Haiti

Haiti is an isle located between Cuba and Puerto Rico, and was once known as France’s Pearl of Antilles. This islands history is very unique when compared with other colonial Caribbean islands. St. Dominigue was a former French fertile paradise that between 1681-1791 imported approximately 860,000 Africans to help produce cotton, coffee, indigo, and the ever lucrative sugarcane. The island became home for two classes of slaves; the Creoles who were born into slavery, and the Bossales who were new arrivals. These new slaves made up to two-thirds of the islands slaves. Since they were so new to the island, the Bossales retained many of their cultural ties with Africa and were less inclined to be slaves. It is believed that the Vodou priest Boukman, sounded the Bois-Caiman ceremony in 1791 at the start of the slave rebellion. This revolt began on the northern plains by Toussaint Louverture, known as Black Napoleon due to his political and military efforts. In 1804, the Republic of Haiti was officially declared. Haiti’s blue and red flag signifies the blacks and mulattoes coming together to gain their freedom. Unfortunately, Western powers penalize this rebellious country, leaving them poverty stricken with a legacy of bloody corrupt rulers. …show more content…
This new language blended French and African dialects together giving birth to the islands Haitian Creole language. The basis of their vocabulary is 90 percent French; however, its grammar is influenced by various African languages of the Niger-Congo areas. Haitian schools tend to teach in French, but currently there is a debate to change the curriculum over to Haitian Creole. Particularly since over nine million Haitians speak Creole as their first language, and over 80 percent of the population are