The Dew Breaker By Danticat: Summary

The book The Dew Breaker written by Danticat (2004), is a collection of interrelated stories taking place during and after Duvalier’s dictatorship from 1957 to 1986. Many of the characters presented in the book, just like the author herself, are victims that lived through the darkest period in Haitian history. According to the article “Terror, Repression and Diaspora: The Baby Doc Legacy in Haiti” by Baptiste & Foreign Policy In Focus (2014), since gaining independence in 1804, Haiti went through numerous power struggles and a fair share of dictators; however, none instigated as much fear as under the Duvalier’s regime. For nearly thirty years Haiti was ruled by a system of terror, repression, and persecution under both Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier and later his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc.” During Papa Doc’s regime (1957- 1971), the Tontons Macoutes were created, a paramilitary force who used violence to maintain authority and dispose of anyone that showed opposition to the administration (Introduction section, para. 1). In Danticat’s (2004) book, she describes the militia

There was no change in the political system, rather a government moved by terror remained for the next fifteen years until Baby Doc’s exile. This regime forced many to flee and seek asylum in other countries. In the essay “Engaging the Haitian Diaspora” Wah (2013) states, “Duvalier’s goal of building a new aristocracy . . . under the noiriste ideology (the black power or ‘black is beautiful movement’) called for the extinction of the existing upper and educated classes, and the nationalization of their property and enterprises” (p.58). This ideology not only led to the promotion of the emigration of many Haitian professionals and technicians, causing a brain and capacity drain in the country, but also led to the reduction of potential political