Jacques Roumain (June 4, 1907 – August 18, 1944) was a Haitian writer, politician, and advocate of Marxism. He is considered one of the most prominent figures in Haitian literature. Although poorly known in the English-speaking world, Roumain has significant following in Europe, and is renowned in the Caribbean and Latin America. The great African-American poet, Langston Hughes, translated some of Roumain's greatest works, including Gouverneurs de la Rosée (Masters of the Dew). Although his life was short, Roumain managed to touch many aspects of Haitian life and culture.
Read more about Jacques Roumain: Life, Death and Legacy, Quotes, Selected Works
Famous quotes by jacques roumain:
“Dust rises from the main road and old Délira is stooping in front of her hut. She doesn’t look up, she softly shakes her head, her headkerchief all askew, letting out a strand of grey hair powdered, it appears, with the same dust pouring through her fingers like a rosary of misery. She repeats, ‘we will all die’, and she calls on the good Lord.”
—Jacques Roumain (1907–1945)
“He touched the soil, caressing its grains between his fingers: ‘I am this: this earth here, and I have it in my blood. Look at my color; it seems as though the earth faded onto me and onto you too. This country belongs to the black man and each time others tried to take it away from us, we mowed down injustice with our machetes’.”
—Jacques Roumain (1907–1945)
“‘Maman’, said Annaïse, her voice strangely weak. ‘Here is the water.’
A thin blade of silver came forward in the plain and the peasants ran alongside it, crying and singing.
...
‘Oh, Manuel, Manuel, why are you dead?’ moaned Délira.
‘No’, said Annaïse, and she smiled through her tears, ‘no, he is not dead’.
She took the old woman’s hand and pressed gently against her belly where new life stirred.”
—Jacques Roumain (1907–1945)