5 Documentaries to Understand Haiti's Story

Watching these documentaries really shows the difficulties of trying to create change in Haiti, whether you're from the Haitian diaspora or a foreigner coming in with good intentions. It shouldn't be this hard, but there is a strong chokehold of capitalism and extreme poverty operating at a level that mirrors what we see in the United States and the rest of the world. The difference is that Haiti is a smaller country stuck at a Level 4 stage, while the U.S., as large as it is, sits at a Level 3. The wealthy in Haiti and outside of Haiti are thriving, while the poor are just surviving, not living.

That level of poverty does something to the psyche, and it goes a long way in explaining why native Haitians inside Haiti are the way they are. I think we can learn from these documentaries to understand where the mistakes were made by those before us who tried to create change, and what we can do differently going forward, inch by inch, then step by step.

A country that fought for its independence must win back its country independently, with the help of its descendants.

All documentaries listed below are available to watch for free on Tubi.

Gade dokimantè sa yo vrèman montre difikilte pou eseye kreye chanjman ann Ayiti, kit ou soti nan dyaspora Ayisyèn nan oswa yon etranje k ap vini ak bon entansyon. Li pa ta dwe difisil konsa, men gen yon gwo presyon kapitalis ak povrete ekstrèm k ap opere nan yon nivo ki reflete sa nou wè Ozetazini ak nan rès mond lan. Diferans lan se ke Ayiti se yon peyi ki pi piti ki bloke nan yon etap Nivo 4, alòske Etazini, menm jan li gwo, chita nan yon Nivo 3. Moun rich ann Ayiti ak deyò Ayiti yo ap pwospere, alòske pòv yo jis ap siviv, yo pa ap viv.

Nivo povrete sa a gen yon enpak sou lespri a, epi li eksplike anpil poukisa Ayisyen natif natal ann Ayiti yo jan yo ye a. Mwen panse nou ka aprann nan dokimantè sa yo pou nou konprann ki kote erè moun ki te eseye kreye chanjman anvan nou yo te fè, ak sa nou ka fè yon lòt jan pou nou avanse, ti pa ti pa, epi etap pa etap.

Yon peyi ki te goumen pou endepandans li dwe reprann peyi li poukont li, avèk èd desandan li yo.

Tout dokimantè ki nan lis anba a disponib pou gade gratis sou Tubi.

The Agronomist. 2003

Haiti's first independent radio station, Radio Haiti-Inter, represented the thoughts of the common people, and Jean Dominique was the human rights activist and radio host whose voice inspired the spirit of revolution against Haiti's dictatorial regime.

Agwonòm nan. 2003

Premye estasyon radyo endepandan Ayiti a, Radyo Ayiti-Entè, te reprezante panse pèp la, epi Jean Dominique te aktivis dwa moun ak animatè radyo ki te gen vwa ki te enspire lespri revolisyon kont rejim diktatoryal Ayiti a.

How (Not) to Build a School in Haiti. 2016

An American volunteer flies to Haiti to construct a new building for a rural school but contemplates giving up after circumstances start becoming unfavourable.

Kijan (Pa) Pou Konstwi yon Lekòl an Ayiti. 2016

Yon volontè ameriken vole an Ayiti pou konstwi yon nouvo bilding pou yon lekòl nan zòn riral yo, men li panse abandone apre sikonstans yo kòmanse vin defavorab.

Kenbe La: Until We Win. 2019

Haitian artist and activist Alain Philoctète returns to his birth country to develop a permaculture project with local farmers even as he battles cancer.

Kenbe La: Jiskaske Nou Genyen. 2019

Atis ak aktivis Ayisyen Alain Philoctète retounen nan peyi kote l fèt pou devlope yon pwojè pèmakilti avèk kiltivatè lokal yo menm pandan l ap lite kont kansè

Haiti Speaks.2020

Following volunteers from the Gift of Sight, an American non-profit that makes an annual medical mission to Haiti. Their latest trip comes just 100 days after the 2010 earthquake.

Ayiti Pale.2020

Ap swiv volontè ki soti nan Gift of Sight, yon òganizasyon san bi likratif ameriken ki fè yon misyon medikal chak ane an Ayiti. Dènye vwayaj yo a rive sèlman 100 jou apre tranblemanntè 2010 an.

The Forgotton Occupation. 2023

100 years after the Haitian Revolution, the people of Haiti find themselves once again having to defend their liberty, this time against a powerful neighbour, the United States.

Okipasyon Bliye a. 2023

100 ane apre Revolisyon Ayisyen an, pèp Ayiti a twouve l ankò nan bezwen defann libète li, fwa sa a kont yon vwazen pwisan, Etazini.

Top Image Credit: Mikki van der Lingen