Today in Haitian History - August 18, 1944 – Death of Haitian political activist and novelist Jacques Roumain
Born into wealthy “mulatto” family in Port-au-Prince in June 1907, Jacques Roumain rose to become one of the most celebrated figures of his time. While outside of Haiti, he is often remembered for his posthumous magnum opus, Gouverneurs de la Rosée, published shortly after his death, Roumain’s importance extends beyond literature and carries into politics. His political engagement notably as the co-founder of the Parti communiste haïtien or PCH (the Haitian Communist Party) led to his imprisonment (on repeated occasions). Analyse schématique 32-34, the political text released shortly after the creation of the PCH, remained for a long time an inspiration for generations of Haitian Marxists and Communists and guaranteed Roumain a central place as one of the most influential individuals the Haitian Left. While his death in 1944, that of his close collaborator Christian Beaulieu the previous year coupled with the increased intolerance of the Lescot government (1941-1946) for any political opposition, did provide for a momentary blow to the Left, a new movement emerged during the “Revolution of 1946.″ Many of the central agitators of the other Haitian Revolution cited Roumain and his life as inspiration for their political awakening.
Images Courtesy: Île en Île and World Literature.
