Seeds in a Dark Fruit Sky: Short Stories from Haiti by Rosie Alexander (Author), Amanda Orozco (Editor), Wynnie Lamour (Editor), Marie Lily Caret (Translator)

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 collection is a celebration of the Haitian language and can also be used as a language learning resource for either native speaker.

Haitian Creole has been the common language of the Haitian people for centuries, 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 collection of stories offers a glimpse into daily life in Haiti. Each story moves us beyond the natural disasters and tragic headlines that, for most, has defined Haiti.

Seeds in a Dark Fruit Sky is an opportunity to learn about the real human experiences of these storytellers and hopes to open the way for more Haitian Creole centered literature in the future.