Screening | Haiti - Dreams Deferred But Not Forgotten

This program looks at how the historic challenges of Haiti informs their modern economy. But the program also looks at humanity, spirit and activism in Haiti that keeps them fighting towards social justice and economic equity.

Films:
An Excavation of Us (Le Deterrement de Nous) (2017), dir. Shirley Bruno:
The shadows of Napoleon's army fall upon a boat traveling through the mysterious cave named after her legend Marie Jeanne, a female soldier who fought in the Haitian Revolution. It is this battle inside her cave that will become the most successful slave revolution in history.

Agwe, dir. Samuel Suffren:
Francois leaves Haiti by sailboat for the USA, leaving behind Mirlande, his six months pregnant wife. Ten years later, without any news, the woman who still hopes and waits offers a sacrifice to Agwe, the divinity of the oceans.

Elena, dir. Michele Stephenson:
In 2013, the Dominican Republic's government stripped the citizenship of anyone with Haitian parents, rendering more than 200,000 people stateless. Elena and her family stand to lose their legal residency there if they don't get their documents in time. Negotiating a mountain of bureaucracy in a racist, hostile society, Elena becomes the face of the struggle to remain in a country built on the labor of her forefathers.

Exile, dir. Richard Senecal:
While in Paris, Haitian director Richard Senecal speaks with Gessica Geneus, an actress he worked with on many of his films. Gessica shares her testimonial of Haiti's 2010 earthquake and how it is to be away from Haiti.

Panelists:
Dr. Regine O. Jackson - Dean of the Humanities, Social Sciences, Media, and Arts Division and Professor of Sociology at Morehouse College
Dr. Vanessa L. Deane - Assistant Clinical Professor of Urban Planning and Public Service; Director of Urban Planning
Shirley Bruno - Director, An Excavation of Us
Samuel Suffren - Director, Agwe
Michele Stephenson - Director, Elena
Moderated by Sabrina Schmidt Gordon - Producer, Director and Editor