RIP Ornette Coleman

Rest in peace, Ornette Coleman. You were a true jazz legend, whose influence on jazz developments in the 1950s and 1960s was some of the most "out there" yet still accessible music I have ever heard. Who could ever forget the immortal "Lonely Woman?" Or "Ramblin"? The Latin flourishes of "Una Muy Bonita?" One can never forget your ambition and courage in playing the violin, an instrument you had no training it, for jazz improvisation. You will be missed.

Why Must A Black Writer Write About Sex?

"Look at Haitian painting and you'll understand. The landscapes all look like the Garden of Eden. The fruit is too perfect. The fish are too big. The children's smiles are too wide. A dream country concocted to replace the real one."

Laferrière's unconventional novel draws from his own life to reflect on the meaning of success, race, gender, and what it means to be a black writer. Inspired by the success of his debut novel, Laferrière's fictionalized version of himself compiles a list of observations, travel experiences, conversations, and humorous commentary on the aforementioned themes, often critical of black cultural nationalism or the pigeon-holing of black writers (the hilarious dialogues with Spike Lee and Ice Cube are two great example). Unfortunately, Haiti is not an important part of the story, although the author does allude to Haiti for comedic effect and the arts, as well as references to Vodou, African history and religion. 

Given the lack of a plot and the very unusual format of this not quite novel written as a novel, some may not find this work as moving or enthralling as some of Laferrière's other work. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this one just as much as Ishmael Reed's best satirical novels and essays. Indeed, both writers tend not to approach issues of race, class, and gender from a dogmatic perspective, and exploit race and sexuality for hilarious commentary. 

Hero of Hispaniola: America's Fist Black Diplomat, Ebenezer D. Bassett

Christopher Teal's biography of Ebenezer D. Bassett, a prominent African-American who became the US's first black diplomat, is an interesting case study to examine in light of US-Haiti relations. Although the author is not a historian and the text is lacking in Haitian historical analysis, Teal uses Bassett's career in Haiti to show how African-Americans participated in US foreign relations in ways that both supported and undermined US imperialism. 

Representing the US in Haiti during some politically turbulent years in Haitian history, Basset helped avert a military disaster in Hispaniola multiple times. During the civil war under President Salnave, Bassett helped provide asylum and curb violence, as well as encouraging humane and liberal governance under Saget, who succeeded Salnave. In the early 1870s, when Grant pushed for US annexation of the Dominican Republic, Bassett again helped prevent war with Haiti as President Saget's Haitian forces joined Dominican nationalists (such as Gregorio Luperon) in resisting Dominican president Baez, who wanted annexation. Bassett pushed for peace, went out of his way to maintain consul professionalism and rule of law, socialized and formed relationships with all Haitian presidents, defended Haitian sovereignty, endeavored to avoid gunboat diplomacy, and helped shape US and Haitian history.

Due to Bassett's belief in providing asylum, Boisrond Canal survived the butcherous campaigns of Michel Domingue's presidency, and Bassett later served the Haitian government in New York, where he fought through the US legal system against US citizens selling arms and profiting from Haiti's vicious cycle of coups. Bassett also opposed US attempts to bully Haiti into leasing the Mole St. Nicolas as a naval base and denied racist rumors of cannibalism in the 'Black Republic.'

General History of the Caribbean Volume IV: The Long Nineteenth Century: Nineteenth Century Transformations

UNESCO's lengthy, multi-volume General History of the Caribbean series is more than useful for those studying Caribbean history. Combining the best scholarship from historians from the region and the North, the fourth volume adequately covers every significant development in the 19th century Caribbean. Slavery, emancipation, the Haitian Revolution, nationalism, Antillean federationism, the rising influence of the US, indentured labour, and economic changes are covered in this important volume. Given my own personal interests in Haiti, I decided to start reading the series with this volume, and Haiti is certainly included with an entire chapter on the Haitian Revolution from a top scholar (David Geggus). Michel Hector, Jean Casimir, and others also contribute in later chapters on Haitian social structure, economic turmoil, and US economic and political influence. 

Unfortunately, there were a few chapters that may have been better off with additional editing, such as one erroneous assertion that caco resistance to US Occupation in Haiti had over 4 million supporters! That would have been more than the entire population of Haiti at the time, so I assume the author of that chapter made a typo that was not corrected. There also could have been more coverage of religious diversity and Afro-Creole traditions, as well as a superior chapter on Caribbean intellectual history when pertaining to Haiti.

Nonetheless, everything else about the text was an excellent introduction to the important historical developments. As someone who, again, is mostly interested in Haiti, understanding the demographic impact of Portuguese, African, and indentured labor in that era is all relatively new material. Moreover, Central America and Belize are included, areas of the circum-Caribbean world I am woefully ignorant of in the annals of Caribbean history. In addition, the text also includes numerous excellent historical photographs and tables, as well as a valuable bibliography for additional sources. 

The Company of Heaven: Stories from Haiti

Marilène Phipps-Kettlewell's collection of short stories features numerous short stories drawing on the author's own experiences coming from the upper class, with commentary on social relations, religion, poverty, animal rights, sexuality, and identity. Phipps-Kettlewell's short stories illustrate numerous examples of enduring problems in Haitian society while also embracing the land, people, and animals who populate the island. Vodou figures prominently in numerous stories, particularly in a beautiful way for "Marie-Ange's Ginen," reminiscent of Danticat's similarly astounding story on Haitian boatpeople. Strong women also populate the novel, particularly in the manbo, Grande Jesula. Invoking the Romanticist and indigenist phases of Haitian literature, the flora and fauna of Haiti are poetically described and included as characters in the story.

Although some stories in the collection were not exactly my cup of tea, "Marie Ange's Ginen," "Dogs," "Land," "River Valley Rooms," and "At the Gate" are more than worthwhile reads. Phipps-Kettlewell is best when examining memory, family, and the tenants in the apartments owned by the narrator's father, in "River Valley Rooms." The world it recalls is one lost in several ways, as the death of the narrator's father and declining state of her mother perhaps symbolize a lost Haiti.

Like Water For Chocolate

Although I have owned a physical copy of Esquivel's popular novel for several years, I only recently finished reading the short book. A tale of forbidden love during the Mexican Revolution, the novel abounds in culinary delights that will make the reader hungry for more. Esquivel employs magical realism to enhance the story, but the simplicity of the narrative and the lack of more political commentary makes for an endearing read but lacking in the epic story arc characterizing the families in One Hundred Years of Solitude or House of the Spirits, two stellar novels that also use magical realism. Another weak aspect of the novel is the author's use of racial stereotypes of blacks as having natural rhythm, although the novel subtly criticizes racial and gender injustice.

A Poem For Jacques Roumain

Enjoy a short tribute to Jacques Roumain, written by his African-American friend and literary giant, Langston Hughes. I believe this poem and numerous other fascinating aspects of Jacques Roumain's life and work can be found in Fowler's A Knot in the Thread: The Life and Work of Jacques Roumain.

Always 

You will be 

Man

Finding out about

The ever bigger world

Always you will be

Hand that links

Erzulie to the Pope,

Damballa to Lenin

Haiti to the universe