LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Haitian Art, Haitian Music, Haitian Culture, Haitian Religion, Haitian People

I keep thinking of the artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who was the first Haitian I met, who was my introduction to Haitian culture. It was the first window that opened to me of Afro-Caribbean, or at least African-Caribbean culture in Diaspora. He'd be working so hard right now to help, if he were still alive
Soon after I met LoLo and the members of his Boukman Eksperyans group, then Richard Morse and Ram. Lolo is a houngan. He provided my first introduction and instruction in Vodún
Now there are Michelle and so many others.
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