I’ve ben reading a fascinating book about the Duvaliers of Haiti. The founder “Papa Doc” Duvalier was a real monster-he was probably one of the worst dictators of all time. I found it hard to believe that aman trained as a physician, could become such a monster. Anyway, I want to learn more, but I can’t seem to find any good books about the American occupation. Curiously, although the Haitians regard the occupation as a terrible thing, it seems that the Americans built the only roads, dams and schools on the island. In addition, the US funded the University of Haiti Medical School, from which Duvalier graduated.
Papa Doc practiced voudou-which he used to terrify and control his people. I wonder if the zombie legends dat from this time?
Anyway, I welcome your inputs. This is a period of history in which(it seems) very little was written.
Check out Hans Schmidt’s “The United States’ Occupation of Haiti: 1915-1934” For a cultural look, Mary Renda’s “Taking Haiti: Millitary Occupation and the Culture of US Imperialism, 1915-1940”