOUVERNEURS DE LA ROSEE
  

  
  Jean-Jean Pierre – Haitian composer, musician, journalist, and playwright, who was profiled on the New York Times Public Lives segment in December 23rd 2004
  

  
  Ronal and Rony Delice – Haitian Brothers who are acclaimed fashion designers in New York City
  

  
  RELIGION
  

  
  Pierre Toussaint – Haitian born slave who is under consideration by the Vatican for canonization for his humanitarian work in New York
  

  
  Elizabeth Clarisse Lange – Freed slave who first migrated to Cuba then to Baltimore, Maryland. In Baltimore, she founded the first Catholic school for black children, the St. Francis Academy. Today, she is also being considered for canonization by the Vatican
  

  
  OTHERS WORTH MENTIONING
  

  
  Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable – Free Black Slave from Haiti who would become a very successful trader in America. In 1779, he established the first permanent settlement of the city of Chicago. He is known today as the founder of that city.
  

  
  Dr. Rose Marie Toussaint – One of only two women liver transplant surgeon in the world
  

  
  Joseph Laroche – Haitian businessman traveling with his french wife and kids on the Titanic which was somewhat of a choc to people to see a black man and his white wife traveling aboard a very expensive ocean liner at that time. He was taking his family to live in Haiti when he died with many others on the sunken ship. We all know what happened. She along with their 2 kids survived. He didn’t. He was the only black man to die on the Titanic. His wife and kids never made it to Haiti as they decided to return to France
  

  
  Dr. Carole Berotte Joseph – She is the new president of MassBay Community College in Massachussetts
  

  
  SPORTS
  

  
  Joe Gaetjens – Haitian born soccer player who scored amazing goal for the underdog U.S. in match against mighty England in 1950 World Cup of Soccer in Brazil. This game is still today one of the biggest upset in sports history. He would later die under mysterious circumstances in Haiti under Papa Doc (see below). In 1976 he was inducted into the United States Soccer Federation Hall of fame.
  

  
  William Joseph – DT for NY Giants
  

  
  Jonathan Vilma – LB for NY Jets
  

  
  Samuel Dalembert – C for Philadelphia 76rs
  

  
  Mario Elie – Former G for Houston Rockets
  

  
  Olden Polynice – Former NBA player
  

  
  Bruny Surin – Haitian / Canadian Track and field star
  

  
  WISH THEY WEREN’T HAITIANS
  

  
  Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier along with his father Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier, combined to ruled Haiti under a brutal dictatorship for about 30 yrs. Papa Doc was the inspiration of Graham Greene in his book and movie adaptation of THE COMEDIANS. When Baby Doc left for France in 1986, it is estimated he took most of the country’s wealth with him. Today he lives broke in the South of France with his wife having taken most of the stolen money before leaving him
  

  
  WISH THEY WERE HAITIANS
  

  
  Danny Glover – American Actor and Activist who’s been working for the past decade to get Hollywood to make a movie on TOUSSAINT LOUVERTURE. Unfortunately, Hollywood thinks the story is too black.
  

  
  Jonathan Demme – Film Producer who just recently released THE AGRONOMIST a story of Haitian journalist Jean Dominique who died under shady circumstances
  

  
  Lauryn Hill – Much love for you girl. Can’t wait for the FUGEES reunion concert this summer in Haiti. You bet I will be on the plane to PAP
  

  
  Katherine Dunham – The Matriarch of black American dance, she spend many years in Haiti studying Haitian dances. She incorporates many Haitian dances in her works. If you found this instructive, let me know. If I am missing anyone from this list, let me know. My job is to promote my culture in a positive light and if you have learned something new, than I did a good job. Like we say in kreyol, “deye mon se mon”, which means behind every mountains is many more mountains – in short, the struggle continues.
  

  
  Peace! _J
  

  ]]> http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/list-of-famous-people-of-haitian-descent/feed/ 100 http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/haitian-bleu/ http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/haitian-bleu/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2005 16:32:01 +0000 stumax http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/?p=105 By way of Bob Corbett’s excellent mailing list, I find that Haitian Bleu coffee has a website and an online distribution channel by way of Gourmetmagic.

  I picked up some Haitian Bleu this summer while in Washington D.C. for the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival. It’s a very good coffee, with a different taste entirely from the typical Starbucks-type Arabica variant, and the color of the crushed beans is an orangey-brown, not the deep brown of my usual blend.

  The company claims to employ the efforts of some 18,000 Haitians, so buying some Haitian Bleu is an excellent way to support the Haitian economy.

  ]]> http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/haitian-bleu/feed/ 0 http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/a-haitian-community-yellow-blue-pages/ http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/a-haitian-community-yellow-blue-pages/#comments Mon, 30 Aug 2004 16:30:37 +0000 stumax http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/?p=79 Doesn’t look like there are any actual listings there yet, but the Bluewater Pages Haitian Community website has some potential.
  ]]> http://journal.thelouvertureproject.org/archives/a-haitian-community-yellow-blue-pages/feed/ 0