Haiti’s Linguistic Identity and History Overlooked by President Martelly and French Presidents
by Jacques Pierre

Today marks the 211^th anniversary of Haiti’s independence. In other words, 211 years since a bunch of slaves under Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ leadership fiercely defeated the French army whose core mission was to keep the masses in shackles forever. In recent years the last three French presidents, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the current president François Hollande have in one way or another shown amnesia or misunderstanding of the Haitian linguistic reality and of facts regarding the history between Haiti and France.

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Language Barrier in Haiti
By Michel Degraff
Published: June 16, 2010

Creole is the language of the Haitian people. Yet, school is taught in French, a foreign language to the children. In order to promote adequate learning, Degraff argues that the Haitian schools must be taught in Creole, coming from a linguistics standpoint. A Haitian born and a linguist, Degraff provide reasoning and a strong argument in this op-ed, Language Barrier in Haiti

The Power of Creole
By Leon Neyfakh
Published: July 24, 2011

Imagine trying to learn in a language that is unfamiliar to you – this happens all across Haiti, where students are taught in French even though they have never spoken the language before. Michel Degraff, Professor of Linguistics at MIT, opposes this manner of learning through campaigns in Haiti as well as in the United States. He understand that a complete cultural view towards Creole needs to happen. “The Power of Creole” explains Degraff’s work and what he hopes to accomplish with it.

Haiti’s French/Creole Divide
By Jacques Pierre
Published: January 12, 2014

Haitian Creole is the “cement that binds all Haitians;” however, there is a division between French and Haitian Creole, where the people see that french is the way for good social and economic standing. “Haiti’s French/Creole Divide discusses the economic division as well as the language division between those who do and do not speak French. Pierre discusses how this division is able to keep the large masses in poverty and that the only way to rebuilding the country is to completely incorporate Haitian Creole.

Creole a Key to Haitian Literacy
by Jacques Pierre
Published: September 4, 2014

A country of two languages that ignores the language of the mass population – what does this lead to? According to Jacques Pierre, this is the reason for the low literacy rates in Haiti. In “Creole a Key to Haitian Literacy,” Pierre argues that “Haiti won’t make true literacy progress until it fosters a society where Creole speakers are viewed as equals.” This op-ed looks at the failure for making progress in literacy due to excluding Creole in official documents and the education system, which leads the reader to think: when will the change come?

Help for Haiti Must Include Embracing Creole
by Jacques Pierre
Published: February 20, 2014

Haitian Creole, one of the national languages in Haiti, is widely underused in official documentation.  In “Help for Haiti Must Include Embracing Creole,” Jacques Pierre examines the problem of the lack of use of Haitian Creole in the Haitian Government and the education system in Haiti. French, one of Haiti’s national languages, is more often used in these places and is often thought the “better route.” Yet it creates a barrier between those who do not speak french and those in the government. It separates the two. Pierre talks more about this and the necessity for the incorporation of Haitian Creole.