Callaloo 's Thirtieth: Haiti, the Caribbean, and Elsewhere

Since Charles H. Rowell and I first met, as members of the same panel at the second annual meeting of the Haitian Studies Association (Tufts University, October 1990), the coverage of the journal has broadened significantly. A diversity of cultures from the Americas, including the Caribbean, has been highlighted, along with writing by African-American writers.

The two special issues on "Haitian Literature and Culture" (vol. 15, nos. 2, 3; spring, summer 1992) featured the most extensive and broadest coverage of Haitian culture ever seen in the United States (at least): in addition to selections of poetry, prose, and drama by Haitian writers, the focus extended to Haitian painting, architecture (on Henri Christophe's "Citadelle"), history, and archeology, in addition to a number of interviews with Haitian writers—René Bélance, René Philoctète, Robert Berrouët-Oriol, Georges Castera, Syto Cavé, Joël Des Rosiers, Jean-Claude Fignolé, Erma St. Grégoire, Jean Métellus, Anthony Phelps. Although most of the writers represented were living at the time, an excerpt from Marie Chauvet's Amour, Colère et Folie (Love, Anger, and Madness) was included. Marie Chauvet's heirs have still not allowed the novel to be published in an English version, although there exist at least two complete translations, and a third was rejected. Critical articles on modern Haitian theater (VèVè Clark) and trends in poetry (Michael Dash), the novel from 1977 to 1988 (Léon-François Hoffmann), and on Vodou (Laënnec Hurbon) were included. These two issues were cited by the Association of Editors of Scholarly Journals (MLA, Dec. 1992) as the best special issue of a scholarly journal for the year 1992.

During the sixteen years since Charles Rowell and I first talked, eye to eye, in 1990, I have worked primarily to maintain the presence of Haitian writing in Callaloo. A number of other Caribbean writers, notably Edwidge Danticat, Thomas Glave, and scholars such as Kathleen M. Balutansky, among many others, have also collaborated in this effort. The Guadeloupian novelist and playwright, Maryse Condé, guest editor of the special issue on Guadeloupe and Martinique (vol. 15, no. 1; winter 1992), was herself the focus of a special issue (vol. 18, no. 3; summer 1995).

At one point, I threatened Charles Rowell with undertaking an interview of the editor and I continue to think it would be fascinating to try to pry out some of the secrets behind the conception of the journal and the persistent energy he has put into the project. I have wondered how far ahead he is thinking about the configuration of special issues to come (perhaps at least two or three years)—and, of course, there is a marginal history of projected issues that never came to fruition for one reason or another. Charles occasionally calls me to consult on one matter or another even when I am not working on a specific translation for Callaloo, but I remain busy and have not tried to keep abreast of coming issues. There is always the curiosity of unwrapping a new issue with the ever-fascinating works of art that grace the covers. I have seen the originals of some of the paintings at his home in Charlottesville, years ago, and later in University Park as well as an exhibit of his collection at Texas A&M.

Speaking of art, the coverage of painting by artists of the African diaspora has been outstanding. In the Haitian area, there was the special section on Marilène Phipps, including several of her better-known paintings and a collection of her poems (Vol. 18, no. 2; spring 1995). The special section on the oungan and Vodou flag-maker Clotaire Bazile was a significant expansion of the cultural coverage of Callaloo (Vol. 20, 2; spring 1997). Years before, several of Haiti's most famous painters (Gérard Valcin, Salnave Philippe-Auguste, Hervé Télémaque, Davertige, Spencer Dépas, and Franketienne) were represented in the second issue on Haiti (Vol. 15, 3; summer 1992).

In the matter of special issues, some of the most famous Caribbean writers have been...