On August 14-21, 2004, more than 2,300 people of mostly African descent will board a cruise ship for a once in a lifetime Pilgrimage to Haiti. Why a pilgrimage to Haiti? Well, 2004 will mark the 200th Anniversary of one of the greatest events in human history, the Haitian Revolution. The latter part of the 18th century witnessed three great revolutions, each of which made a unique contribution to the course of human history - the French Revolution, the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian Revolution was by far the most stunning in that it pitted enslaved Africans against European colonialists and slave masters. While the French Revolution and American Revolution failed to eradicate the holocaust of enslavement, our Haitian brothers and sisters destroyed the slave system in what was then known as Hispaniola. Consummated in 1804, this Black Revolution shattered the myth of white supremacy at the height of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and established the first Black Republic in this hemisphere

The Voodoo priest Boukman and Generals Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean Jacques-Dessalines, Alexandre Petion and Henri Christophe are names that every person of African descent, particularly students of history, should know. They were the heroes, the revolutionaries who sparked and led an insurrection that defeated the British, the Spanish and the French in succession, finally overwhelming the mighty army of one of the greatest military minds in history, Napoleon Bonaparte. The Haitian Revolution was also unique in that it was Pan-African in character. Some of the leading revolutionaries migrated to Haiti from other Caribbean Islands like Grenada, Jamaica and Cuba.

Once the Republic was declared, these revolutionaries were eager to spread and nurture freedom in other parts of the hemisphere. Haitian forces helped to liberate the other half of the island of Hispanola from the Spanish, setting the stage for the emergence of the Dominican Republic as an independent nation. Haiti was a primary source of encouragement and support for the famed freedom fighter Simon Bolivar in his quest to liberate South America from Spanish rule. Haiti was also a bright beacon of hope for enslaved Africans in the U.S. More than one slave revolt in this country was inspired by the example of the Haitian Revolution. Last but not least, the defeat of Napoleon's army paved the way for the United States to acquire a huge swath of territory from France. The Louisiana Purchase nearly doubled the size of America as an emerging nation.

Unfortunately, Haiti was isolated, marginalized and punished for accomplishing a feat that defied the flawed racist/white supremacist theories of the time. France, the United States and other European powers refused to recognize Haiti for decades and when recognition was forthcoming, it was at a very heavy price. Haiti was compelled to pay France reparations for the "property" loss by the colonialists and slave masters as a consequence of the Revolution. And, even after independence and recognition, the U.S. was determined to make Haiti a virtual neo-colony within its sphere of influence, invading and occupying this nation in 1915 and remaining there until 1934. When ruthless dictatorial regimes like that of Duvalier came to power, the U.S. was content to recognize and support them as long as they colluded with American interests in perpetuating Haiti's neo-colonial status. In short, Europe and America, sometimes with the willing collaboration of elitist forces internal to the country, have conspired to keep Haiti the "poorest country in the Western Hemisphere." The spirit of resistance of the masses of Haitian people, however, and their desire for dignity, democracy and self-determination has never been extinguished.

In that spirit, this extraordinary pilgrimage to Haiti in 2004, Cruising Into History, is intended to celebrate a glorious achievement by African revolutionaries, an event that was of monumental significance to African people throughout the Black World. But this exciting initiative is about much more than a cruise. It is about uplifting the Haitian people by identifying with their contemporary struggle for democracy and development in the face of what are often hostile, oppressive and racist policies carried out against Haiti by the U.S. government. Who can forget the images on national newscasts of scores of Haitians desperately leaping into the waters off Miami last year in an attempt to gain access to this country? But unlike Cuban boat people, because of a discriminatory, anti-Black bias in U.S. immigration policy, Haitians are rounded up and sent back to Haiti. Conditions are particularly difficult in Haiti these days because the U.S. is blocking some $500 million in foreign aid assistance because of a political impasse in the country.

Far from abandoning our brothers and sisters in Haiti, however, the 200th Anniversary of the Haitian Revolution will provide an excellent opportunity to establish solid relationships between Africans in America and our Haitian brothers and sisters with a view towards building a solid economic and political support base for Haiti in this country. And, students should be at the very center of that process. Moreover, Cruising Into History will provide a chance for students of African descent from the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Africa to touch, feel and experience the rich culture and history of Haiti and the Haitian people first hand. There will be visits to historical sites like the magnificent mountain top fortress, the Citadelle, one of the great wonders of the world. There will also be exhibitions on slavery and Africa during our visit to Haiti.

Equally important, students who make the pilgrimage will meet, exchange information and socialize with students and young people in Haiti.

And, there is much more. The cruise will feature an International Black Arts and Cultural Festival with performances onboard the ship as well as in Haiti. Poets, musicians, dance troupes, artists and actors from various African and Caribbean nations will be on the ship. In addition, there will be informative seminars, as we sail to and from Haiti, where students will interact with some of the most notable leaders

and personalities of our time including: Danny Glover, who is the Ambassador-at-Large for Cruising Into History; former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, whose family is of Haitian descent; Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, President/CEO, Rain-bow/PUSH Coalition; Rev. Al Sharpton, President/CEO, National Act-ion Network; Congressman John Conyers, Dean of the Congressional Black Caucus; Congress Members Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson Lee and Gregory Meek; Edwidge Danticat, internationally acclaimed writer/author; Sonia Sanchez, renowned poet/author and activist and numerous other prominent leaders and personalities. Representatives of the Youth Commission of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century will also be embarking on this historic pilgrimage.

So, Black student associations, campus cultural centers, fraternities, sororities, civil rights organizations, artists, writers, poets, activists and just plain conscious and concerned individuals should begin raising the money, pooling resources and otherwise making every effort to become a part of a genuinely "fantastic voyage," a Pilgrimage to Haiti in 2004. Student organizations can also use the cruise as a fund-raising event by becoming a part of the Ujamaa Circle. Organizations that mobilize/sign-up a hundred people for the Pilgrimage will receive a rebate of $100 per passenger or $10,000! And, the revenue sharing increases as an organization signs up 250 or 500 or more passengers. Complete information about Cruising Into History including the Ujamaa Circle can be found on our Web site at www.cruisingintohistory.org. The time to begin organizing for this extraordinary pilgrimage is now!

Into the 21st century, people of African descent throughout the Black World must forge powerful bonds of unity and friendship in order to reassume rightful our place in the sun as the original givers of life and civilization. Embracing and uplifting Haiti is an essential part of this crucial process. What Black students must do in the 21st century is aid and assist the race to recapture our history and culture and use them as the foundation to re-establish people of African descent as a leading force for justice, humanity and peace in the world again. That's what the Haitian Revolution was about. Boukman, Toussaint, Dessalines, Christophe and Petion will be looking down and smiling on us as we take this momentous journey, as we "return to the source" to gain inspiration from one of the greatest feats in African history, the Haitian Revolution. All aboard for Haiti in 2004!

Dr. Ron Daniels is Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and the Founder/Chairman of the Haiti Support Project. He is also the Chairman of the new Institute of the Black World 21st Century. Dr. Daniels is the primary initiator of the Cruising Into History Initiative. His weekly column "Vantage Point" appears in more than 100 African-American and progressive newspapers nationwide, and he is an occasional contributor to THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine.