Dr. King Predicts a Black President (1964 Interview)

Statement from WYCLEF JEAN re: Yele Haiti

I formalized that commitment when I formed my first foundation, in 1994. From that day forward, I have spent tireless hours working on behalf of my homeland on development issues as well as human and immigrant rights.

I have been committed to helping the people of Haiti throughout my life, and that commitment will continue until the day I die.

It is impossible for me to even comprehend the recent attacks on my character and the integrity of my foundation, Yele Haiti. The fact that these attacks come as we are mobilized to meet the greatest human tragedy in the history of Haiti only serves to perplex me even further.

I first learned of these baseless attacks when I left Haiti late Friday, where I had been since 12 hours after the earthquake.

Let me be clear: I denounce any allegation that I have ever profited personally through my work with Yele Haiti. These baseless attacks are simply not true.

In fact, I have, time and again, committed significant amounts of my own money to support the work of Yele Haiti and other organizations in support of our efforts over the years.

More than that, I have spent countless hours, days, months and years of my life committed to the country of Haiti, the people of Haiti and the success of Haiti.

These baseless allegations were first put forward by a fringe website with a history of pursuing sensationalist story lines. The mainstream media’s pursuit of them has required Yele to divert precious resources during this critical time in order to answer various inquiries. That must end.

I will continue to commit my focus to what is most important right now: Haiti. Right now, Yele is working with its valuable NGO partners, the U.S. Government, the United Nations and so many others to save lives, honor those who have perished and get aid to the millions of Haitians suffering through the worst human catastrophe of our times.

I will never give up on my commitment."
Source: www.yele.org
Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 06:00PMI formalized that commitment when I formed my first foundation, in 1994. From that day forward, I have spent tireless hours working on behalf of my homeland on development issues as well as human and immigrant rights.

I have been committed to helping the people of Haiti throughout my life, and that commitment will continue until the day I die.

It is impossible for me to even comprehend the recent attacks on my character and the integrity of my foundation, Yele Haiti. The fact that these attacks come as we are mobilized to meet the greatest human tragedy in the history of Haiti only serves to perplex me even further.

I first learned of these baseless attacks when I left Haiti late Friday, where I had been since 12 hours after the earthquake.

Let me be clear: I denounce any allegation that I have ever profited personally through my work with Yele Haiti. These baseless attacks are simply not true.

In fact, I have, time and again, committed significant amounts of my own money to support the work of Yele Haiti and other organizations in support of our efforts over the years.

More than that, I have spent countless hours, days, months and years of my life committed to the country of Haiti, the people of Haiti and the success of Haiti.

These baseless allegations were first put forward by a fringe website with a history of pursuing sensationalist story lines. The mainstream media’s pursuit of them has required Yele to divert precious resources during this critical time in order to answer various inquiries. That must end.

I will continue to commit my focus to what is most important right now: Haiti. Right now, Yele is working with its valuable NGO partners, the U.S. Government, the United Nations and so many others to save lives, honor those who have perished and get aid to the millions of Haitians suffering through the worst human catastrophe of our times.

I will never give up on my commitment."
Source: www.yele.org
Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 06:00PM

"Happy Birthday To You" (Sing it like Stevie)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whose birthday is today. He would have been been 81.

A favorite quote of mine from him:

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can stop him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Download the "Help Haiti" Logo

Design created and donated by Kerry DeBruce of KLAD Creative

"Help Haiti"

HELP HAITI
From Kevin Powell and April R. Silver ● January 14, 2010

Our deepest condolences and most heartfelt prayers go to the people of Haiti, both there and abroad. With the rest of the world, we remain terribly saddened by Tuesday’s catastrophic earthquake. We are as deeply moved as you to learn that some experts have marked this earthquake as the worst the world has ever seen (in terms of human lives lost and devastating impact). In less than 48 hours, estimates from Haitian officials project that hundreds of thousands of people may have died. We remain prayerful as we embrace the fact that the relief, repair, and recovery of this country are going to take years.

For the past 48 hours, we have been in around the clock communication and meetings with some of the country’s most resourceful and dedicated leaders and influencers of all races and backgrounds, from congress, to celebrities, to civic organizations, and others. We have both been inundated with hundreds of inquiries from people looking for ways to help. Even as we navigate this whirlwind of information and emotion, we firmly believe that we must support Haiti in a way that powerfully respects this great island nation.

We have prepared this HELP HAITI document as a basic, but informative resource tool for how to offer your support TODAY. This list is not complete, we know, but it’s a start for those who have asked us “How can I help?” or “Who is going to make sure that my donation gets directly to the people?”

Our communication with these leaders has included Haitian and Haitian-American activists. They are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support that the world has shown. With great passion and clarity of thought, however, they also remind Americans to please direct their cash donations and supplies to ground-level organizations that are respected as capacity-building organizations that are in touch with the people of Haiti. They remind us that the most recognizable disaster relief organizations that people tend to turn to in times like these are the ones who have a little known history of profiting off the pain of the people of Haiti. In sobering tones, they told us that Haitians, sadly, have come to expect to be exploited in times like this. The level of corruption is real and scandalous, but it doesn’t exist in every organization. There are truly caring people and organizations who have been working on the ground and who will remain there helping the people long after the cameras have left and long after the world starts to suffer from “Haiti fatigue.” Our Haitian friends remind us to not be caught up in the aid industry (where non-profit relief corporations often block, withhold, or sell your donated supplies to the people). Instead, they remind us to give support to capacity-building organizations who are genuinely interested in helping Haiti to be self-reliant, self-determining, and independent.

You can help make a meaningful difference by utilizing the information in this document. There are always three stages in dealing with natural and human-made tragedies: RESCUE, then RELIEF, and finally REBUILD. We are asking all concerned human beings to participate and volunteer as much time and energy as possible to all three stages to HELP HAITI.

In unity,

Kevin Powell (contact@kevinpowell.net) and April R. Silver (frontdesk@akilaworksongs.com)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ASSITANCE FOR HAITIANS IN AMERICA
Contact the Haitian Embassy at 202.332.4090
or the nearest Haitian Consulate office in your area to locate your loved ones.

ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS ABROAD
(How to trace family members in Haiti)
Call 888.407.4747 Department of State (US)

ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT WITH MONEY & RESOURCES
I. Yele, founded by famed Haitian-American GRAMMY Award winning rapper/musician Wyclef Jean (formerly of The Fugees). Visit www.yele.org for more information. Text “501501” then type “Yele” to make a $5 donation ASAP.

II. Haiti Support Project
Founded by Dr. Ron Daniels (President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century) this relief fund will collect your cash donations and send it to grassroots organization.

III. Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees
Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Lakou New York, and MUDHA Movement of Dominican Haitian Women are organizing an immediate delivery of first aid relief. MUDHA is traveling to the Dominican/Haitian border, looking at how to reach affected areas. See first aid list of needs below and bring items to.

HAITIAN WOMEN FOR HAITIAN REFUGEES
335 Maple Street, 2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY (this is not a mailing address)
718.735.4660

EVENING DROP-OFF HOURS ARE MON. & WED. 6:30-8:30 P.M.
DAYTIME DROP-OFF HOURS ARE MON. - FRI. 11:00-4:00 P.M.
Please use rear entrance on Lincoln Road between Nostrand and New York Avenue. Enter through St. Francis Church parking lot.

To make a financial tax-deductible donation to Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Lakou New York, and MUDHA Movement of Dominican Haitian Women, so that they may take supplies to Haiti, please mail donations to:
IFCO/Haiti Relief
418 West 145th Street
New York NY 10031
You may also make a credit card donation designated for Haiti Relief at www.pastorsforpeace.org or by calling IFCO at 212.926.5757

IV. The Global Syndicate’s Haiti Project
Give any financial support you can by donating to http://www.theglobalsyndicate.org/get_involved.html. All proceeds will be used to support relief efforts of Project Medishare and Yele (two of our partner organizations that have robust structures that offer direct support).


V. S.H.A.D. (Soin Humanité Amour Dévouement)
“S.H.A.D.” translated into English means Care Humanity Love Devotement. It is a non-profit organization (with 501c3 status) that is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life, while providing education, medical, emotional, and social support services unavailable to low-income Haitian women from 14-45 years old. Their work includes servicing pregnant women and those who live under poverty level who are affected and infected by the HIV/AIDS virus. All monetary donations are being collected via PayPal at donation: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-click&hosted_button_id=10554585

WHAT HAITI NEEDS
Americans and concerned citizens in the entire global community should ask friends, neighbors, religious institutions, social, cultural, or political organizations, local businesses, or your coworkers to begin to gather the following for the people of Haiti. MORE INFORMATION on how to get them to Haiti will be coming soon:

I. Nonperishable foods
WATER
Canned goods
Bags of rice, bags of beans

II. Clothing
New/clean underwear for women, men, girls, and boys
Sneakers/tennis shoes and socks of all sizes for women, men, girls, and boys
Shoes of all sizes for women, men, girls, and boys
Shirts and tee-shirts of all sizes for men and boys
Blouses and dresses of all sizes for women and girls
Jeans, plants, and slacks of all sizes for women, men, girls, and boys
Bras of all sizes for women and girls

III. Supplies
MEDICAL SUPPLIES

Blankets
First-aid kits
Diarrhea medication
Eye drops
Insect repellent
Hydrogen peroxide
Skin disinfectant spray
Flashlights, Candles, Matches
Batteries of all sizes
Tents (sold at Walmart and K-Mart)
Scissors
Book-bags and knapsacks and purses
Tape (both scotch tape, and thick electrical tape)
Hammers, nails, screwdrivers, pliers
Thick outdoor garbage bags
Water pails, pots, and pans
Paper towels
Cleaning liquids
Disposable utensils (plates, forks, spoons, knives, cups, napkins)


IV. Toiletries

Toilet paper
Soap
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body lotion
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Deodorant
Hair combs
Hair brushes
Rubbing alcohol
Hydrogen peroxide
Sanitary napkins
Tampons
Cotton balls and cotton swabs
Wash cloths
Bath towels


RECOMMMENDED HAITIAN & HAITI EXPERTS (For Media Interviews)

I. MARGUERITE LAURENT, ESQ.
A foremost Haitian activist, Ms. Laurent’s daily online newsletter, Eli Danto, provides all kinds of info about Haiti. Contact her at erzilidanto@yahoo.com. Visit her website at www.ezilidanto.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Ezilidanto

II. DR. RON DANIELS
Scholar, historian, activist, and the most Haiti-involved African American in our country. He is the founder of the Haiti Support Project. Contact Dr. Daniels at ronmae@aol.com or visit his website at www.ibw21.org

RECOMMMENDED MEDIA (Books and Films)
Many people following the earthquake are new to Haiti, its people, and its culture. Many people are being introduced to this great nation for the first time as the “poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.” The list below is our humble attempt to reframe the conversation and the context. Our first thoughts of Haiti are as the first independent majority-Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. We know it as a country that is rich with history and beauty. Their heroes and human rights activists, Toussaint L'ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines, are our heroes and models of resistance. January 1, 1804 is the official declaration of Haitian independence and we celebrate that victory, too. We have compiled some background info about this Caribbean island that has long been tied to American history. In fact it was a Haitian immigrant, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, who founded the American city of Chicago.

BOOKS ABOUT HAITI
Danticat, Edwidge. Breath, Eyes, Memory and Krik? Krak!
Lawless, Robert. Haiti's Bad Press
Metraux, Alfred. Voodoo In Haiti
Ridgeway, James, Ed. The Haiti Files: Decoding the Crisis
Thompson, Ian. Bonjour Blanc: A Journey through Haiti

FILMS ABOUT HAITI
The Agronomist is about Jean Leopold Dominique who hosted Radio Haiti-Inter, Haiti's first independent radio station. Jonathan Demme puts together this documentary with historical footage and interviews. The result is a serious recount of Haiti during its numerous regimes.

Radio Haiti-Inter was Radio Haiti in 1960 and in 1969, it became Radio Haiti-Inter. It finally ended its broadcast three years after the assassination of Jean Dominique. His broadcasts were primarily for the struggle of democracy and he was able to capture the feelings of those who were poor and powerless.

The documentary starts with an interview where Jean Dominique recounts a day when he was able to broadcast gunfire outside Radio Haiti-Inter. Visit this site for ordering details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Websitehttp://www.thinkfilmcompany.com

Haiti: The Untold Story by Kevin Pina, chronicles the brutal daily human rights violations committed against democracy supporters in Haiti since the February 2004 coup d'etat. The film focuses on abuses in poor urban neighborhoods by the Haitian National Police and United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) troops in Haiti, especially the July 6, 2005 Cite Soleil massacre. It was produced at great personal risk by journalist/filmmaker Pina, who has covered the grassroots democracy movement in Haiti for the past ten years. It contains stunning footage not available elsewhere. For more information, or to view a trailer, see www.teledyol.net/KP/HUS/HUS.html

Aristide and the Endless Revolution by Nicolas Rossier (Baraka Productions): An hour south of Miami, the elected president of the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation has twice been forced from office with the complicity of the international community. Aristide and the Endless Revolution investigates the tragic events that led to the second violent expulsion of Jean Bertrand Aristide from Haiti. This documentary reveals the tangled web of hope, deceit, and political violence that has brought the world's first black republic to its knees. For more information or to view a trailer, see http://www.aristidethefilm.com

Pote Mak Sonje: the Raboteau Massacre Trial (Christine Cynn and Harriet Hirshorn) is a few years old, but is an important reminder of the possibilities of democracy in Haiti. The film chronicles the tenacious, non-violent and ultimately (but temporarily) successful fight for justice by the victims of the 1994 Raboteau Massacre. The victims took risks for justice, because they saw it as a way of breaking Haiti's cycle of violence and transforming the justice system from an instrument of repression into an instrument of liberation. They succeeded in convicting the top paramilitary and military leadership of murder in a trial hailed as a landmark in the fight against impunity. After the film's release, all those convicted were freed following the February 2004 coup d'etat. For more information, see http://www.ijdh.org/articles/article_raboteau-4.htm.

TIMELINE OF HAITIAN HISTORY
To get a quick and general sense of 500 years of Haitian history over the past 500 years, please visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Haitian_history

Defining Arts and Activism

Recently, I was asked to define arts and activism for an upcoming book project. I have maintained that arts activism and arts and activism are different. To those in the field, here are my working definitions:

Art: In a global sense, there are many definitions for "art" and they range from using the word as a concept - as part of a branch of philosophy known as aesthetics - to using the word as a process of creating. Historically, art has also come to be defined as a vehicle for the expression of human thoughts and emotions, or as an indirect means of communication. For the purposes of this book/project, we will use the word "art" to mean the process, the outward expression, and the end result (be it an object, an environment, a performance, or an experience) of one's skillful and creative imagination. In other words, art is the skillful mastery and the communication of one's imaginative self, and it is created to evoke thoughts, emotions, and/or action. Art's practical and everlasting value lies in the fact that it is shared with others.

Culture: Culture, simply defined, is the expressions that generally characterize a group of people, their shared experiences, ideals, aspirations, and traditions. The most popular expressions of a people are often thought of as performance or visual-based expressions (i.e., music, dance, sculpture, etc.), yet cultural expressions may also manifest in other forms such as dialect, clothing, cuisine, hairstyles, literature, social games, group tendencies, and much more.

Activism: Activism is a purposeful act or series of actions designed to affect social, political, economic, spiritual, personal, or environmental change. For the purposes of this book/project, the change that activism seeks to affect is a positive change, a change that is enlightening and beneficial for both the individual and the community. Activism may be in support of, or in opposition to, an idea, law, value, policy, behavior, or practice. These supportive or dissenting actions may take on a vast range of expressions such as boycotts, rallies, marches, sit-ins, teach-ins, vigils, petitions, grassroots organizing, letter-writing campaigns, and many other intellectual, creative, and practical forms.

Arts Activism: For the purposes of this book/project (and perhaps in general), arts activism describes a unique kind of activism that uses the arts (visual, performance, theater, and/or literary arts) as a vehicle for affecting social, political, economic, spiritual, personal and/or environmental positive change.

Arts and activism: For the purposes of this book/project (and perhaps in general), arts and activism is the concept, study, and practice of relating and/or intertwining the various fields of art with various methods of activism. It is an interdisciplinary approach to understanding, experiencing, and sharing one's life and it supports the idea that art has holistic, practical, and transformative meaning to individuals and communities, and that activism is necessary for individual and collective development.

My "Arts & Activism" Interview (A Year Ago Today)