Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti

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Feb 27, Mike rated it really liked it Shelves: This is the second book by Amy Wilentz that I read before my trip to Haiti. Amy also seems more pessimistic and jaded in this write up than in 'The Rainy Season', and who can blame her? In a way I found it refreshing. This is predominately focused on Haiti after the earthquake that devastated the country. It's almost written like a This is the second book by Amy Wilentz that I read before my trip to Haiti.

There's the good Megan Coffee--Tuberculosis Doctor extraordinaire , the bad Mac McClellund--claims to have suffered PTSD from her journalistic stint in Haiti and her 'healing process' , and even the celebrity Sean Penn--overcame his own ignorance to become one of the more efficient aid advocates. I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you're planning on traveling or working in Haiti.

My review is no where near the quality of some of the others, so I'm going to link a few of my favorites below, as well as a few quotes from the book: It destroyed the era's economy of slave capitalism; it wrecked the global ruling powers' [desires] of eternal colonialism. The Haitian Revolution, outcome of the fervor and intelligence of so many unlettered and enslaved Fred Voodoos, anonymous but valiant warriors, also extended the ideas of the Rights of Man to all men and women; and it suggested the concept of labor rights that was later expanded on in Europe and, eventually, the whole world.

It distracted Napoleon and forced him to sell the Louisiana Territory to the Americans, thereby turning the United States into a continental power. In addition, the slaves triumph in Haiti limited France's future economic power and ironically made an opening in the global economy for the rising United States, which was still the beneficiary of its own unpaid slave labor force.

His success at getting things done in a place he initially knew nothing about, and the failure of many aid groups with expertise to do the same, reminds me that often it is actually those who do remember history who are doomed to repeat it, while those who have no idea or who've forgotten can sometimes escape a reprise.

Sometimes it's better to know less, even though people who know more, and have ore invested in that knowledge, and who think they can predict a failure from the typical indicators people like me, that is , will always look down on you, and will always tell you it cannot be done.

Farewell, Fred Voodoo

Often, the experts will be right, but sometimes they'll be wrong, especially in extraordinary circumstances. The earthquake, combined with the fame and energy of Sean Penn, was just such an extraordinary circumstance. He's a peculiar and unexpected person, in an unexpected situation, and all those who predicted failure, fuck-up, and combat fatigue for him were wrong.

One hot morning, he and some other foreign volunteers were digging and lifting small boulders out of the clinic's future garden space. A small knot of Haitian teenagers were watching, leaning up against a fence, hooting and laughing. Finally, the volunteers turned and asked them what it was that they found so absolutely hilarious. The Haitian kids answered, "You came here to do that for free?

To them these Americans were suckers, pure and simple. My rule is, don't be full of pity and charity. Don't feel sorry for them, rule number one. Be glad you're not in their situation, but don't pity. Their pain is theirs, and, in disasters and destroyed places, their pain and their survival are sometimes even important aspects of their identity. Don't pretend it's your story. Don't bee an occupier of their narrative; don't be an imperialist in their lives; don't colonize their victimization.

If you are comparing life in Haiti with life in the States, life in Haiti is more real in some strange way, more vibrant and raw. Very little is hidden here. People bathe in the street, they beat their kids in the street, they march in the street, they sell plantains in the street. If you're fat, people call you fat.

If you're skinny, people call you skinny. If you're missing a tooth people call you toothless. Lavi-a bel, lavi-a dwol. Life is beautiful and funny. I suppose for Americans, who are brought up with the idea that the U.

My Haitian friend was beaten up in te street with no justice to follow; a friend of mine said, "This country is free, so free that someone is free to beat up someone else just like that. If you like freedom, you swallow all of it. The good and the bad. There is order in Haitian disorder. Haiti functions not despite but because of its chaos, including the earthquake. So I would say that Haiti is the perfect intersection between chaos and order--where this crazy system somehow works everyday--the tap-taps, the mabi merchants, the kids going to school, the gangsters, the papadep men, the Papa Docs, the whole of it somehow works.

People make it work. Even cholera and an earthquake didn't knock this country too off track.

In other words, Haiti needs to be understood in Haitian terms. Jun 08, alice rated it did not like it Shelves: Don't waste your money on this book full of cliches while hypocritically claiming that it wants to depart from them. This is a clever glorification of the White Savior Industrial complex. Refer to Karen's review under Community Review for the summary of all the things wrong with this book.

Aug 30, Kkraemer rated it really liked it. This is a series of essays -- anecdotes, reflections, pensees -- about Haiti. The writer has been visiting Haiti for 20 years and has written about it extensively in a voice, from a perspective that is thoughtful and self-consciously ignorant. She is an outsider. Haiti is utterly fascinating.

Farewell, Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti

It's certainly not American. It's all of these, but none of them, either. It's a life unique unto itself, intimately involved with death and destructi This is a series of essays -- anecdotes, reflections, pensees -- about Haiti. It's a life unique unto itself, intimately involved with death and destruction of incomprehensible proportions. And she is befuddled. Why is this place so utterly fascinating? Why does it continue to suffer? What can be done? It is a place where terrible things happen: AIDS, earthquakes, invasions of foreigners, starvation, illiteracy, cholera, pollution, deforestation, tb…just to name the most obvious.

It's a place that draws aid workers like a magnet, and many are passionate and hardworking, but somehow Haiti just keeps being the place where bad things happen. Why does nothing change? How can it be that such a place floats out there in the Caribbean just so close to the toe of one of the most powerful countries on earth? Does prolixity matter at all? She knows that most outsiders including herself fundamentally misunderstand Haiti and its people and she knows that what's been done so far hasn't worked.

She knows that cellphones are changing everything. She knows that millions of dollars have not cleared the rubble or solved health problems or given people security. Her questions are apt: Is it riveting because it's so awful?

Wilenz will continue to visit and write about Haiti. I will continue to read everything I can find about Haiti. Like Wilenz, I'm not entirely sure why, but I know that this fascination is part of my soul. Nov 01, Heidi rated it it was amazing Shelves: In addition to Haitian history specifically the slave revolt , Farewell focuses on the recent and destructive earthquake and the ways in which foreign aid organizations have swarmed in and, in many cases, made the situation worse.

By knowing nothing about Haiti's population, geography, government It calls so many out on their liberal guilt and patronizing, condescending words and actions. Their pain is theirs and, in disasters and destroyed places, their pain and their survival are sometimes even important aspects of their identity. Don't pretend it's YOUR story. Don't be an occupier of their narrative; don't be an imperialist in their lives; don't colonize their victimization.

I wish this book was required reading for those who think themselves the Great White Savior. Who use the pain and suffering of others to prove their own sainthood. May 12, Melissa rated it really liked it. Great insight and empathy and from a writer who knows and loves Haiti, not just despite Haiti's issues but because of them. Some things were so bitingly truthful that it was almost hard to read and have it put into black and white terms, others were so glaringly cynical and ironic I wanted to scream. I appreciate her being able to authoritatively call out Mac McClelland, a narcissistic writer for Mother Jones, who's highly publicized white girls problems made the rounds on the internet after the Great insight and empathy and from a writer who knows and loves Haiti, not just despite Haiti's issues but because of them.

I appreciate her being able to authoritatively call out Mac McClelland, a narcissistic writer for Mother Jones, who's highly publicized white girls problems made the rounds on the internet after the Haitian earthquake. Mac was said to have gotten PTSD after witnessing a Haitian woman have a traumatic breakdown after seeing one of her attackers from a brutal gang rape in the street. Mac was so traumatized she came home and asked an ex boyfriend to simulate a violent rape during sex. Regardless though, her chapters on the problem with foreign aid and outside intervention in Haiti were powerful and thoughtful.

The chapter on the loup garou was culturally eye opening. There was a history lesson on every page. And there was the great introduction of modern day heros like Dr. Megan Coffee, and the musings on the ambivalence of Sean Penn's presence there. For anyone who loves Haiti, it's a must read. Feb 01, Blue rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is, I presume, is how Captain Philips must be feeling. Feb 14, Melissa rated it really liked it. Amy Wilentz covers a lot of history, astute observations regarding disaster relief and the odd characters drawn to such situations and those specifically drawn to Haiti.

This is the type of reading I recall falling in love with while a student at university. It makes me question everything from my own current government, to historical revolutions, to cultural differences and to my own motivations to travel to such a place as we are soon doing. Haiti's story always seems so complicated, but Wil Amy Wilentz covers a lot of history, astute observations regarding disaster relief and the odd characters drawn to such situations and those specifically drawn to Haiti.

Haiti's story always seems so complicated, but Wilentz presents the story in a way that feels raw, authentic and somehow balanced - reminding the reader ironically that perhaps Haitians should be the ones to tell their stories and tackle their dilemmas. I will carry many stories with me, but a few passages really stuck out: Haiti is like a fifty- first state, a shadow state, one that the United States wants to keep hidden in the attic and bears all the scars of the two countries' painful twinned narrative. Standing there before the alter in the recently built church, he unloosed a blistering cannonade against American mercenaries who were busy fomenting internecine battles in Haiti, and told his receptive audience that the United States had "not yet forgiven Haiti for being black.

Jun 16, Jena rated it liked it. I am always trying to learn more about Haiti and its culture. While I appreciated the author's firsthand perspective, I would have liked to have heard more about the positive spirit of the Haitian people. I imagine it would be frustrating to watch mission group after mission group coming to Haiti trying to help but really exacerbating the problem at times. It would have been nice to have read about some proposed solutions instead of just coming down on those who have good intentions in their hea I am always trying to learn more about Haiti and its culture.

It would have been nice to have read about some proposed solutions instead of just coming down on those who have good intentions in their heart to help a country they love. Jan 06, Erica Meadows rated it really liked it. Feb 10, deconstructed rated it it was amazing Shelves: What could we do for Haiti, if anything, and conversely what did Haiti do for us?

What kept us here? Why did some of us come back again, and again? Wilentz examines these questions throughout th Nearly five years ago, an earthquake devastated Haiti. The lack of in-country investment by the money-making class is one reason Haiti has been so reliant on foreign aid, both before and after the earthquake. But in the world of foreign aid, things do not work the way most people would imagine they do. These foreign aid figures highlight the real purpose of aid to Haiti both before and after the earthquake, which is to funnel money to the guys who, the Americans beleive, can make things work here—which is to say, Americans.

Wilentz makes the case: It often seems as if Haiti is the perfect example of what would happen if Ronald Reagan's dream of a privitized state should become a reality. One day, years ago, when I was walking around downtown Port-au-Prince, I realized that I was living in Reagan's fantasy world. So this is what he wants, I thought. As I walked through the streets of the Belair neighborhood, I saw private schools, private water trucks, stolen and microprivatized electricity, private sanitation the bayakou when there was any.

The private sector, such as it was, had taken its place in the state vacuum long before Aristide, in negotiations to get Clinton's backing for his return from exile in , agreed to further privatization of Haiti's few state-run entities. The following scene is like something right out of a Quentin Terantino film: So here's the situation: The thugs get in a fight and one of them breaks the arm of a guy who tries to convince everyone to calm down—all of this in front of a fresh mission group from the states who have no idea what's going on. They look expectantly at the official over his big desk.

He smiles and says, oh don't worry, it's simple: No one should co-opt someone else's pain. My rule is don't be full of pity and charity. Jan 31, Barbara rated it it was amazing Shelves: Who is Fred Voodoo? It reflects a condescending view of Haitians. But Haitians know that, and they almost always beat foreigners at their own game, which the author Wilentz describes repeatedly in the book. But the author contends that foreigners are equally dependent on Haitians to make th Who is Fred Voodoo?

I am not an expert in international development. More than anything, I have been struck by the huge contradictions at play — the grandness of these international institutions in Washington DC that exist to help the Global South grow their economies. What a contrast between these centers of power and the extreme neediness of the poorest nations on earth, and the most disenfranchised citizens on our planet. Less than a decade before I moved to the Washington DC area, I lived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where there were frequent strikes and riots against the latest imposed price increases ordered by the International Monetary Fund.

I saw it through the eyes of my ex-husband and his extended family and in how these manipulations were making life harder for all of them, working class and poor people. In , I lived in southern Brazil, and although I worked in education, the talk of the impact of neo-liberalism was part of daily discourse.

What could be wrong with that? She describes how much harm is done, and how the condition of Haiti and its people deteriorate while huge amounts of money and profits are involved. One example she gives is the story of an American woman and her Haitian husband who try to build housing in a rural area after the earthquake. They end up buying the land they are building on three or four separate times, due to the lack of clear ownership. After two years, trying to build, they give up. After the earthquake, many worthless parcels of land owned by wealthy Haitians were sold for many times what they were worth.

Amy Wilentz: Farewell Fred Voodoo: A Letter from Haiti

Disaster became a huge economic opportunity for "the haves". The Haitian have-nots already knew how it would all shake out. Wilentz is also critical of herself, questioning her own involvement in Haiti for decades. She is fluent in Kreyol and has a deep affection for the people. She tells an account of a day spent with Haitian friends during her early days in Haiti, when she declared she loved Haiti. One of her friends then said that then she would gladly trade passports with Wilentz and leave Haiti to live in the US, and Wilentz could stay in Haiti. Wilentz does praise some genuinely good efforts — Dr.

Paul Farmer and Partners in Health, and a Massachusetts doctor names Megan Coffee who has spent a couple of years in Haiti caring for TB patients for no pay, depending on the charity of others for food, shelter, wifi and an iPhone. She describes a business, Digitel, a cell phone provider, which has actually managed to change life in Haiti for the better, as Haitians, for the first time, have cheap access to phones and everything that access brings.

She gives Sean Penn mixed reviews but by the end of the book seems to have decided he is genuine, though she is still not quite sure why he is in Haiti. One of the most telling segments in the book was the following: Too proud to work, and not disposed to go into commerce, they make politics a business of their country. Governed neither by love or mercy for their country, they care not into what depths she may be plunged. No president, however virtuous, wise and patriotic, ever suits them …. One hundred and twenty years later, the haves still prevent Haiti from being what she could be, and Haiti remains one of the poorest countries in the world.

Jul 30, Mary rated it it was amazing. How do we view people in conditions of abject poverty and powerlessness? In circumstances of catastrophic loss when the earth erupts beneath their flimsy dwellings, leaving them without a cooking pot, an extra tee shirt, or a blanket for the night? In Farewell, Fred Voodoo , about Haiti undone by the earthquake, Amy Wilentz takes on these and other discomforting questions. Her treatment of Haiti-in-the-world, the real subject of this book, is intellectually rich and politically forthright.

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The overwhelming majority of Haitians, who have been poor for generations, are even poorer now. Even as they have been systematically oppressed, Haitians have their quirky coping mechanisms and mysterious strengths. In fact, death and disaster are good for NGO business: Penn, the biggest private philanthropist and biggest Celebrity on the post earthquake scene, arrived knowing nothing about the country. Yet he managed to get things done: He was effective, Wilentz tells us, because he is Sean Penn.

Everyone wants a piece of his aura — — or at least a photo op. Penn remains something of a puzzle to Wilentz. Why, really why is he doing so much, spending so much money, committing so much of himself to Haiti? There was Duvalier, sure: But we children, me and my brothers, we paid very little attention. My parents tried to keep out of his way, I suppose. My brothers and I, we read poetry, Durand, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Morisseau-Leroy, Roumer, and meanwhile the bougainvillea tumbled over the front wall and there were plants in pots in the gardens and two servants, and one poor distant girl cousin who helped with chores.

She was from the deep country, and did marry, finally. I went to school in a checkered uniform that I loved. I read French literature until I met my husband, who was in the import-export business. I was beautiful, and he loved me until I grew old. We had two children, and a third who died in childbirth. Now one is dead and the other lives in New Jersey. I prefer to be here where I understand things.

It was January 12, , the first anniversary of the earthquake. People were praying under the statue of Jesus that still stands outside the rubble. A man rushed up and exhibited his little daughter to me. She had, to put it nicely, failure to thrive. She must have been five but she looked two, with huge eyes, reddish hair, bone-thin limbs.

A person nearby told me, while the man was standing there in front of me with his silent child balanced in his arms, that that fellow came to the cathedral ruins with the kid every day looking for some visitor to beg from. Did that make his story less true? The crowd pressed on us and the man and his daughter were shoved away.

There was a band playing, and there were priests and nuns seated, waiting for the service to begin. As usual with any big Haitian event, huge numbers of people were all shoved together in a giant bubbling human mass. The white man near me was at least five people away. Although we were outside, there was barely room to inhale where we stood, but uncannily, up in front of my face popped someone I recognized. It was Filibert, wearing some kind of satanic red and silver T-shirt and old dirty jeans.

He was too thin. The white man standing near me was watching. The white man, whose self-assured demeanor I now recognized as that of a lay Christian brother of some kind, was interrogating Filibert. He called him by his full name: The man looked at me and back at Filibert. And the rest of the time, he looked like a smart old market lady sizing up her client. Finally, I asked him if I could help him in any way, and he just looked at me. So I gave him some money.

And then he disappeared into the crowd. I saw a splotch of red fading away down toward Grande Rue. My child, I thought.

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