Krik? Krak!

The Duvalier dynasty, a dark chapter in the history of Haiti, was marked by the ruthless dictatorships of François Duvalier and his son Jean-Claude Duvalier. These authoritarian regimes, which together spanned nearly three decades, were characterized by violent repression and economic corruption. The violent policies and devastating effects of the Duvalier dictatorships are visible throughout the stories collected in Krik? Krak! François Duvalier, known as “Papa Doc” due to his early career as a doctor, became president in 1957 after an election that likely involved fraud and voter intimidation. As president, he consolidated power quickly, purging the military of potential rivals and establishing a paramilitary force known as the Tonton Macoutes. This paramilitary secret police organization operated with impunity, kidnapping, torturing, and executing perceived enemies of the state. Duvalier claimed that he was the physical embodiment of Haiti, and revived Haitian Vodou traditions in order to establish a cult of personality. In 1964, François Duvalier was elected President for Life; when he died in 1971, his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, took the position at only 19 years old. Jean-Claude, known as “Baby Doc,” initially took some steps to reform his father’s regime. However, these reforms were generally cosmetic, and his regime was ultimately as brutal and repressive as his father’s. Jean-Claude Duvalier led an infamously expensive lifestyle, and his regime amassed vast wealth through corruption and embezzlement while most of the population lived in severe poverty. Duvalier’s dictatorship lasted into the mid-1980s, when a series of crises caused revolts and unrest across the nation. In 1986, he fled to France, ending the Duvalier era. The economic, social, and political effects of the Duvalier dictatorships, which lasted from 1957 to 1986, have had an indelible impact on the people of Haiti.