Celebrating Haitian Independence Day

Haiti’s history is a testament to the unyielding spirit of its people. At SOIL, we take great pride in being an organization operated and managed primarily by Haitians, and we are incredibly fortunate to witness the strength of the Haitian spirit every day. This Haitian Independence Day, we dedicate a moment to honor the path Haiti has walked—one defined by courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable will to live in freedom.

Despite the constant narrative pushed by headlines and news anchors labeling Haiti as "the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere," Haiti was not always poor. In fact, in 1789, Haiti was France’s most prosperous colony, accounting for one-third of France's total commerce. Haiti produced 60% of the world's coffee, and its ports in Cap-Haitien and Port-au-Prince were busier than the great trading hub of Marseilles. That same year, Haiti’s wealth exceeded that of all thirteen North American colonies combined.

Then, in 1791, the very people who fueled this immense wealth ignited a revolution. They rose up against the French crown, one of the most powerful empires of the time. In response, the French waged a brutal and destructive war that lasted thirteen years, decimating Haiti's infrastructure, agriculture, and costing hundreds of thousands of Haitian lives. This uprising became the world’s only successful slave revolt, forever altering the course of history.

An agreement to end the war with France was brokered in 1823, but freedom came at the cost of mortgaging Haiti’s future. With French warships stationed off the shores of Port-au-Prince, Haiti agreed to pay 150 million francs as “compensation” for the damage done to France’s economy. The victorious Haitian people were made to pay reparations to the very country that had enslaved them.

To pay the first 30 million francs, President Boyer, Haiti’s first leader, was forced to shut down schools across the nation—one of many painful sacrifices demanded by Haiti’s debt to France. Beyond sacrificing its education system, Haiti’s resources were extracted—old-growth rainforests were logged and sent to Paris to build city centers and factories. The fertile hillsides were stripped bare, leaving the once-rich topsoil vulnerable to tropical rains that washed away life-giving nutrients, devastating the country’s agricultural potential.

Imagine, for a moment, what might have happened if Haiti had not been burdened by a “freedom debt” to France. What if, instead, Haiti had been allowed to use its resources to build a strong, independent Caribbean republic—one that refused to engage with nations still upholding slavery?

The revolution is still in motion. Haiti has not given up. In fact, daily life in the country is a practice in the art of resistance and creativity. Having less than enough to provide for your family and still ensuring that your children go to school and are fed is bravery. Finding a third way, an alternative path to live, even when the world tells you it cannot be done, is resistance.

This is the Haiti that we know and love: a nation forged in the fire of struggle, a place filled with untold spirit, determination, and community strength. Despite the scars of history, the violence we see today in the streets of Port-au-Prince, and the overwhelming political challenges, Haiti stands unbowed. The world has underestimated Haiti before, but we believe that Haiti has the power to surprise the world once again.

Haiti’s leaders and brilliant young minds hold the key to a brighter future—where every child receives an education, every family has the basic necessities of life, and meaningful, dignified work is as plentiful as the fertile soil once was.

In Haiti, resilience is not just a value, but a living, breathing anthem. SOIL has seen, from almost 20 years of working alongside Haitian communities, that through it all, the human spirit continues to shine bright.

Viv Ayiti!