Top 5 Documentaries about Haiti

Intro: Documentaries about Haiti

Haiti is not some distant place cut off from the rest of the world. Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's first Black Republic and the second sovereign country. In reality, the two countries' links date back to when the United States was battling for its freedom. Les Chasseurs Volontaires de Savannah, a force of about 500 Haitians, participated in the 1779 Battle of Savannah. In October 2009, a memorial was constructed in downtown Savannah's Franklin Square to honor soldiers who participated in the conflict.

1. The Haitian Revolution - Haiti Documentaries

The Haitian Revolution is sometimes referred to as the greatest and most successful slave insurrection in the Western Hemisphere. Slaves started the insurrection in 1791, and by 1803 they had ended not only slavery but also French sovereignty over the colony. The Haitian Revolution, on the other hand, was far more complicated, consisting of numerous revolutions occurring at the same time. The French Revolution of 1789, which came to embody a new vision of human rights, universal citizenship, and involvement in governance, impacted these revolutions.

2. Haiti Earthquake - Documentaries about Haiti

The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a large-scale earthquake that struck the West Indian island of Hispaniola on January 12, 2010, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Haiti, which occupies the western part of the island, was the most badly hit. In the subsequent turmoil, an accurate death toll became elusive. The official figure in Haiti was moreover 300,000 people, while some estimates were far lower. Hundreds of thousands of survivors were forced to flee their homes.

The earthquake struck at 4:53 p.m., some 15 miles (25 kilometers) southwest of Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince. The first shock had a magnitude of 7.0, and it was quickly followed by two aftershocks with magnitudes of 5.9 and 5.5. More aftershocks followed in the days, including another magnitude 5.9 on January 20 in Petit Goâve, a village 35 miles (55 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince. Haiti has not been hit by an earthquake of this size since the 18th century, with the closest in magnitude being a 6.9 earthquake in 1984. In 1946, a magnitude-8.0 earthquake shook the Dominican Republic.

3. Voodoo Spirits of Haiti - Haiti Documentary

Vodou is a traditional Afro-Haitian religion that is variously written Voodoo, Voudou, Vodun, or French Vaudou. Vodou is a synthesis of the West African Vodun religion, and Roman Catholicism practiced by descendants of Dahomean, Kongo, Yoruba, and other ethnic groups enslaved and transported to colonial Saint-Domingue (as Haiti was known at the time) and partly Christianized by Roman Catholic missionaries in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the Fon language of the African country of Dahomey, the word Vodou signifies "spirit" or "deity" (now Benin).

4. Haiti Today - History & Culture - Documentaries about Haiti

Haiti's documented history started on December 5, 1492, when the European sailor Christopher Columbus landed on a vast island in the western Atlantic Ocean region that subsequently became known as the Caribbean. It was inhabited by the Tano and Arawakan people, who called their island Ayiti, Bohio, and Kiskeya, respectively (Quisqueya). Columbus claimed the island for the Spanish Crown immediately, christening it La Isla Espaola ("the Spanish Island"), which was eventually Latinized to Hispaniola.

In this documentary, Dennis embarks on a journey to explore Haiti's captivating culture. He discovers the ever-growing art scene and how important Voodoo is in Haitian tradition. From there, he travels north where its beauty abounds—from grand tourist attractions like the Sans Souci Palace and majestic Citadelle Laferrière that illustrate astounding tales of independence, resilience, and triumph over adversity; These monuments paint an incredible portrait of this country beyond what news reports often depict – showing it for the vibrant nation full of life it truly is!

5. Reporting on the Assassination of Haiti’s President - Haiti Documentary

The president of Haiti, Jovenel Mose, was killed in his apartment on July 7, 2021, at 1 a.m. EDT (UTC04:00). The killing is being blamed on a squad of 28 foreign mercenaries. First Lady Martine Mose was also wounded numerous times and was transported to the US for medical care. Later that day, three of the alleged assassins were slain, and 20 others were detained. A search is underway for five other shooters and the masterminds of the attack, one of whom was apprehended on July 11. The main prosecutor of Haiti, Bedford Claude, announced preparations to interrogate Mose's top bodyguards; none of the president's security men was killed or injured in the incident.