Remembering Jacques Stephen Alexis – A centenary celebration

Located on the first floor of the Otto G. Richter Library, “Remembering Jacques Stéphen Alexis: A Centenary Celebration” commemorates the centennial anniversary of the birth of Jacques Stéphen Alexis (1922-1961), renowned Haitian novelist, essayist, activist, and medical doctor born in Gonaïve, Haiti. Alexis’s lineage stretches back to the birth of the nation as a descendent of General Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who was one of the primary leaders of the battle for independence culminating in the establishment of the first Black republic in 1804. Alexis follows in the footsteps of family members who were known for their intellectual and political engagement, as well as their fiery advocacy for the equal flourishing of all the people of their native land regardless of their station in life.
The works on display are a testimony not only to the linguistic genius of Jacques Stéphen Alexis, but also to his profound understanding of the complexities of human nature and the experiences of marginalized people.

This event is co-presented by the University of Miami’s Libraries, Center for Global Black Studies, and Michele Bowman Underwood Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.