Additional information
by Rosie Alexander (Author), Marie Lily Cerat (Translator), Amanda Orozco (Editor)
Seeds in a Dark Fruit Sky is a collection of true short stories from Haitian storytellers in Jérémie, Haiti. Written side by side in both Haitian Creole and English, this book is a celebration of the Haitian language and can also be used as a language learning resource for either native speaker.
These stories offer a glimpse into daily life in Haiti and look past the big headlines of natural disasters the outside world seems to
only ever see. Seeds in a Dark Fruit Sky is an opportunity to learn about the real human experiences these storytellers wanted to share with the world.
Haitian Creole has been the common language for the Haitian people, but it was not recognized as an official language of Haiti until 1987. French was and is still seen as the "upper-class" language of Haiti and the language of education. Schools still primarily teach only French even though Haitian Creole is the language spoken by all Haitians, and only 20% of the population speak French.
This book breaks the boundaries of expected literature in Haiti and can open the way for more Haitian Creole centered literature in the future. Seeds in a Dark Fruit Sky is expanding the way to share stories, while keeping the stories firmly connected to their Haitian roots.
