chair of howard university and the philadelphia school district's first resident culture and race and culture he led the academic team to design the curriculum for the african-american history course now required for public high-school in philadelphia. he is co-founder of the philadelphia freedoms cool movement and community-based economic initiative and has lectured at universities but republic's schools and community institutions across the united states and the world. our next panelist is dr. joseph baptist. he started early in the medical profession because of his attraction to healing people. in 1991 he established a social policy advocacy organization on haiti in the united states, for

the advancement of haitians and from its inception it played a pivotal role in the social economic needs of the poor in haiti. and the manager of the bureau of the international in haiti from 1996 to 2004. i am still working on my spanish. my french is way behind and worked with the united nations as a human rights officer in 1995 to 1996. he founded the institute for justice and democracy in haiti and has been its director since 2004 and prepared the prosecution of the robert hill massacre trial in 2001, the most significant human rights case in the western hemisphere. they will speak in the order i

have introduced them. [applause] >> thank you. thank you to the congressional black caucus. i was asked to make a few remarks. i will make them brief. you can summarize the history of a country in seven minutes. we were talking about that a moment ago. rather than do that there will be some twice told tales in these notes. at howard university we are trying to do what we can at this moment. we had several learning communities as you will hear later from nicole who joins us. we will have another one tomorrow and we hope to have the ambassador. you are all invited. young people of race in tandem close to $50,000 in support of

the haitian community, we are trying to figure out how to spend their money and we are working to continue to work. i will take just a couple minutes to talk a little bit about the relationship of haiti to the united states. i am never sure what we mean when we say the united states. in some ways it is a road test. when we look at the relationship of these countries to haiti we see the relationship of these countries to each other and ourselves. congresswoman clark couldn't have put it better. we stopped being part of the united states along time ago but it is part of the world. i don't know there's a consensus about what we is. several great themes quickly. 80's role in the rise of the modern world system. haiti as the crown jewel not only of the french colony of possession but western colonial

possession. of course haiti is big on sugar and we talk about cocaine and other things. is really about the sugar. that is why i am speaking english and we are understanding it. tobacco, sugar and that kind of thing. he is the engine of profits for france during this period. we are talking about the 18th-century. expanding markets and between nations states, england and france, spain, great britain coming late to the game but subsuming all others. what we see in the library of congress we see french territories, english territories and the spanish caribbean and spanish north america. florida is reseeding back into another war bit but it wasn't one of the original 13 colonies.

the relationship of haiti speaks a lot to the contest between those states for power. it is the relationship between spain and the united states that causes the united states to back haiti under the thomas jefferson administration to obtain some nominal enforcement to concede part of their territory that would eventually be acquired by the united states and the louisiana purchase to france including giving access to the mississippi valley and the port of new orleans. we will come to that briefly. the question of expanding market is important. haiti is a source of raw materials and cheap labor. how does that relate to the labor in haiti?

that is no surprise. the expectation of labour has gone on since the island was depopulated by christopher columbus and his family. katie is often focused but ultimately we are talking about the human condition. in real time contemporary perspective as well. 1701-1804, leading that insurrection. and falling in to these various

cultures. they blended together in to raise. haiti is symbolic of everything else going on, the so-called diaspora. one of the stories i love telling is after in france, riding out the middle of haitian flames. a projection of humanity, and rejection of whiteness which we must do. 15 years ago it was race traitor.

it feels our society. they practice what some call the politics of the belly. estate never existed. and that hasn't changed. someone is alleged to have participated in the 1779 battle against savannah that was mentioned when she talked about the support and jesse jackson mentioned it. they helped us get our independence. that didn't include us because of the american revolution. most were trying to get away. some of the haitians did come

here under theçç auspices of french. as the consequence, you have a relationship that stretched from that period to now with a group of leaders who have been supported or undermined with america based on its political interests. very quickly, let's talk about the relationship of africans in the united states whether it is denmark or procter for ned turner who were often linked to the rebellion. trial records show some africans said if we get to the port in childhood a boat was coming and we would be free. this country would not support the united states if the 1890's pre-columbian expedition, the haitians provided frederick douglass how to be well and

others in chicago with a tent and that is how he gave his speech on haiti for which randall robinson connected the congressional black caucus, a book we read in philadelphia freedom school in broken agony with students in philadelphia, talked about how the congressional black caucus takes a leading role with the final thing i mentioned which is an african. he is not the spanish caribbean or the english caribbean. it is the french caribbean. the response to katrina rivals haiti. it is a racial difference. we can't make light of that. what must we do to help? erase the debt and get the bill

passed. contract and unfair price. the restore haiti to united states memory in school books and curriculum and do not enable pressures. the folks who have planned on what to do. it is time to stand open defiance to those to figure out what next to do because they practice this over and over again. >> thank you very much. >> let me thank the cdc for -- the discussion focusing on haiti. i would like to say good afternoon and also as well as

ambassador joseph. and ian haiti in seven minutes, i don't know if i should go ahead and give you major events in haitian history, the stock about relations between the u.s. and haiti during that time and how we can implement some change to make sure policies on haiti work better than it is now. let me give you a major event in history in haiti. 1492, haiti was discovered by christopher columbus and in 1697, the spanish took over

control and actually divided the island in 2 two, between the french and what we know about haiti. and in 1803 we have -- between 1791 and 1803, we have slavery and in that time, we have a jamaican born bookman leading protracted 13 years in slavery and haiti. the slave army worked on someone who eventually was betrayed by

his officer. and christopher, and continuation with the france. and the exact of france way back. in 1803, the blue and red flag. ultimately we won our independence in 1804. i was led by the shock still lay. 1807, we had a civil war. until 1821. and invaded santo domingo where

the entire island was controlled under haiti. 1838, the french never recognized the haitian independence but also a change for 1 fifteen million francs. most nations including the united states didn't recognize haiti until 20 years later. fearful of the slavery in happening in haiti would spread around. so therefore over the next few decades haiti was forced to take out $70 million to pay for independence. 1862 the united states granted

recognition in sending frederick douglass to haiti. in 1916, u.s. marines by 80 to establish control of a custom house and authorities. national guard was created in the marines into livers and building roads and also people under leadership. and assassinated by the marines. 1934, by haiti. 1937, a lot of them massacred by

dominican soldiers. in 1957 after it was time to move forward democratically, unfortunately you have got friends what -- the president of haiti. 1964, he declared himself president for life and formed a military group for terror's all over haiti and everything on the government. he died in office when they named his son a baby doc, his successor. his successor for another 15

years. nineteen 72, freeing out but country for florida. 77, the first protest in haiti. let me highlight -- i have one minute left. 1987, actually they have a new constitution made in haiti. the military control, in 1986, elected into presidency.

and also putting that out. in 1990, in 1991, the president of haiti with 85% -- 60% of the vote. in 1992 in washington d.c. returned in 1994, one more year in 1995. in 1996, you was inaugurated in february. five years, the first president in the history of haiti for a full term and in 2004, we have

another presidential election where he came back into power and also resigned in 2000--february 2004. this was exiled to south africa. the last thing i have to say -- you all know haiti had a disaster that is a daunting task to rebuild. in conclusion i believe for haiti to go back to its streets we have to have a good partnership between the u.s. -- impairment. within this framework, with asian-americans, we have recommendations that will

address many of the constraints that haiti must face for what we have for the future of haiti. we recognize that haiti answered the call for a new partnership taking the next step to better manage its affairs. and delivering services i expected. neither haiti nor the united states would be locked forever in the benefits and relations between the two countries over the last 50 years. we should set our sights on the day when haiti is free. thank you. >> thank you. we are going to take a break here because the majority leader, still need a lawyer, is

with us. he will be one of our leadership team leading the way in the new relationship for the new haiti. [applause] >> i apologize for interrupting this distinguished panel. i was delighted to hear -- i was listening to you. i want to thank all of you for being here and congratulate dr. christensen for her leadership. she is a good friend and neighbor of haiti and i want to thank barbara ley as well, one of my close friends and extraordinary leader at the congressional black caucus. we have traveled a lot together. the first trip i took as majority leader we went to darfur and some other places. we went to egypt. she is doing an extraordinary job leading our caucus.

you know that the administration of you hours ago sent down its $2.8 billion supplemental for haiti. we will be addressing that as soon as we get back so that we can play our part as we have been in responding. if you days after the earthquake is all of you know an article appeared in the los angeles daily news telling the story of a california firefighters who traveled to port-au-prince to save lives. they were bone weary from digging through the rubble for five hours losing faith fast when the cheering began. it was like a shot of adrenaline. usa. usa. large haitian crowd standing in the street as fire captain bill monaghan and is surge dog rescue team freed a young woman trapped

under collapsed building where she had been for five days. bills and he brought his team to tears. the first reaction to the ear earthquake that all disasters, the shattered lives of so many particularly a country that has seen so much pain and suffering throughout its life time. beneath those reactions there's also gratitude to the men and women of so many nations who have helped haiti to rebuild and there is pride in the great role america has played and will continue to play. i will tell you as you well know, former president bill clinton and mrs. clinton, our secretary of state, have a very special relationship with haiti and president clinton came and spoke to the caucus. i am sure you know that.

very movingly, about the greatness of haiti which for the most part is not seen by most americans. they simplify the problems as being haiti as opposed to the extraordinary quality of that so many haitians have contributed in this country to the welfare of our country. our military medical personnel have treated 88,000 patients. army and navy engineers are working to shore up buildings and u.s. engineers to do the same. underwater construction teams are working to rebuild haiti's ports and restore aid to navigation at sea. state department and u.s.aid, dr. shaw was here earlier and spoke. he was doing a very excellent job and i see heads agreeing with that proposition. these words cannot rebuild a collapsed home or he'll be

living or bury the dead, we have our share of work to do. earlier this month the house passed and congressman waters's legislation calling and financial institutions to cancel haiti's $800 million debt. $219 million is included in the supplemental request for debt forgiveness. i am pleased the american development bank answered the call yesterday and announced it would forgive $479 million in haiti's debt. to day the house just received the administration's disaster supplemental requests. substance of the house passed that legislation but also powerful, the thought of congress urgently responding. simply because it was gathering

by former slaves who dared to win their freedom. it can have a new beginning. it was not analogous at all. a town that had a tornado go through it. half an hour south of where we speak. that tornado took down an entire school, churches, and went straight through the town. three four lost their lives. the point of my story is it was devastation. it was a shock to the population. that strip is rebuilt, reborn and reinvigorated. it will happen in haiti if we remain focused as the

congressional black caucus is focused as we remain in leadership not only in our own country but the international community in not forgetting the devastation that has occurred and keeping with it until the opportunity it ought to have for a full successful partner in the americas. thank you for your leadership and by will announce that we have a vote. i had better get out of here. thank you very much. >> our chairwoman allowed the panel going forward. >> let me thank congresswoman christiansen for her leadership. each and every issue we address here in congress she makes sure

the caribbean is included and dollar value s the but aid and policy efforts and i want to recognize her work on our health care bill. and make sure provisions that wouldn't have been included have been included. let's give a round of applause. i will be very brief. thank you for being here today. and u.s. relations and foreign policy, i want to thank you for your leadership and for staying the course. as we expressed to you on numerous occasions the congressional black caucus and our government's stand with you and the haitian people as you move to rebuild your country. thank you for being here today. to all of our panelists i want