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Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization
A passionate letter on behalf of the poor written by Haiti's first democratically elected president. In this startling and passionate book, Aristide demonstrates why those on the bottom will never lie down. A graphic revelation of what happens when "free" trade overruns local markets, eradicates local economies and creates dependence on foreign charity.
90 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
23 books16 followersHaitian priest and politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first elected president in 1991, spent most of his term in the United States; troops restored him to power in 1994, and he served until 1996 and from 2001 to 2004 before a civil rebellion forced him once again into exile.
The college Notre Dame in Cap-Haïtien educated him and graduated him with honors in 1974. After a novitiate in la Vega, Dominican Republic, he returned to study psychology at the university and philosophy at the Grand Seminaire Notre Dame. He completed postgraduate work in 1979 and studied in Italy and Israel.
He returned in 1983 for Salesian ordination, and people appointed him a parish curate in Port-au-Prince and then the slums of la Saline; he gained an affectionate nickname of "Titide" or "Titid" in Haitian Creole. A liberation theologian, he led in the progressive wing of the "little" church and broadcast sermons on Catholic radio. Violence occurred across the nation in 1987.
In an interview of January 1988 with national Catholic reporter interview, he said, "The solution is revolution, first in the spirit of the Gospel; Jesus could not accept people going hungry. It is a conflict between classes, rich and poor. My role is to preach and organize." The Salesians expelled Father Aristide in 1988. They described his activities as an "incitement to hatred and violence."
People cautiously approached 1990. Aristide announced his candidacy. He during a six-week campaign dubbed his followers the "Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie" and won with 67% of the vote. Taking office on 7 January 1991, he broke from Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie and created the Organisation Politique Lavalas, Hatian Creole for "flood political organization." René Préval, prime minister, led government, and the Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie controlled parliament; government failed a confidence vote on on 30 September 1991, so he afterward attempted to rule alone. The army performed a coup. People deposed him on 29 September 1991.
In accordance with article 149 of the constitution, people installed Joseph Nérette, justice of superior court, as Provisoire to hold a choice within 90 days. People scheduled new government, but pressure resulted in cancellation. Raoul Cédras, commander of Army, held real authority. Later, under international pressure, the military regime backed with foreign deployment.
On 15 October 1994, he returned to complete.
Leaving in 1994 enabled him to marry Mildred Trouillot, citizen, in 1995. They parented two daughters. He ended in February 1996. The constitution allowed no consecutive service. People disputed whether to count earlier years or the three years that he lost. People decided instead to count strictly according to the date of inauguration. René Préval, an ally, ran during the 1995 and took 88% of the vote. One-quarter participated.
In late 1996, he broke from the Organisation Politique Lavalas over its "distance from the people" and created a new party, the Fanmi Lavalas. The Organisation Politique Lavalas held the majority in the senate and the chamber of deputies, and people renamed it the Organisation du Peuple en Lutte to maintain the acronym.
Fanmi Lavalas won the legislature in 2000. Cable News Network watch reported a turnout of three-fifths, and more than 92% voted for Aristide. His party implemented reforms under his leadership. These reforms included increase in access to healthcare and education and adult literacy, protection for those accused of crimes, improvement of judicial training, prohibition of human trafficking, disband of the military, creation of a police, establishment of rights and freedoms, doubling of minimum wage, institution of land reform, assistance of small farms, provision of boat construction training, establishment of a low-cost food distribution network belo
The college Notre Dame in Cap-Haïtien educated him and graduated him with honors in 1974. After a novitiate in la Vega, Dominican Republic, he returned to study psychology at the university and philosophy at the Grand Seminaire Notre Dame. He completed postgraduate work in 1979 and studied in Italy and Israel.
He returned in 1983 for Salesian ordination, and people appointed him a parish curate in Port-au-Prince and then the slums of la Saline; he gained an affectionate nickname of "Titide" or "Titid" in Haitian Creole. A liberation theologian, he led in the progressive wing of the "little" church and broadcast sermons on Catholic radio. Violence occurred across the nation in 1987.
In an interview of January 1988 with national Catholic reporter interview, he said, "The solution is revolution, first in the spirit of the Gospel; Jesus could not accept people going hungry. It is a conflict between classes, rich and poor. My role is to preach and organize." The Salesians expelled Father Aristide in 1988. They described his activities as an "incitement to hatred and violence."
People cautiously approached 1990. Aristide announced his candidacy. He during a six-week campaign dubbed his followers the "Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie" and won with 67% of the vote. Taking office on 7 January 1991, he broke from Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie and created the Organisation Politique Lavalas, Hatian Creole for "flood political organization." René Préval, prime minister, led government, and the Front National pour le Changement et la Démocratie controlled parliament; government failed a confidence vote on on 30 September 1991, so he afterward attempted to rule alone. The army performed a coup. People deposed him on 29 September 1991.
In accordance with article 149 of the constitution, people installed Joseph Nérette, justice of superior court, as Provisoire to hold a choice within 90 days. People scheduled new government, but pressure resulted in cancellation. Raoul Cédras, commander of Army, held real authority. Later, under international pressure, the military regime backed with foreign deployment.
On 15 October 1994, he returned to complete.
Leaving in 1994 enabled him to marry Mildred Trouillot, citizen, in 1995. They parented two daughters. He ended in February 1996. The constitution allowed no consecutive service. People disputed whether to count earlier years or the three years that he lost. People decided instead to count strictly according to the date of inauguration. René Préval, an ally, ran during the 1995 and took 88% of the vote. One-quarter participated.
In late 1996, he broke from the Organisation Politique Lavalas over its "distance from the people" and created a new party, the Fanmi Lavalas. The Organisation Politique Lavalas held the majority in the senate and the chamber of deputies, and people renamed it the Organisation du Peuple en Lutte to maintain the acronym.
Fanmi Lavalas won the legislature in 2000. Cable News Network watch reported a turnout of three-fifths, and more than 92% voted for Aristide. His party implemented reforms under his leadership. These reforms included increase in access to healthcare and education and adult literacy, protection for those accused of crimes, improvement of judicial training, prohibition of human trafficking, disband of the military, creation of a police, establishment of rights and freedoms, doubling of minimum wage, institution of land reform, assistance of small farms, provision of boat construction training, establishment of a low-cost food distribution network belo
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 4, 2018
An important, short, and easy read - details the devastating impact of imperialism in Haiti - the last chapter on Aristide's vision for 2004 is especially heartbreaking considering what actually transpired that year - the 2004 coup and the subsequent US/UN occupation + installation of a comprador government that has plundered the treasury into their pockets - further immiserating the Haitian masses.
To those wondering why Aristide was unable to implement his complete vision need only to re-read this book and look at chain of events - the revanchist Haitian ruling class that was sponsored by a sadistic US leading bloc would not (and did not) allow him to. Ever since the '91 coup their goal has been to rehabilitate the Tonton Macoute & bring back a Duvalier-esque dictatorship to the nation.
To those wondering why Aristide was unable to implement his complete vision need only to re-read this book and look at chain of events - the revanchist Haitian ruling class that was sponsored by a sadistic US leading bloc would not (and did not) allow him to. Ever since the '91 coup their goal has been to rehabilitate the Tonton Macoute & bring back a Duvalier-esque dictatorship to the nation.
March 6, 2025
This is a book written by the first democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. In this short book, he advocates for the poor of Haiti. He says that the main way Haiti’s poor have been able to survive is by finding a third way among the oppression and hardships they face. To put it simply, they make a way where there is no way. He also writes about how global powers prioritize money and economic growth over people, and of the negative impacts of neoliberal ideology on Haiti.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that Haiti, the first country in the world to liberate itself from slavery is now the poorest. In my opinion, Haiti is still being punished for being the first country to want freedom. After Haitian independence, Haiti was forced to pay reparations to France that were finally paid off in 1947! Can you imagine! This is not to mention American interventionism. The U.S. occupied Haiti from 1915 - 1934 in which they plundered Haitian wealth, killed Haitians, and enslaved them to construct public infrastructure projects. The effects of the American occupation still reverberate in Haiti. And the U.S. never stopped interfering. Americans intervened heavily in Haitian politics and in the 1980s, carried out an extermination campaign of Haitian Creole pigs, thereby destroying the rural Haitian economy.
I strongly believe that the reason we have poor countries on earth is because they were systematically exploited and made poor to serve the richer countries. Hence why the World Bank and IMF consistently seek to tag on neoliberal conditionalities to whatever loans they give. Hence why the economies of many poor countries (like those in Africa) are not diversified and are skewed to serve the interests of the global powers. For the most part, African countries don’t even process their own natural resources, leaving that task to foreign companies.
I truly feel bad for Haiti. It’s a beautiful country that has unfortunately been exploited for too long. When reading about countries like Haiti, I am consistently reminded that justice will never be served. Those who oppressed the Haitian people will never truly know or feel the damage they have done. It’s a sad thing.
I don’t think it is a coincidence that Haiti, the first country in the world to liberate itself from slavery is now the poorest. In my opinion, Haiti is still being punished for being the first country to want freedom. After Haitian independence, Haiti was forced to pay reparations to France that were finally paid off in 1947! Can you imagine! This is not to mention American interventionism. The U.S. occupied Haiti from 1915 - 1934 in which they plundered Haitian wealth, killed Haitians, and enslaved them to construct public infrastructure projects. The effects of the American occupation still reverberate in Haiti. And the U.S. never stopped interfering. Americans intervened heavily in Haitian politics and in the 1980s, carried out an extermination campaign of Haitian Creole pigs, thereby destroying the rural Haitian economy.
I strongly believe that the reason we have poor countries on earth is because they were systematically exploited and made poor to serve the richer countries. Hence why the World Bank and IMF consistently seek to tag on neoliberal conditionalities to whatever loans they give. Hence why the economies of many poor countries (like those in Africa) are not diversified and are skewed to serve the interests of the global powers. For the most part, African countries don’t even process their own natural resources, leaving that task to foreign companies.
I truly feel bad for Haiti. It’s a beautiful country that has unfortunately been exploited for too long. When reading about countries like Haiti, I am consistently reminded that justice will never be served. Those who oppressed the Haitian people will never truly know or feel the damage they have done. It’s a sad thing.
January 18, 2021
Brilliant and heartbreaking. Another silenced prophet - a threat to neo-liberalism because he spoke the truth, so he was violently removed. Twice. There is no need for me to review this as everything i'd say has been said in this review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
March 19, 2021
read for haiti club and a great, quick read i must say! talks about globalization and the strong community that the haitian people have formed throughout history and through the struggles they’ve faced
August 18, 2023
The text was written in 2000 after his first term (and first coup d'état) and before the second ones. It spells out Aristide's moderate program and the genuine and honest (but ultimately naïve) worldview through which he intended (and failed) to carry it out.
January 4, 2021
A wonderful book by this important Haitian ex-president. Very readable, interesting, and thought provoking. Short enough to be a reading for latam classes.
May 29, 2021
In this very short book activist priest and former Haitian president Jean Bertand-Aristide lays out a new vision for the world's poor in the face globalization.
Read
January 7, 2025This year we will connect our struggle in Africa to the struggle waged in Haiti. That much is a promise.
February 8, 2026
Small but very powerful book. It gives you a glimpse into the lives of Haitians. Although this book was written 26 years ago, not much has changed in Haiti.
July 9, 2024
This was a short read that I had as my “car book” this past week, reading it when I had a few minutes here and there. But for how short of a book it is, it packs an eye-opening punch. It’s fascinating to consider how philanthropic efforts to give impoverished people “better” pigs to raise could in fact be detrimental to their economy, or to realize how much of the economy in some parts of the worlds takes place outside of numbers or any quantifiable means on a spreadsheet. So many things I’d never considered were brought to light in this little book. Highly recommend to anyone wanting to gain a better perspective of the cultures and peoples beyond their front doorstep or national borders.
February 1, 2014
"Imagine that the five fingers of your hand represent the world's population. The hand has $100 to share. Today the thumb, representing the richest 20% of the world's population has $86 for itself. The little finger has just $1."
Almost 15 years after the publication of Aristide's compassionate, insightful text, the industrialized world remains largely ignorant of just how much our leaders have done to exacerbate the poverty plaguing developing nations like Haiti. Though only roughly 80 pages in length, Aristide's book offers valuable insight for understanding the harmful effects an increasingly globalized economy has had on poor nations and the exploitation these nation's endure through greedy practices (like the International Monetary Fund) disguised as relief.
Along with grim statistics and descriptions of domestic social prejudice, Aristide interweaves short vignettes of abandoned street children, devastated peasant farmers, and mothers selling soda in gourds in hopes of sending their children to school. If you're looking for some perspective on globalization, this book is a great place to start
Almost 15 years after the publication of Aristide's compassionate, insightful text, the industrialized world remains largely ignorant of just how much our leaders have done to exacerbate the poverty plaguing developing nations like Haiti. Though only roughly 80 pages in length, Aristide's book offers valuable insight for understanding the harmful effects an increasingly globalized economy has had on poor nations and the exploitation these nation's endure through greedy practices (like the International Monetary Fund) disguised as relief.
Along with grim statistics and descriptions of domestic social prejudice, Aristide interweaves short vignettes of abandoned street children, devastated peasant farmers, and mothers selling soda in gourds in hopes of sending their children to school. If you're looking for some perspective on globalization, this book is a great place to start
March 4, 2011
I liked this book a lot. It's short (80 pages) so it only touches on issues rather than going deeper into them. It's pretty heavily anti-globalization and anti-colonialism. I liked how Aristide wove in stories, especially the ones about children who came to his foundation. And I like how he recognizes that youth's voices are important and need more respect.
Aristide has a lot of great ideas, but he has been in power 3 times and he didn't put them into practice. At one point in the book he acknowledges this; he describes talking to a woman and saying that she was poor before and she is still poor, so why does she still support him? I don't remember what the answer was but it didn't really satisfy me.
Aristide has a lot of great ideas, but he has been in power 3 times and he didn't put them into practice. At one point in the book he acknowledges this; he describes talking to a woman and saying that she was poor before and she is still poor, so why does she still support him? I don't remember what the answer was but it didn't really satisfy me.
December 20, 2008
Aristide's reputation has been soiled by his enemies. People argue that the power of his position ultimately corrupted this former priest who led an uprising of poor Haitians. Whether there is truth in these claims or not, "Eyes of the Heart" is one of the most profound examinations of the effects of globalism and the resilience of the Haitian people. Aristide shows his compassion for his people and the promise of the future.
September 9, 2012
A very short book with a lot of heart. It's the kind of book you wish more people would read. It's humanizing and beautiful. I really wish it was longer but I suppose Astride was only concerned with getting out his message of "Seeking a path for the poor in the age of Globalization." Pick this one up and then give it to a friend and ask him to do the same. 5 stars, for sure.
June 24, 2008
Short but powerful, this book provides a brief introduction to issues surrounding development--economic, social, educational-- in Haiti. It strives to dignify the poor, in highlighting the humanity inherent in everyone. Set aside two hours and read this.
October 15, 2012
Whether Aristide committed the crimes he is often accused of is up for debate but regardless this recollection of the impact other sovereign nations have had on Haiti throughout history is enlightening to understand where they are today.
September 9, 2008
Great Book, provides a very intimate look at the Humility of people and the oppression they are currently facing.
May 15, 2009
This book increased my esteem for Aristide, even though I regarded him highly before reading the book. I wish I had read his book soon after it was published in 2000.
September 29, 2009
A great little book...easy to read in one sitting...with some excellent thoughts on development issues, especially in relation to Haiti.
January 25, 2013
Inspiring read but would have liked to see a longer more detailed book from this otherwise very interesting man.
March 31, 2013
A luminous text that continues to inspire, 13 years after publication, Aristide's analysis of Haiti's hopes and woes remains significant.
May 31, 2013
Amazing read.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews