Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle-Class American, by Jean-Robert Cadet

"As a slave child, my day began at 5:30 in the morning and ended when the last adult went to sleep. I had to sweep the yard, water the plants, fill the tub for everyone's bath, empty and wash chamber pots, hand-wash diapers, boil baby bottles, wash the car twice a day, dust the furniture every day, serve people drinks in the front yard every evening, wash people's feet every evening, run errands, wash women's monthly napkins, fetch water from afar, be borrowed by the family's friends, and cook my own food. I worked seven days a week with no pay and no time for rest or play. I was also excluded from all family activities-meals, school or church attendance, birthdays, Christmas, New Years' celebrations, weddings, First Communions and even funerals. And I couldn't speak unless spoken to. For any minor infraction, such as not answering quickly enough when my name was called, I was beaten without mercy. Like all restavec children, I was only an observer rather than a participant in my Haitian culture and society." - Jean-Robert Cadet

What began as a letter to Jean-Robert's six year-old son to answer the question of why he had never met his Haitian grandparents transformed into his autobiography, Restavec: From Haitian Slave Child to Middle Class American, published in 1998. Jean-Robert raises awareness of the restavec issue by sharing his story, speaking at colleges and universities across the United States. Today, his book is used in numerous American universities for course work in African-American studies, anthropology, Caribbean history, and social justice.

"My days and nights reverberate with the truth of this story that my husband has written. I was not there to witness the circumstances of his birth, the horrors of his childhood, or his surreal assimilation into American society that form the basis of his memoir, but I lie beside him now each night as he sleeps. And when that sleep is fitful-when I hear his laboring breath, his muffled cry, or feel his arms tremble and his legs thrash about-I know that the reality from decades ago is upon us again." (Excerpt from Restavec -From Haitian Slave Child to Middle Class American, University of Texas Press, 1998)

Buy the book now for a $20 donation.
All proceeds ($10.40 after the $9.60 publishing cost) go directly to the Jean R. Cadet Restavec Freedom Foundation

Joujou, a 27yrs old Beantown Girl, 05/27/2003
'Restavec' is the most touching book I have ever read! I only wish it was all fiction.... Words cannot express what I felt while reading this amazing book! Jean-Robert Cadet.......lived the real life of 'Ti Santanize' by Maurice Sixto(the greatest haitian story teller) as a restavec and made it out stronger, brighter and wiser......for that, I have a great deal of respect for this man! I want to meet this heroic man 'Jean-Robert Cadet'!

Julian, 15 yr. old in Georgia, 05/07/2001
This book was more than I expected! I wasn't even through the third page, and already I had started crying! To read the emotional and physical abuse, as well as picturing scenes made me realize what Jean-Robert Cadet went through…Both my mother and father are from Haiti, and as I told my mom this, she could only nod her head and tell me that things like this happen all the time and are still happening….My parents as well as many other Haitian parents remind their kids how lucky and fortunate we are because we attend good schools, have food, shelter, and clothes on our back. There are still many children in Haiti going through what the author went through. To read about how he continued his education, and received his Masters was inspirational. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone and everyone!