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Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American
 
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Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American (Paperback)

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4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)

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Customers buy this book with I Will Fly Again: The Restavek by Lili Dauphin

Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American + I Will Fly Again: The Restavek
  • This item: Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American by Jean-Robert Cadet

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Editorial Reviews

Review

This autobiography of a young man who escaped the most foreboding of circumstances and raised himself up by his own bootstraps will appeal to a wide range of readers.... His courage in dealing with and overcoming a wretched existence in Haiti and the dehumanizing effects of racism in the United States will stimulate much reflection on the nature of these two societies. (Alex Dupuy, author of Haiti in the World Economy and Haiti in the New World Order )


Product Description

African slaves in Haiti emancipated themselves from French rule in 1804 and created the first independent black republic in the Western Hemisphere. But they reinstituted slavery for the most vulnerable members of Haitian society--the children of the poor--by using them as unpaid servants to the wealthy. These children were--and still are--restavecs, a French term whose literal meaning of "staying with" disguises the unremitting labor, abuse, and denial of education that characterizes the children's lives. In this memoir, Jean-Robert Cadet recounts the harrowing story of his youth as a restavec, as well as his inspiring climb to middle-class American life. He vividly describes what it was like to be an unwanted illegitimate child "staying with" a well-to-do family whose physical and emotional abuse was sanctioned by Haitian society. He also details his subsequent life in the United States, where, despite American racism, he put himself through college and found success in the Army, in business, and finally in teaching.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 193 pages
  • Publisher: University of Texas Press; 1st edition (January 1, 1998)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0292712030
  • ISBN-13: 978-0292712034
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #122,213 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #15 in  Books > History > Americas > Caribbean & West Indies > Haiti

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Jean-Robert Cadet
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Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
5 star:
 (23)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Another link has been broken, January 20, 2000
By A Customer
For all those interested in the ways Haitian society operates, RESTAVEC is a must read and will occupy your mind a long time after you've put it down. But you will not be able to put the subject of this book to rest. As a child growing up in Haiti, You witness a lot of things that you do not consider abnormal. As far as I knew I belonged to my parents, and I considered other kids to be so. I knew Mr. Cadet, I played with him, I saw him everyday for at least four years, and only thaught of his adoptive mother as a strict disciplinarian. A lot of what my young eyes saw did not prepare me for what I read in this book. As they say in HAITI, nothing is what they seem. RESTAVEC has broken another link in this vicious chain of poverty and child abuse. BOB -as I used to call him - has overcome.
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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Restavec is a powerful story of one man's determination to j, October 22, 1999
By A Customer
Jean Cadet is a friend and teaching colleague of mine and I am continuously amazed that this thoughtful, caring person had such a miserable childhood. His story moved me to tears of pity, anger and joy. His life is a testimony to the human spirit. He is driven to change a society which has remained unchanged for decades. Anyone who travels the journey with Jean-Robert Cadet will be forever moved.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Recounting of Childhood to Compare With Angela's Ashes, April 2, 2000
In "Restavec", Jean-Robert Cadet recounts to us in disturbingly matter-of-fact language the outrage that was his childhood in Haiti.The illegitimate son of a wealthy man,he was given into slavery as a gift to his father's former mistress. The brutality of this woman, whom he came to think of as his mother, is recounted in excruciating detail. The facination of this book is in watching this brutalized child realize an escape from this degraded life. The parallels between Jean-Robert Cadet escape from slavery and Frank McCort's escape from abject poverty are very striking. The role of education in their own countries, and their fulfillment as teachers in the U.S. are just two similarities in their stories. "Restavec" is an intense read, not relieved by humor. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a tale of human potential and quiet heroism.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Sad story, but still happening in Haiti today
I visit Haiti fairly regularly. This is one man's story but still occurs on a regular basis in 2009
Published 8 months ago by J. Nasenbeny

5.0 out of 5 stars A Remarkable Story of Survival
A story of survival that will touch your heart and move you to action!
Visit restavecfreedom.org
Published 12 months ago by Quillin Reader

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping Story
I know Mr. Cadet, and reading this book for me was a wonderful experience, both in understanding the man and in opening my eyes to a horribly overlooked norm in Haitian society... Read more
Published 13 months ago by A. Tohline

5.0 out of 5 stars Genuinely Gripping Autobiography
Restavec is an excellent look into Haiti's secret slavery. It's an honest look at what is sadly going on in Haiti today, even though the author is writing about his past. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Tracy Cadet

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
I loved this book. I thought it was excellent, touching, compelling, and educational. The tales in Mr. Cadet's life are certaintly unforgetable. Read more
Published on August 28, 2007 by T Whitaker

5.0 out of 5 stars Still shaking my head
I got this book in the mail on 7/12 at 6:00 pm. I could not stop reading it, even though I had a social to attend (took it with me) and finally fell asleep around 12:30 am. Read more
Published on July 13, 2007 by AC

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Enlighting...
After hearing Mr. Cadet on Oprah, I didn't stop until I ordered his book. I could not put this book down once I started reading it... Read more
Published on July 7, 2007 by Chocolate Girl

5.0 out of 5 stars slavery is alive and well in Haiti
reader will find it difficult to read parts of this book describing the authors childhood as a slave in Haiti. Read more
Published on July 6, 2007 by A. Salgado

5.0 out of 5 stars You Have to Go to Haiti If You Can
While visiting Haiti recently on a short trip I had the opportunity to meet Jean-Robert. As a matter of fact, I did not know about the book until I had met him... Read more
Published on May 4, 2007 by T. Dodenhoff

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
This book should be read by everyone. It gives a whole new perspective to how children in Haiti or other foreign countries are treated. Read more
Published on January 5, 2007 by Heidi L. Wanty

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