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  Can Remembering Bois Caïman Heal Haiti? Unity demands telling the whole, complicated truth By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson (Le Français suit) Port-au-Prince, Aug. 14, 2025 Unity demands telling the whole, complicated truth — a revolution powered by enslaved rebels, shaped by free men with military training, and consolidated through brutal struggle — and pairing that history with the hard work of dignity, education and economic freedom. On Aug. 14, 1791, in a clearing known as Bois Caïman, hundreds of enslaved people vowed to fight for liberty. Whether one treats the ceremony as a precise historical event or as a symbol refined by memory, its meaning is unmistakable: a collective commitment to reclaim dignity. If we want that vow to guide Haiti today, we must pair the call to unity with an honest account of who we were — and how we prevailed. A Diverse Colony, Not a Monolith By the late 18th century, Saint-Domingue (colonial Haiti) was a rigidly unequal society — and a di...

  At Fort-Jacques, Planting the Seeds of Resistance: A New Haitian Pact for Freedom By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson  (Le Français suit)   On January 19, 2025, at Fort-Jacques, a symbolic and hopeful event brought Haitians and dignitaries together for the planting of a mapou tree and a royal palm, dedicated respectively to Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Pétion. Organized by the STO Foundation in partnership with the Manifeste Appel du Lambi, this act marked a renewed commitment to the values of freedom, unity, and resistance that have shaped the Republic of Haiti. In his speech, Gregory Sicard, representing the Manifeste, highlighted Pétion's key role in forging the sacred union that led to victory over Napoleon's troops. Quoting historian Robert Price, he reminded the audience: "Pétion, whose shrewd politics regenerated Haiti, understood that the only way to achieve independence and defeat Napoleon's forces was to unite the two factions of Toussaint and Rigaud int...

  Historical Parallel between the "Chefs de Bandes" of 1802 and Current Haitian Gang Leaders By Patrick Prézeau Stephenson ( Le Français suit ) Haitian history is rich with tales of resistance and defiance against oppression. A significant chapter of this history is the struggle against French colonial forces in the early 19th century. In a letter dated September 16, 1802, General Leclerc referred to Jean-Jacques Dessalines as the "butcher of the Blacks" [1]. Dessalines, then serving under Leclerc, was responsible for executing radical "congos" or "bossales" bands who refused to surrender after the defeat at Crête-à-Pierrot. This article draws a parallel between the “guerrilla leaders” of 1802 and thecurrent gang leaders in Haiti, exploring their socio-political contexts and the legacy of resistance in Haiti according to certain authors.  Historical Context: The "Chefs de Bandes" of 1802 During the French expedition to reclaim contr...