From Douglass to Duvalier: U.S. African Americans, Haiti, and Pan Americanism, 1870-1964 (New World Diasporas)

Haiti has long been both a source of immense pride - because of the Haitian Revolution - and of profound disappointment - because of the unshakable realities of poverty, political instability, and violence - to the black diasporic imagination. Charting the long history of these multiple meanings is the focus of Millery Polyné's rich and critical transnational history of U.S. African Americans and Haitians. Stretching from the thoughts and words of American intellectuals such as Frederick Douglass, Robert Moton, and Claude Barnett to the Civil Rights era, Polyne's temporal scope is breathtaking. But just as impressive is the thematic range of the work, which carefully examines the political, economic, and cultural relations between U.S. African Americans and Haitians. "From Douglass to Duvalier" examines the creative and critical ways U.S. African Americans and Haitians engaged the idealized tenets of Pan Americanism - mutual cooperation, egalitarianism, and nonintervention between nation-states - in order to strengthen Haiti's social, economic, and political growth and stability. The depth of Polyné's research allows him to speak confidently about the convoluted ways that these groups have viewed modernization, 'uplift', and racial unity, as well as the shifting meanings and importance of the concepts over time. "A remarkable new analysis of how African Americans and Haitians interacted over the long term. It asserts bold new methods and conclusions on inter-American relations, Pan Americanism, and U.S.-Haitian relations."--David Sheinin, Trent University

"Polyné has provided a clearly written, nuanced, deeply researched study about the multiple efforts among the Haitian and African American elite to advance both their national agendas and larger global commitments to the diaspora. No one has focused on Haiti the way he has." --Carol Anderson, Emory University

"Adds an important and much-needed layer to our understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of diasporic relations."--Carol Anderson, Emory University

Haiti has long been both a source of immense pride--because of the Haitian Revolution--and of profound disappointment--because of the unshakable realities of poverty, political instability, and violence--to the black diasporic imagination. Charting the long history of these multiple meanings is the focus of Millery Polyne's rich and critical transnational history of U.S. African Americans and Haitians.

Stretching from the thoughts and words of American intellectuals such as Frederick Douglass, Robert Moton, and Claude Barnett to the Civil Rights era, Polyne's temporal scope is breathtaking. But just as impressive is the thematic range of the work, which carefully examines the political, economic, and cultural relations between U.S. African Americans and Haitians.

From Douglass to Duvalier examines the creative and critical ways U.S. African Americans and Haitians engaged the idealized tenets of Pan Americanism--mutual cooperation, egalitarianism, and nonintervention between nation-states--in order to strengthen Haiti's social, economic, and political growth and stability. The depth of Polyne's research allows him to speak confidently about the convoluted ways that these groups have viewed modernization, "uplift," and racial unity, as well as the shifting meanings and importance of the concepts over time.

"The spirit of the age . . . establish[es] a sentiment of universal brotherhood": Haiti, "Santo Domingo" and Frederick Douglass at the intersection of the United States and black Pan Americanism "To combine the training of the head and the hands": the 1930 Robert R. Moton Education Commission in Haiti "We cast in our lot with the policy of good neighborliness": Claude Barnett, Haiti and the business of race "What happens in Haiti has repercussions which far transcend Haiti itself": Walter White, Haiti and the public relations campaign, 1947-1955 "To carry the dance of the people beyond": Jean-lon Destin, Lavinia Williams and Danse Folklorique Haitienne "The moody republic and the men in her life": Francois Duvalier, U.S. African Americans and Haitian exiles, 1957-1964. "The spirit of the age establish[es] a sentiment of universal brotherhood": Haiti, "Santo Domingo" and Frederick Douglass at the intersection of the United States and Black Pan Americanism "To combine the training of the head and the hands": the 1930 Robert R. Moton Education Commission in Haiti "We cast in our lot with the policy of good neighborliness": Claude Barnett, Haiti and the business of race "What happens in Haiti has repercussions which far transcend Haiti itself": Walter White, Haiti and the public relations campaign, 1947-1955 "To carry the dance of the people beyond": Jean-León Destiné, Lavinia Williams and Danse Folklorique Haïtienne "The moody republic and the men in her life": François Duvalier, U.S. African Americans and Haitian exiles, 1957-1964. Stretching from the thoughts and words of American intellectuals such as Frederick Douglass, Robert Moton, and Claude Barnett to the Civil Rights era, the range of this work examines the political, economic, and cultural relations between U.S. African Americans and Haitians