marshall clarke

PORTFOLIO: HAITI

Meaning "mountainous land, " Haiti is a country of stark contrasts and rich history. The world's first independent black republic, Haiti has struggled with two hundred years of despotic leaders, coups, civil unrest, and in the twentieth century varying degrees of American interest and occupation. Most recently in 2004, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was forced from power and fled the country as armed rebels from the north took over cities including Port-au-Prince.  

Despite its turbulent past and present, consistenly bad press, and intense poverty, Haitians still exhibit a strong pride in their country and a strong work ethic. The backbone of the country, ordinary Haitians are a deeply spiritual people and it is they who endure with spirit and humor.  

  • A woman walks in front of graffiti reading: {quote}Long live a free Haiti{quote}. The world's first independent black republic, Haiti broke the yoke of French rule in 1803. Cap-Haitien, 2004
  • Portrait of a woman in Cap-Haitien, Haiti 2004
  • Boys play football on a side street in Cap-Haitien. Haiti 2004
  • Many families in rural Haiti burn trees and branches in order to make charcoal to sell for cooking fuel. Here a man tends burning logs. Near Milot, Haiti 2004
  • While Vodou is practiced by many in Haiti, most Haitians identify as Christian. Here a spiritually powered taxi attests to a vibrant Christian community in Cap-Haitien. Haiti 2004
  • A man carries a bag of roots and plants that he has gathered on a nearby mountain. Milot, Haiti, 2004
  • A boy walks along the ruins of San Souci, a palace built by Henri Christophe n 1810 to be the rival of the French Versailles. Milot, Haiti, 2004
  • Children play on a fishing boat after it arrives back from a day at sea. Cap-Haitien, Haiti 2004
  • While the main mode of transportation in Haiti are cars, taptaps (taxis), or buses, many people still transport goods and material on the backs of donkeys.
  • A young boy walks along side a taptap (or taxi) as it travels the main road in the north from the Dominican Republic. Many roads in Haiti are unpaved and peppered with huge pot holes making travel slow and dusty. Ouanaminthe, Haiti 2004
  • Portrait of a boy. Cap-Haitien, Haiti 2004
  • Young Haitian and Dominican boys relax on a bridge just over the Haiti-Dominican Republic border. Many Haitians cross the border into the DR to find better paying manual labot jobs. Once there, however, they often endure police harassment and discrimination. 2004
  • PORTFOLIO
    • INDIA SERIES
    • HAITI
    • INTO SILENCE
    • A POETICS OF PLACE
    • PORTRAITS
    • IN PRINT
  • BIO
  • CLIENTS
  • AWARDS
  • CONTACT

All Images Copyright Marshall Clarke. Site design © 2010-2023 Neon Sky Creative Media