Haiti

Haiti is a Caribbean country on the western half of the island of Hispaniola. The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the country suffers from a myriad of social, economic, and political problems and since the 1950s, it has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. However, for those with patience and an open mind, Haiti reveals a rich culture that is unique among post-colonial nations. This is the only country in the world that was established by a successful slave revolt, the first country in the Americas to abolish slavery, and all of the country's first leaders were former slaves. Haiti has a sizeable diaspora around the world, and many influential figures including W. E. B. Du Bois, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable and former Canadian Governor-General Michaëlle Jean were of Haitian origin.