First Independent Nation - Haiti Observer Blog

This must be stopped and it must be done sooner rather than later. We must keep the integrity of the Haitian Pumpkin Soup, better known as Soup Joumou or Haitian Independence soup. Let me be direct, Haitian Soup Joumou must be made with beef and not chicken. The rich beef and bone marrow, was missing. Call a soup made with Chicken anything you want, but please don't call it Soup Joumou.

I have noticed a recent trend to move to a Soup Joumou made of Chicken and not beef as it is supposed to be. You might say that "Roland Mache Frite Anpil Kay Moun" or " Roland go out a lot to eat in people's houses". I don't care. However, last January, I was invited to eat my Soup Joumou in 5 homes, mainly Haitian friends and family members. I have got to tell you I was disappointed. Three of those houses served me the Soup Joumou made with chicken and not beef. I was so disappointed to the point I almost left without eating the Soup. Reasoning finally wan and I decided to take it home so that I could eat them during the week.

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Ordered by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Haiti's first ruler, it aimed to rid Haiti of the mulatto elite. In 1804, he sent battalions of soldiers to slaughter approximately 3,000 to 5,000 white men, women, and children. The reason for the genocide was retaliation against the French occupiers for crimes against African blacks.

The Perfect Ship Massacre. Occurred in 1758 on the British eponymous ship, which carried African slaves. Three hundred African revolutionaries formed a blockade around the ship. Armed, they got aboard and slaughtered British Captain William Potter, along with his crew, freeing the black slaves.

The 1865 Jamaican Morant Bay Uprising. Provoked by the unjust rule of the British colonial government, leader Paul Bogle and his comrades torched the Court House, taking over the city.

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Haiti, the first black-led republic in the world, gained independence in 1804 as part of a successful slave revolution. The slaves in Saint-Domingue revolted and fought against one of the most sophisticated army at the time because they believe that all man are equal and that slavery should be abolished.

Now how can you understand this today. An Australian Foundation came up with a report recently listing Haiti as the second country with the highest per capita globally engaging in modern day slavery after India.

According to the report, about two percent of the Haitian population are living as forced child labor known as "restavec"

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Although Haiti gained its independence from France and became the first black-led republic globally in 1804, foreign interests have continued to meddle in the island's affairs. France never forgave Haiti for defeating them and demanded 150 million francs as compensation for France's forfeiture of real estate and slaves. If Haiti didn't comply, France threatened to re-instate slavery.

Repayment of the debt ruined Haiti's economy, a major factor in its poorest-nation-in-the Western-Hemisphere status. Well over a century passed before Haiti cleared its debt to France in 1947. Millions upon millions of interest dollars protracted repayment to French banks, who lent Haiti money to pay off interest on the principal. In 1922, the U.S. assumed part of Haiti's debt that France had reduced to 90 million francs. In demanding compensatory damages, France violated its Declaration of the Rights of Man which states: "Men are born free and remain free and equal in rights."

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On May 18, 2013, the Haitian National Flag will celebrate 210 years of independence from French foreign oppression. The history of the flag dates back to 1803 when--in a defiant move--revolutionary leader, Jean Jacques Dessalines, desecrated the French flag. He removed the white-center panel of the tri-color and created the first national Black Republic flag.

The lore of the Haitian National Flag is rich in symbolism. The most popular meaning of the blue-and-red horizontal panels is representation of skin tones: blue for black and red for white. When Alexandre Petion became the next leader of Haiti, he added a unifying element, the nation's first coat-of-arms. Situated within a small, white square, fusing blue-and-red side-by-side panels, a tableau reveals the history of slavery, the fight to end it, and its ultimate abolishment.

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U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, developed a blood clot after falling in her home in early December. Clinton was nursing a stomach-flu virus, and had become dangerously dehydrated. The fall resulted in a brain concussion. As part of follow-up treatment, she was given a MRI, a diagnostic procedure that revealed a blood clot wedged between her skull and brain. Blood-thinner prescriptions have been administered to her to remove the clot.

Secretary Clinton was scheduled to address a congressional hearing on the Benghazi assault, which took the life of Chris Stephens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya. Clinton accepted full responsibility for the assault, but the Obama administration does not find her at fault. However, right-wingers doubt her integrity, believing she is using her condition to avoid testifying.

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As a reminder, Independence day in Haiti is an important holiday. we are fortunate to celebrate two important events on this day: On January 1, Haitians all over the world celebrate both New Year's Day and Independence Day.

This little nation made history on January 1, 1804 by becoming the first Black Country to gain its independence. At the same time we change the name of the country back to its original name "Ayiti", name given by the original inhabitants and before Christopher Columbus so called discovered the Island in 1492. At that point the island was named "Hispaniola"

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The battle of Vertieres near Cap-Haitian was motivated by slaves who hat the condition under which they have been living.

Napoleon was confident that slavery would be reestablished in Saint-Domingue. General Rochambeau, who succeeded Leclerc as commander of the French army in Saint-Domingue, started implementing a series of atrocities including mass hangings and drowning of slaves suspected to be involved in insurrections.

Dessalines relentlessly attacks one town after another. He started in the South of the Country with Cayes, then Jacmel, Léogane, Jérémie, Saint Marc and Port-au-Prince. These actually set the stage for the assault on le Cap Français in the last great battle of independence in Vertieres.

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In the Battle of Vertieres near Cap-Haitian which is considered to be the decisive battle that eventually earned Haiti its independence, General Francois Capois, Capoix-la-Mort, occupied a key position in it.

Historians tell us that on November 18th, 1803, the leader of the Haitian rebels Jean-Jacques Dessalines ordered Capois lamort Brigade to take Fort Vertières, Capois raised several unsuccessful attempts until

Capoix, mounted on his great horse, led his brigade forward despite storms of bullets from the forts. As he is approaching Charrier, his horse was hit by a cannon and fell. However, Capois picked himself up, took his sword, stood up and ran again to the head of his soldiers shouting always "Forward! Forward".

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This was the last battle of the Expedition Santo Domingo. The battle took place in Vertières Vertières near Cap Francais, now known as Cap-Haitian. It involves a troop commanded by General Rochambeau for the French Colonizer and General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, leader of the slave rebellion.

On November 18, 1803 , Jean-Jacques Dessalines ordered François Capois (Capois lamort) Brigade to take Fort Vertières, located on a hill near the city of Cap-Haitian. Capois raised several unsuccessful attempts by had to go back due to heavy fire from the fort.

After the third attempts where many of his forces received many casualties, Capois-La-Mort asked his force to follow him, shouting: "Forward! Forward". At one point, his horse was hit by a cannon and fell, but Capois took his sword, stood up and ran again to the head of his soldiers shouting always "Forward! Forward".

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