Edwidge Danticat on Haiti, Immigration, and Her New Essay Collection WE’RE ALONE

Writer's Voice with Francesca Rheannon

Episode Description:

In this episode, we talk with celebrated Haitian American writer Edwidge Danticat, author of Brother, I’m Dying and her latest essay collection, We’re Alone.

Danticat shares intimate insights into her writing process, the legacy of colonialism and the immigrant experience. She discusses Haiti’s ongoing struggles, her personal connection to the country, and how the global refugee crisis continues to impact marginalized communities.

Tune in to explore how Danticat bears witness to history through her poignant essays on family, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

We also play a portion of our 2010 interview with Tracy Kidder about his book Mountains Beyond Mountains. It’s about the late great doctor and humanitarian Paul Farmer’s work in Haiti.

Writers Voice— in depth conversation with writers of all genres, on the air since 2004.

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Key words: Edwidge Danticat, We’re Alone, Haitian American writer, Haiti, colonialism, immigration, refugee crisis, writing process, Tracy Kidder, Paul Farmer, book show, podcast.

Episode Highlights

• Edwidge Danticat’s writing as a spiritual process: Discover how Danticat uses writing to connect with ancestral voices and engage in deep reflection.
• Why The Title: Learn why Danticat chose the title “We’re Alone* and how it reflects the complex relationship between writers and readers.
• Bearing Witness to Haiti’s History: Danticat recounts the torments of colonialism, environmental catastrophes, and political corruption in Haiti, while emphasizing the country’s resilience.
• Immigration, Family, and the My Dungeon Shook Letter: Danticat shares how her experiences as a Haitian immigrant informs her powerful letters to her daughters, inspired by James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time.
• The Impact of Global Events: From Haiti’s fuel crisis in 2018 to the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Danticat provides a gripping account of Haiti’s political unrest and the far-reaching implications of climate change and migration.

Key Quotes

– “Writing helps me find out what I think and allows me to connect with the voices of the past—whether they are other writers or storytellers from my family.” — Edwidge Danticat

– “Every day is a renewal, a commitment to begin again. That’s what it means to be human.” — Edwidge Danticat