Edwidge Danticat
Writing, Living and Exploring the Haitian Experience
Edwidge Danticat achieved world-wide recognition for her groundbreaking work in her 20's, earning a place on twenty best young novelists list. Her work examines Haiti in all its vibrancy by weaving together a reflection of the Haitian experience.
Edwidge Danticat & Haitian culture
The culture of Haiti is an amalgam of African, Hispanic and French cultures that has resulted in a unique and fascinating culture. Haiti achieved and independence in 1804 after fighting for freedom from the French, who had colonized their lands. They became the first free nation of black people in the Northern hemisphere, horrifying white Americans and inspiring African-American slaves who looked towards their success as an indication that their eventual freedom would soon come. Frederick Douglass, freed slave and abolitionist said of Haiti in 1893, "We should not forget that the freedom that you and I enjoy today is largely due to the black sons of Haiti ninety years ago.”
Immigration has become a major factor in the Haitian experience, according to Jean Blashfield, an expert on Haitian culture. Since the 1950's millions of people have left Haiti. In 1972 Haitians became so desperate to escape Haiti that they would sail on small boats or any sea worthy crafts in order to flee and in the 1990's millions more Haitians immigrated to the United States and Canada. These immigrants continued their contact with their relatives in their homeland and traveled often back and forth exporting and introducing the culture of Haiti into new places and people. It was in this atmosphere of shared cultural experiences that Edwidge Danticat was born.
What Inspires Edwidge Danticat
Edwidge Danticat was born on January 19th 1969 in Port au Prince, Haiti. She experienced loss early in life when her father immigrated to the United States when she was only two years old. Her mother followed him to the United States when Danticat was four, leaving her and her siblings to be raised by their beloved Uncle according to Shuana Lee, author of, A Conversation with Edwidge Danticat, Greenwood Press, 2007.
Danticat developed her love of hearing stories and writing her own while in Haiti. Her Great Grandmother was an avid storyteller who knew how to captivate an audience with her tales. Danticat would spend hours listening to her and soon wanted to tell stories of her own. At age seven she started to write stories with Haitian heroines and themes.
At age twelve her parents sent for her and she moved to Brooklyn, NY. One of her first published stories, “Breath Eyes and Memory” was based on her reunion with her mother. Living in Brooklyn was a difficult transition for her because she had two new younger siblings, she did not speak any English and the other children made fun of her accent.
Eventually, she did learn to speak English and started writing for the school newspaper. She attended and graduated from Barnard College with a degree in French Literature and then attended graduate school in creative writing at Brown University where she finished her Master’s Thesis that became award winning bestseller “Breath Eyes and Memory”
Outstanding Book Reviews
Edwidge Danticat work has been described as lyrical, haunting and as eliciting strong emotions through the use of fascinating characters and intriguing stories. The following are a few of her most loved books and stories.
The Dew Breaker 1995–This book centers on a man who is a devoted father, husband and landlord who kind to his neighbors and friends-but who has a horrific past as a torturer in Haiti. This book has been described as unforgettable in its description of desperation, remorse and violence.
Brother I am Dying 2007–This book centers on Danticat’s Uncle who raised her in Haiti when her parents left for America. He was a minister and was much respected in his community. After sudden brutality takes over in his country he flees to America where he is put into custody and tragically dies there. Intimate, personal and epic are words used to describe this tale.
! Kric Krac 1996–In this collection of nine short stories about the Haitian experience Edwidge manages to tie together beautiful and heart rending stories of poverty, hunger, love and resilience that are captivating and hopeful.
Body of work
- 2007 Brother, I'm Dying
- 2005 Anacaona: Golden Flower (The Royal Diaries)
- 2004 The Dew Breaker (Today Show Book Club #23)
- 2002 Behind the Mountains (First Person Fiction)
- 2002 After the Dance : A Walk Through Carnival in Jacmel, Haiti
- 1998 The Farming of Bones
- 1996 ! Krik? Krak?
- 1994 Breath, Eyes, memory a novel
Awards and Achievements
- Caribbean Writer 1994
- Women of Achievement Award 1995
- Pushcart Short Story Prize, Best Young Writer 1996
- The American Award 1999
- Oprah Book Club for Breath Eyes and Memory
- National Book Award finalist for Krik? Krak!
- Essence and Seventeen Magazine fiction awards
Edwidge Danticat
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