Africa, Caribbean: Reshipment

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Gloria Rolando, Director 58 min

The voices of prominent historians join the memories of Haitians and their descendants in Cuba to understand a chapter of the complex economic and social history of the Caribbean : the presence in the Island of Cuba of thousands of West Indian laborers, especially from Haiti. That army of black workers who fertilized with their sweat the fields of Cuba from the beginning of the twentieth century. For many, it was a great bargain of cheap labor. For others, the realization of the dream of every immigrant: make money and return home.

Since then, despite the discrimination suffered by the Haitians, the Creole language, voodoo and other musical and dance traditions remain in the cultural landscape of Cuba. Still , remember that older family members with years of stay in Cuba were victims of a reshipment as if they were damaged goods, a forced repatriation to Haiti when they were no longer needed in the sugar cane fields or coffee plantations.

Therefore it is said that life of Haitians in Cuba has moved between dreams and setbacks. So, we have this fitting reminder of a virtually forgotten chapter in our history. It is a tribute to the protagonists, the unsung anonymous heroes who wove an important passage between two people in the Caribbean: Cuba and Haiti. Length: 58 min.

The film is copyrighted and any unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. For more information on the film, see http://www.afrocubaweb.com/gloriarolando/reembarque.html