Marie Jeannard

Well, his name was Antoine Francois. But the funny thing is, because in Haiti, people always have nicknames. So for the longest, we thought our dad's name was Louis Neis. But he goes by the name of Francique. He was strict. He was very, very strict. My only job, my dad would tell me, your only duty is to go to school.

Well, his name was Antoine Francois. But the funny thing is, because in Haiti, people always have nicknames. So for the longest, we thought our dad's name was Louis Neis. But he goes by the name of Francique. He was strict. He was very, very strict. My only job, my dad would tell me, your only duty is to go to school.

Then he met Marie's mother. I didn't know my mom very well. She left me when I was three months old. My grandmother and my dad would tell me. My stepmom didn't have kids until I was about 10 years old, give or take, so... I was the only kids around for a long time, and my grandma pretty much raised me with my dad.

Then he met Marie's mother. I didn't know my mom very well. She left me when I was three months old. My grandmother and my dad would tell me. My stepmom didn't have kids until I was about 10 years old, give or take, so... I was the only kids around for a long time, and my grandma pretty much raised me with my dad.

A dictatorship. It's what he was. You know, you were told what to do, when to do it. I remember... being, you know, told time to go to bed, like people could not be out on the streets and stuff like that.

A dictatorship. It's what he was. You know, you were told what to do, when to do it. I remember... being, you know, told time to go to bed, like people could not be out on the streets and stuff like that.

Miniciens, it's what they called them, and they wear, like, navy blue uniforms.

Miniciens, it's what they called them, and they wear, like, navy blue uniforms.

I remember it, you know, quite vividly. I was only nine years old, about to be nine years old.

I remember it, you know, quite vividly. I was only nine years old, about to be nine years old.

People were out on the street beheading those people. Where my house was, my grandmother's house, it's like in a corner of a four-way street. You know, you used to have multiple bodies just being burned there. They would get them from their house, drag them out to the street.

People were out on the street beheading those people. Where my house was, my grandmother's house, it's like in a corner of a four-way street. You know, you used to have multiple bodies just being burned there. They would get them from their house, drag them out to the street.

The best way to do it because they feel like beheading was too much of a mercy killing because there was no pain being inflicted. So the best way to do it was to put tires around them and set them on fire with gasoline burning them alive.

The best way to do it because they feel like beheading was too much of a mercy killing because there was no pain being inflicted. So the best way to do it was to put tires around them and set them on fire with gasoline burning them alive.

I remember my grandmother saying, like, this is the first time in her life being able to vote. So it was like, you know, that's the time you thought things going to change. And that's when really my dad started to get into local politic.

I remember my grandmother saying, like, this is the first time in her life being able to vote. So it was like, you know, that's the time you thought things going to change. And that's when really my dad started to get into local politic.

You know, we thought that's, you know, it's going to be a big change. You know, it's a priest. What could go wrong having a priest for a president?

You know, we thought that's, you know, it's going to be a big change. You know, it's a priest. What could go wrong having a priest for a president?

All I know, when the coup happened, my dad went in hiding. They were hunting anybody who was in the Lavalas party. So I was sent to my grandmother, who lived in a little town called Zima, which is a little bit far out in the country, really. Nobody would have any business going over there and my dad wasn't hiding. So I stayed there for a while until one day my dad sent for me

All I know, when the coup happened, my dad went in hiding. They were hunting anybody who was in the Lavalas party. So I was sent to my grandmother, who lived in a little town called Zima, which is a little bit far out in the country, really. Nobody would have any business going over there and my dad wasn't hiding. So I stayed there for a while until one day my dad sent for me