Yes, we’re beginning to (finally!) move into sandals and bare legs weather here, although temperatures are still very moderate, low 20s (perfect for me, although we’ll want a bit more heat before doing any ocean swimming — the quintessential summer activity selon moi).
Ask me if linen’s propensity to wrinkle bothers me — I’d say this photo answers that question. This little skirt from J Crew is five years old, perfect for summer casual. It has pockets, and enough width/ease that I can ride my bike in it. What more could I want? And that new 3/4 sleeve indigo-dyed cotton T that’s been getting lots of play in my OOTD rotations. The Birkenstocks are into their fifth summer now, not nearly as blindingly white as they were when I bought them, in the middle of our big transition. . . .
As I promised here, I’m trying to post regularly in a little series that puts together What I’m Wearing with What I’m Listening to and Learning, as I Walk in My Neighbourhood, as my small (okay, tiny, hummingbird-level) effort toward advancing the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement and its/our drive for systemic societal change.
This way, I hope to offer some room for common and more comfortable ground for community-building, but also offer some ways that we might be able to stretch ourselves to expand individually and perhaps expand our community more generally in ways I can only imagine for now.
So the afternoon I wore my olive skirt, indigo T, and strode in my Birkenstocks past this colourful display of Rudbeckia spilling onto the sidewalk in front of an industrial building, I was listening to that interview with Fania Noël again, the one I told you about in that first post in this series. And because Afrofeminist Noël is Haitian-born, Paris-raised, I was also thinking about the podcast I listened to a few months ago that had introduced me to the egregious history of debt extracted (extorted?!) from Haiti by France.
Increasingly, we’re hearing demands that the social injustices of the past be addressed through some form of Reparation as a way of equalising equity across race (Asheville, North Carolina city council has just approved steps toward such reparations). In Canada, reparations have been made regarding internment of Japanese-Canadians during World War II as well as for the devastating effects of residential schools on First Nations children — not to suggest these are sufficient, nor that there are not further past injustices to be addressed. Just to offer precedent and context.
In fact, a startling precedent has long existed for reparations to be paid by a nation, and somehow, despite my longstanding interest in France and things French, I knew nothing of this until I listened to Hugo Cotton speak of it in his podcast Haïti: Le Prix de l’Indépendence, #78 of his Inner French series which I’ve found very useful in my effort to move from Intermediate to Advance French-language learner. Hugo’s podcasts are always well researched, on a variety of relevant and interesting topics concerning French culture, politics, and history, and he speaks clearly and at a manageable speed. Highly recommended if you’re wanting to improve your French aural comprehension.
In that particular podcast, #78, I learned about the reparations France extracted from Haiti after Haiti defeated the Napoleonic army, declared independence. and abolished slavery — the first country in the Americas to do so, in 1805. Because of the threat this posed to other countries whose economies were dependent on slavery, France was able to bring enough pressure on the tiny Caribbean nation such that Haiti was only able to maintain its independence by committing to compensate France for profit lost. For refusing to continue providing France with free labour! The debt was imposed in 1825 and, with the interest, continued to be paid until 1947!! Calls for France to pay this back have been gathering strength and volume in the last decade or so: read more here and here and here, for example, if you’re interested.
And if you’re willing to take on a Great Big Book, you might read (the English translation of) Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century, which is what inspired Hugo Cotton to put together his Haïti podcast. I haven’t read it yet, but gave a copy to my husband who found it compelling and provocative, paradigm-shifting even.
Or check out this eight-minute video — in English — by American actor Mehcad Brooks — a Parisian friend sent me the link to this, by coincidence, just as I was putting this post together; her email bore the Subject heading: Très Puissant! As do I, Brooks believes knowledge of this shameful debt should place the current call for reparations in a fresh context.
What is instructive about this narrative, increasingly being heard almost 200 years after the debt’s imposition and 17 years after the Haïtian government demanded its repayment, is that we are very susceptible to the mechanisms of memorialization. That large, powerful enterprises (corporations, nations) are heavily invested in having us remember some facts and forget others. If we even hear the others in the first place. I’ve known this, of course, have studied and taught and thought for decades about the ways history, culture, lives get represented and by whom and to whom. And still there’s so much to learn, and I can be shocked to learn something new about a country I love (and another I’m coming to admire). . . .
For now, for me, Listening (witnessing, reading, watching, observing as thoughtfully as possible) is key. That I can do that while walking and looking at flowers, so much the better. And in that spirit, I offer these links in case you’d like to know more as well. I realize these posts are skewing more political than I’ve ever been in this space before. And if you’re uncomfortable with the politics expressed or implied, you’re free to let me know that, but I won’t be debating or defending them. I’m simply offering links and context for you to learn more, if you’re interested. What you do with that knowledge will be up to you. And what that means for the conversations we engage in here, I’ll have to discover and respond to accordingly. I expect that overall, this type of post will constitute only a small and occasional part of the blog, which will continue to feature a potpourri of topics.
And so that you see that it’s scarcely all heavy contemplation ’round here (I suspect the OOTD talk and the flowers might have alleviated that impression, but just in case). . .
My weekend begins this afternoon when a friend will join us for L’heure de l’apéro (apéritifs! Happy Hour!) on our condo terrace where we will be able to maintain the appropriate distance but chat in person. Tomorrow, Pater heads off for a day of kayaking with our son-in-law, and I have a French class (I’ll be honest: getting a bit weary of Zoom, but so glad it’s been available these last months). Then I’m meeting a young friend for dinner at a neighbourhood restaurant — outside table requested, but they’re following Dr. Henry’s Phase 3 recommendation for Fewer Faces, Bigger Spaces, so even if we’re inside, we’ll be well distanced with doors and windows open for ample ventilation.
Your turn, now, should you care to Comment Below: Weekend plans? OOTDs you’ve enjoyed wearing? Black Lives Matter resources you’d like to share? Were you already familiar with the history of this debt? Did you find the information interesting? All thoughtful comments welcome; quick waves as well (either virtually or verbally expressed). . . .
Happy weekend!
No, I have not heard of the debt. My professeur at the Sorbonne, Mildred Camille was from Haiti. The link between France and Haiti goes back a long time. I believe that governments do owe all peoples who have suffered systemic racialization (enslavement, internment or appropriation of traditional lands) reparation. We are going out to a local tapas bar with a friend whose husband is terminally ill this weekend. There is live music and I hope that she will be able to put her sadness aside for a couple of hours.
First, a note of appreciation for your reading blog – this morning I did my first order for a contactless pick up of library books and was at a loss for what to request (my usual library mode is wandering around until things catch my attention) – thought of your reading blog and quickly accumulated a list of books to request. What a wonderful resource.
Second, Haitian debt: back in the '60s I had a course in Caribbean revolutions and did a good bit of research on this topic. Shocking, especially in the context of Haiti as one of the poorest nations in the hemisphere!
Third, linen skirts – what a cool comfortable outfit for a walk. My weekend plans revolve around avoiding the horrible heat we are anticipating; I am so luck to have ample space and air conditioning to make it enjoyable.
ceci
I was surprised to see Hugo's name pop up on your blog. I had online tutoring from him and found him excellent. (I was sorry that he discontinued that part of his business,) Our Quebec weather is wild; when you post the first blossoms of spring we're still having blizzards and now, the RealFeel reading is 40C! So that indigo top, so lovely on you, would have to be sleeveless here.
An enthusiastic vote for your political posts, observations and insights.
I second that vote, Frances. This was a wonderful post. So interesting. Moving my own understanding along has proven to be more difficult than I thought, or maybe I'm just not setting aside the time to dedicate to it. I don't know what I'm doing, but it seems I never have enough time to do everything I want to do. I remember how I used to laugh when Stu would say after retirement that he didn't know how he ever had time to work. Ha.
Hot, hot, hot here. I'm hosting a socially distanced book club on the deck this afternoon and some people aren't joining us due to the heat. I'd love to be able to say, ah, hell let's just all sit in our air conditioned living room, but Stu and I are not comfortable with that. Covid makes one feel like a churlish hostess, that's for sure. xo
As Duchesse said, another vote for your political posts, observations and insights…with a side order of OOTD and landscape vistas. Your intellectual curiosity serves as a boon to us all.
Too unbearably hot and humid to go anywhere. Not that there is anywhere to go–at least, not very safely with the not-so-grand stupidity going on in the US.
I found this post very exciting, Frances! And now I'm about to post a too-long comment…
I wish I understood French so that I could listen to that podcast, but I will take advantage of the other links you provided. I've been hearing about the Piketty book for years; I believe there is a cult following. Now I'm actually going to read it.
I believe that the US also paid reparations the internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2. During our presidential primary debates (I watched every second of every one, I was an avid Sanders supporter), Marianne Williamson, of all people, spoke eloquently about the need for reparations.
I've been interested in Haiti for quite a while. Some years ago I decided to choose a single charity to support, rather than taking a scatter-shot approach, and I decided on Partners in Health, which started in Haiti and has since expanded to a few other countries. One reason I love this organization is that they have always taken an aggressive approach on health care in developing countries; their position is that people in poor countries deserve the same level of care as people in rich countries, and they have not been shy about arguing this point of view to the medical/public health establishment. Another thing I like is that they train doctors and other health-care workers from the local populations. There's a wonderful book about one of the founders, Paul Farmer, called Mountains Beyond Mountains, and there's a film, Bending the Arc, about the founding of PIH. I wanted to see the film but it's very hard to find screenings. I finally managed to get it through my university library system. I recommend it highly, but parts of it are very hard to watch.
All of my charitable donations went to this group (except for occasional donations to charities that friends requested donations to) until the 2016 election. After that I added regular monthly donations to 4 organization, including the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. I learned that I was not the only one with this idea. The ACLU had been receiving $3-5 million/year since the 70's, but in the year after the election they raised $120 million.
Thank you for this post. Going to watch the 8-min (English!) video now.
No,I haven't heard about the debt and/or reparation- this is such an interesting topic ( history learnt in different countries are quite… different). I like posts like this,where I can hear/read about books,series,artists…..
I love,love linen.
Dottoressa
Ciao bella, mi piace molto la gonna di lino!
Mme: So sorry for your friend. I hope she enjoys the outing and finds some respite — live music and tapas sound perfect!
Ceci: I'm tickled that you find my reading blog to be a good resource for finding titles for the TBR list — thanks for letting me know.
And yes, so shocking considering Haïti's desperate poverty. Disgraceful. . . and instructive for me that it took so long for this to gain some broader attention. Given that you were studying it in the 60s . . . (and kudos to you for that)
Duchesse: Oh, lucky you, to have had private tutoring from Hugo. I discovered his podcasts by accident and have no listened to all of them — and am now taking a second online course from him. I've long been at a strong Intermediate level (although I easily read novels in French and used to write essays, long ago, in uni, my Aural comprehension has lagged and thus my Oral has lacked confidence) — what he does is perfect for supporting a move to Advanced Learner from Intermediate. I'm so impressed by his pedagogy, solidly research-based and so well organized.
Sue B: I second that impression of feeling busier now than when working. Well, not quite when I really stop to think, but perhaps trying to do more things at once than I used to. . . Despite the heat, I understand why you wouldn't bring guests inside — tempting to relax, these days, with Phase 3 and all, but we just know this virus could bounce right back with a vengeance.
Mary (and Duchesse, Ceci, Sue B) — thanks for the support re my political-ish post. Not my comfort zone, but seems perhaps time to move out of that, given the circs. . .
Marie: Yes, I know most readers can't access the French, and I'm glad you understand that and find the post useful anyway. It's what I've been listening to (can you believe I scarcely listen to podcasts in English, hadn't much listened to podcasts at all until I realized they were a very good Two Birds One Stone option). . . I'm impressed by your thoughtful giving. We all need to be thinking of ways to move to more equitable distribution of, well, equity. . . Time to rid ourselves of all the lies of bootstrap mythology, say I, as gently as I can. . .
Dottoressa: Linen forever, right?! And yes, such an astute comment: history so different depending where and from whom and when we learn it.
Julia: Piace anche a me! E mi piacciono anche i vestiti di lino
Yes I did know about the debt, as Montreal has a large Haitian community. That even today the Western world does not demand France return the money is incomprehensible to me. But then our own history is not much better, except that we are finally acknowledging some of it. I also know that Haiti is gifted with an incredible number of amazing artists and musicians, despite its incredible poverty. Their resilience is an example to us all.
So wonderfully thoughtful and such a nuanced voice. Thank you.
I did not know about Haiti until recently. Nor did I know that Britain paid back its slaveowners, completing payments only in the 1940s, I believe.
So much of this history has been so untaught in my experience. I feel like coverings are being ripped right off.
belle: I'm learning more about Haiti, about French history, and about the many talented Haitian artists, writers, musicians — took me long enough, but I'm with you in admiring their resilience. And I'm trying to catch up.
Lisa: Thanks! Yep, untaught histories, from institutions in which we invested faith and trust. Good coverings to rip off, but there's going to be pain . . .
Thanks for all the links. I will listen to the French podcast. I don't have much comment, as I'm still very much in learning mode. However I was shocked to discover a slave ownership map at the University College London Centre for the Study of the Legacies of Slave Ownership. On it is the country house that my father's family owned, here in our remote corner of Scotland. Before it came into our family it was owned by a slaver (who applied for compensation for loss of his slaves) – as were several properties in our nearby market town as well as the grand estate houses in the countryside. ucl.ac.uk/lbs/. Apart from history I need to know more about the present and to examine my well-intentioned but unthinking and uninformed behaviour.