Zili Danto Prominent Aristidiens Distort Haiti's History for Personal Gain?

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For years, Marguerite Laurent (alias Zili Danto) has been an ardent defender and spokesperson for former Haitian dictator Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

What was strange was that she always injected a heavy dose of racism into her defense when the Haitian people were more focused on the political violence and vast corruption that led to his downfall.

Shedding light on her race baiting, a YouTube video recently surfaced where African-American leader Louis Farrakhan discusses Haiti's history and gives advice to presidential candidate and rap star, Wyclef Jean. In the speech, Farrakhan briefly mentions Zili (see "Minister Farrakhan's Prophetic Warning to Wyclef Jean on Leading Hait" at

Is Zili using her access to Farrakhan's church to promote her race-based interpretations of Haiti's history?

But more interestingly, it explains why she and other former Aristide champions are around Wyclef, who publicly sided against Aristide in 2004. Wyclef supported the violent rebellion led by Guy Phillippe and called for Aristide's resignation (for Wyclef's statement see: mtv.com/news/articles/1485326/2004...

Proudly sitting behind Wyclef is Ron Daniel, also a once fervent Aristide supporter, who has pursued every avenue possible to make money in Haiti.

How do these Aristide defenders explain their support for someone who condemned Aristide?

Money and power?

It seems some of the more prominent Aristidiennes have chosen a new master: Farrakhan.

Their impassioned defense of Aristide has fallen by the wayside; opportunism has trumped principle exposing them for what they are: Haiti exploiters.

The fact is Aristidiennes see opportunity associated with Wyclef -- and that far outweighs their "commitment" to Aristide.

Unfortunately, Zili has also distorted Haiti's great history for her personal goals.

Race baiters have always tried to leverage the fact that Haiti is the world's first black republic to their advantage.

That was the case of Randal Robinson and his wife Hazel Robinson who became rich on the back of the Haitians thanks again to Aristide (for more details click here: haitipolicy.org/Lobbying7.htm).

And now they have injected race into Haiti's recovery.

Because he was poorly advised, Farrakhan's speech is full of historical distortion, factual errors and contradictions.

Haiti is 99% black and proud to be the world's first black republic.

However, the independence was not just about race. Haiti's founding fathers saw beyond race to the universal values of freedom and equality.

Haitians fought alongside Simon Bolivar in his quest to liberate the Latin American countries.

They fought alongside Americans in the Revolutionary War against the British for freedom and liberty no matter what color the people were who sought that freedom.

It was not about Latinos or Americans.

For Haitians, it was about freedom and liberation.

It is true, however, that outsiders may have considered us a threat because of our cause and because of our race, but that did not have an impact on our purpose.

There is a further concern among Haitians that the collective memory of the Haitian independence movement could be tainted by these assertions.

And finally, in another historical blunder, Farrakhan goes on to say that Aristide was the first democratically elected president of Haiti.

This is just not true. Article 106 of the Constitution of 1806 inaugurated the first elections in Haiti.

The first election was held in 1810. Over the past 200 years, we have had many democratic elections and 36 elected legislatures on 47. Unfortunately, we have not had continuous democracy over the past 200 years, however.

The elections of 1990 that swept Aristide into power were the first democratic elections of the modern era, but again, let us not ignore the achievements of our founders by saying that these were the first democratic elections.

Race baiters and opportunists have always tried to exploit Haiti.

But Haiti's history is sacred.

Our founding fathers were visionaries and truly unique, brave men who selflessly put their lives on the line for freedom.

They should be an inspiration to us all as we rebuild our country.

And, under no circumstances should flip-flopping opportunists such as Zili Danto reduce our proud history for personal gain. She alone should have to live with her personal contradictions and lack of principle - she shouldn't inflict insult on a proud country with a proud history.

Capois La Mort, August 17 2010, 12:13 AM

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