Photos & Videos
‘A Year and A Day. Leonore Mau and Haiti’: Book Launch & Conversation (Sept. 24, 2026)
A Year and A Day. Leonore Mau and Haiti is a poly-phonic inquiry into the photographs that Leonore Mau (1916-2013) took in Haiti during the 1970s. Essays and interventions by artists and authors from diverse fields illuminate, contextualize, analyze, and challenge the German photographer’s work, revealing its many layers. Leonore Mau’s oeuvre opens a space for decolonial and critical reflection on political, economic, cultural, and personal entanglements, on aesthetics, as well as on the ethics of taking, viewing, and using photographs today.
Update on Haitian Immigration in the United States (June 18, 2026)
The event brings together immigrant rights advocates, lawyers, and scholars to provide an update on Haitian immigration in the United States. Panelists address the volatile and shifting immigration landscape for Haitians, the SCOTUS TPS case, and Congressional TPS advocacy. This timely conversation is for the public and will help clarify misconceptions about current immigration policy and procedures.
Reading Frederick Douglass through a Haitian Lens (July 1, 2026)
The Haitian Studies Association (HSA) honors the work of Frederick Douglass by reading and reflecting on the Haitian Kreyòl translation of “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July”/”Kisa jou kat jiyé vle di pou nèg nwa” in the context of Haitian studies and the Haitian diaspora in the US. Frederick Douglass engaged directly with Haiti as U.S. ambassador from 1889-91 and his “Lecture on Haiti” at the Chicago World’s Fair (1893). The reading will be followed by a panel to discuss the translation and consider Douglass’ legacy and relationship with Haiti.
Film Konbit Kolektif – Spring 2026 Series
The Film Konbit Kolektif, a collaborative effort of the Haitian Studies Association (HSA) with CUNY Haitian Studies Institute (HSI) at Brooklyn College, presents the Spring 2026 Film Series which features short and feature films on Women and Women’s Health.
37th Annual Conference – Photos
Collection of photos from HSA’s 37th Annual Conference in Pittsburgh.
Film Screening: The Heroes of the Massacre River (Oct. 10, 2025)
The Heroes of the Massacre River by Samuel Dameus takes viewers on a powerful journey that recounts the stories of the courageous women and men who built the historical Canal of Ouanaminthe. The film demonstrates how Haitians around Haiti and the diaspora exemplify the adage of Anpil men chay pa lou. [With many hands the load is lighter]. The film centers the work of some key people including architect Wideline Pierre, Milourie Sylfrard, Dr. Naismy Mary Fleurant, Theodore Johnson, Joseph Pressoir, Etzer Emile,Dr. Berthude Albert and Max Angie Clervil. The film is also a commentary about the complexity of colonialism and borders as well as the role that the Massacre River continues to play in Haiti’s history.
Film Screening: Haiti, La rançon de l’indépendance (Oct. 3, 2025)
Haiti proclaimed its independence on January 1, 1804, becoming the first Black nation to liberate itself from the colonial yoke. But France only recognized Haiti in exchange for a heavy ransom of 150 million francs – a crushing debt which took Haiti more than 100 years to repay and which helped keep the country in poverty. Join HSA for a screening of a new film on this debt, made by filmmaker Wandrille Lanos and with the participation of the Fondation pour la Mémóire de l’Esclavage in France. The film draws on archives and features numerous scholars in Haitian Studies, from Haiti, France and North America. Join the HSA Film Committee for a virtual screening on Friday, October 3, 2025, at 10 am Pacific/1 pm Eastern/7 pm European time. The screening will be moderated by Dr. Alyssa Sepinwall and feature a Q&A following the film with the director. French with English subtitles.
Healing in the Lakou / Gerizon nan Lakou a (Sept. 30, 2025)
This virtual conversation bridges KOSANBA’s recent conference theme on “Africana Religious Activism, Resistance and Rejuvenation” and HSA’s forthcoming conference theme on “Reparasyon ak Restitisyon.” Together, we center the lakou as a seedbed and garden for Haitian epistemologies of collectivity, liberation, healing, and repair.
Emerging Scholars Café (Sept. 26, 2025)
Emerging Scholars invites you to the relaunch of its Emerging Scholar’s Cafes on September 26, 2025 at 8pm CET/ 2pm EST/11am PST. This cafe brings Andry-Frestner Joseph of the Babes Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca of România into conversation with Mamyrah A. Douge-Prosper Assistant Professor in the Department of Global Studies and International Relations at UC Irvine. Joseph will present parts of his Master’s thesis research which critically examines how foreign interventions and the dominance of NGOs have weakened the Haitian government’s ability to implement effective public policies in rural areas, advocating for more inclusive and locally driven development approaches that empower rural families and align with sustainable development goals. His presentation will be followed by Douge-Prosper’s comments on his work.
The Rights to Live Creatively JOHS Special Issue Publication Launch (May 19, 2025)
We gather to celebrate Haitian Flag Day and the recent publication of “The Rights to Live Creatively,” a special double issue of the Journal of Haitian Studies. With 30 contributors who are academics, artists, and activists, and coming in at over 400 pages, “The Rights to Live Creatively” is the first time JOHS is centering the topics of gender and sexuality in Haiti and its diasporas – a major opening in intersectional and engaged scholarship.
Revisiting the Indemnity (May 16, 2025)
Please join the Haitian Studies Association as it presents a discussion about the 1825 Indemenity France demanded from Haiti as reparation for losses during the revolution. The Bicentennial of the indemnity give us cause to revisit the moment to capture different perspectives on what Haitians and the French were thinking at the time and to reflect on the afterlives of the imposition. Please join us for a panel of academics and activists to listen to what promises to be a robust discussion about a pivotal moment in the history of Haiti.
Restitution & Reparation: An Invitation to Respond to HSA’s Call (Apr. 1, 2025)
In this webinar, HSA Program and Conference Planning committee members will discuss the many possible responses to the 37th annual conference call for papers. Panelists will discuss the theme of restitution and reparation from multiple perspectives, demystify the submission process for emerging scholars and clarify guidelines for volunteer reviewers. Please join us for the first of many conversations to mark the bicentennial of the 1825 indemnity.
Town Hall: Organizing Against Anti-Haitianism After the US Election (Nov. 12, 2024)
The U.S. presidential election has revived and deployed the most vitriolic anti-Haitian rhetoric and even violence as a turnout strategy. What can Haitian people and their allies/accomplices do to stem the anti-Haitian rhetoric, policy, and violence? It is possible–even likely–that the U.S. presidential election results will not be known for a while. Whatever the outcome, the Haitian community must remain vigilant and prepared. This Town Hall will allow us to unite our strengths and plan future actions and organizing efforts. After the panelists deliver brief presentations, each will facilitate small group discussions to generate solutions and identify resources and strategies. Participants will populate and edit Google Docs, which all registrants will receive. This Town Hall hopes to encourage ongoing activism and engagement for the long haul.