{"id":213,"date":"2025-03-30T19:26:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T19:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalwanderer.net\/bdlfam\/?p=213"},"modified":"2025-03-30T19:32:45","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T19:32:45","slug":"the-story-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalwanderer.net\/bdlfam\/?p=213","title":{"rendered":"The story so far"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Various interviews and visual productions have been recorded in recent years, enough to tell bits and pieces of both Haiti’s recent history (how the country has gotten to where it is currently), and also MAF’s work here and how it serves some of the country’s needs. These interviews are scattered all over the place, so in this single location I will link out a collection of different resources that will help describe where things are at now, both at a country level and for us personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you all you know is that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, that its security situation has deteriorated since 2021 when its president was killed, and that its infrastructure was devastated from the January 12, 2001 earthquake<\/strong>, then begin here to learn a more in-depth, nuanced perspective of where things are at currently:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haiti 101<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
Conan O’Brien’s Haitian History Lesson<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Probably the most informative, while also entertaining, glimpse into Haiti that I have ever seen was Conan O\u2019Brien\u2019s 2018 series of visits in Haiti. It\u2019s funny, it\u2019s brief and to-the-point, it doesn\u2019t take itself seriously, it\u2019s dismissively cynical without being discouraging. And it stars my classmate from QCS, Lu Louis, assisting Conan in a hilarious translation gag. If there\u2019s any brief incursion that seems to adequately capture the joy and hope of life in Haiti, without sensationalizing or brooding incessantly on the tragedies that have befallen it over the previous century, the previous decade, and the previous year, this is the one I\u2019d recommend.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Haiti that Still Dreams
Edwidge Danticat<\/em><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Haitian author’s perspective on what it feels like to be a “problem,” mixed with all the aspirations and hopes and reasons for persevering in the face of Haiti’s struggles.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
\n
\n
\"\"
A long, detailed historical explanation of the many obstacles stacked against Haiti. <\/a>
Helpful in part because it brings the story up to the present (December 2023)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
In-depth reading list:<\/h5>\n\n\n\n