History of Haiti

I just wanted to highlight a well-written history of the country of Haiti:
myDD's history of Haiti

There are many causes behind the current economic predicament facing Haiti, but if you scan through the last 200 years, you will see that racism was the most constant force.  That, and the way that people who have the power to exploit weaker people for profit tend to use that power, no matter the moral implications.

When Haiti first became independent, it was the result of a long, bloody slave revolt.  The USA and Europe commenced and economic boycott of Haiti, because we were afraid that our own slave populations may get ideas about doing the same.