The butterfly's way : voices from the Haitian dyaspora [sic] in the United States

In four sections—Childhood, Migration, First Generation, and Return—the contributors to this anthology write powerfully, often hauntingly, of their lives in Haiti and the United States. Jean-Robert Cadet's description of his Haitian childhood as a restavec—a child slave—in Port-au-Prince contrasts with Dany Laferriere's account of a ten-year-old boy and his beloved grandmother in Petit-Gove. We read of Marie Helene Laforest's realization that while she was white in Haiti, in the United States she is black. Patricia Benoit tells us of a Haitian woman refugee in a detention center who has a simple need for a red dress—dignity. The reaction of a man who has married the woman he loves is the theme of Gary Pierre-Pierre's "The White Wife"; the feeling of alienation is explored in "Made Outside" by Francie Latour. The frustration of trying to help those who have remained in Haiti and of the do-gooders who do more for themselves than the Haitians is described in Babette Wainwright's "Do Something for Your Soul, Go to Haiti." The variations and permutations of the divided self of the Haitian emigrant are poignantly conveyed in this unique anthology. From Publishers Weekly The experience of Haitian ?migr?s in what novelist Danticat (Krik? Krak!; etc.) calls the "tenth" geographical "department" of HaitiA"the floating homeland, the ideological one, which joined all Haitians living in the dyaspora"Ais the theme of this collection of 33 spare and evocative essays and poems. Most of these writers fled political instability as children and describe the dual reality of alienation from yetbelonging to two worlds, forging an identity separate from that of their parents in the new country, while at the same time continuing to wait for stability in the old country. Nik?l Payen tells of her experience as a U.S. Justice Department-sponsored interpreter who uses her knowledge of Krey?l ("the language whose purpose in life up until now had been to pain and confuse me") as "an asset" to translate for refugees waiting in horrific conditions at Guantanamo Naval Base following the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. When she witnesses the return of some of these HaitiansAdenied entrance to the U.S.Ashe likens their journey to the African Middle Passage. In another, Marie-H?l?ne Laforest, whose lighter skin color and family's wealth made her "white" in Haiti, realizes that she is simply black in America and later forges a third identity in Italy. Francie Latour, a journalist, convinces her American newspaper to send her to Haiti with a noble aim, but ends up "hitting a cultural wall" and being viewed as a "traitor" by her native people. This rich collection of writings will appeal to the growing number of Haitian-Americans and others interested in the question of the ?migr?'s sense of identity. (Feb.) Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. From Booklist Diaspora kindles painful and conflicting emotions, and those living in exile from Haiti carry burdens both archetypal and unique to the legacy of their homeland, the first black republic in the Western Hemisphere. Danticat, the gifted Haitian American author of The Farming of Bones (1998), has assembled a potent and piercing collection of essays and poems that articulate the frustrations and sorrows of Haitians who are now outsiders both in Haiti and in their places of refuge. Her eloquent contributors express anger over the negative images conjured by what Joel Dreyfuss calls "the Phrase," the automatic tag line "the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere," and voice pride in Haiti's spirituality and art. Not that there isn't much to lament, as evident in searing essays by Jean-Robert Cadet, Barbara Sanon, and Marie Ketsia Theodore-Pharel. Haiti is a profoundly complex and alluring place, a neighbor, as Francie Latour observes, "whose history and future are so intertwined" with the U.S. that it must be better understood, and Danticat's revelatory anthology is a giant step in that direction. Donna Seaman Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

in Five Sections - Childhood, Migration, Half / First Generation, Return, And Future - The Contributors To This Anthology Write Powerfully, Often Hauntingly, Of Their Lives In Haiti And The United States. Jean-robert Cadet's Description Of His Haitian Childhood As A Restavek - A Child Slave - In Port-au-prince Contrasts With Dany Laferiere's Account Of A Ten-year-old Boy And His Beloved Grandmother In Petit-goave. We Read Of Marie Helene Laforest's Realization That While She Was White In Haiti, In The United States She Is Black. Patricia Benoit Tells Us Of A Haitian Woman Regugee In A Detention Center Who Has A Simple Need, A Red Dress - Dignity. The Reaction Of A Man When He Marries The Woman He Loves Is The Theme Of Gary Pierre-pierre's The White Wife; The Feeling Of Alienation Is Explored In Made Outside By Francie Latour. The Frustration Of Trying To Help Those Who Remained And Of The Do-gooders Who Do More For Themselves Than The Haitians Is Described In Babette Wainwright's Do Somthing For Your Soul, Go To Haiti. The Variations And Permutations Of The Divided Self Of The Haitian Emigrant Are Poignantly Conveyed In This Unique Anthology.

publishers Weekly

the Experience Of Haitian Migr S In What Novelist Danticat (krik? Krak!; Etc.) Calls The Tenth Geographical Department Of Haiti--the Floating Homeland, The Ideological One, Which Joined All Haitians Living In The Dyaspora--is The Theme Of This Collection Of 33 Spare And Evocative Essays And Poems. Most Of These Writers Fled Political Instability As Children And Describe The Dual Reality Of Alienation From Yetbelonging To Two Worlds, Forging An Identity Separate From That Of Their Parents In The New Country, While At The Same Time Continuing To Wait For Stability In The Old Country. Nik L Payen Tells Of Her Experience As A U.s. Justice Department-sponsored Interpreter Who Uses Her Knowledge Of Krey L (the Language Whose Purpose In Life Up Until Now Had Been To Pain And Confuse Me) As An Asset To Translate For Refugees Waiting In Horrific Conditions At Guantanamo Naval Base Following The Overthrow Of President Jean-bertrand Aristide. When She Witnesses The Return Of Some Of These Haitians--denied Entrance To The U.s.--she Likens Their Journey To The African Middle Passage. In Another, Marie-h L Ne Laforest, Whose Lighter Skin Color And Family's Wealth Made Her White In Haiti, Realizes That She Is Simply Black In America And Later Forges A Third Identity In Italy. Francie Latour, A Journalist, Convinces Her American Newspaper To Send Her To Haiti With A Noble Aim, But Ends Up Hitting A Cultural Wall And Being Viewed As A Traitor By Her Native People. This Rich Collection Of Writings Will Appeal To The Growing Number Of Haitian-americans And Others Interested In The Question Of The Migr 's Sense Of Identity. (feb.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.

In five sectionsChildhood, Migration, Half/First Generation, Return, and Futurethe thirty-three contributors to this anthology write movingly, often hauntingly, of their lives in Haiti and the United States. Their dyaspora , much like a butterfly's fluctuating path, is a shifting landscape in which there is much travel between two worlds, between their place of origin and their adopted land. This compilation of essays and poetry brings together Haitian-Americans of different generations and backgrounds, linking the voices for whom English is a first language and others whose dreams will always be in French and Kreyl . Community activists, scholars, visual artists and filmmakers join renowned journalists, poets, novelists and memoirists to produce a poignant portrayal of lives in transition. Edwidge Danticat, in her powerful introduction, pays tribute to Jean Dominique, a sometime participant in the Haitian dyaspora and a recent martyr to Haiti's troubled politics, and the many members of the dyaspora who refused to be silenced. Their stories confidently and passionately illustrate the joys and heartaches, hopes and aspirations of a relatively new group of immigrants belonging to two countries that have each at times maligned and embraced them. In five sections—Childhood, Migration, Half/First Generation, Return, and Future—the thirty-three contributors to this anthology write movingly, often hauntingly, of their lives in Haiti and the United States. Their dyaspora, much like a butterfly's fluctuating path, is a shifting landscape in which there is much travel between two worlds, between their place of origin and their adopted land.This compilation of essays and poetry brings together Haitian-Americans of different generations and backgrounds, linking the voices for whom English is a first language and others whose dreams will always be in French and Kreyòl. Community activists, scholars, visual artists and filmmakers join renowned journalists, poets, novelists and memoirists to produce a poignant portrayal of lives in transition.Edwidge Danticat, in her powerful introduction, pays tribute to Jean Dominique, a sometime participant in the Haitian dyaspora and a recent martyr to Haiti's troubled politics, and the many members of the dyaspora who refused to be silenced. Their stories confidently and passionately illustrate the joys and heartaches, hopes and aspirations of a relatively new group of immigrants belonging to two countries that have each at times maligned and embraced them.