From Toussaint to Price-Mars by Celucien L. Joseph

He deplored the elite's abandonment of the tradition that had emphasized the nation's achieving independence from French colonialism, but he took pride in the conduct of the poor. Price-Mars' attitude was inspired by the active resistance by Haitian peasants to the 1915 through 1934 United States occupation. His nationalism embraced a Haitian cultural identity as African through slavery. Price-Mars was the first prominent defender of vodou as a full religion complete with 'deities, a priesthood, a theology, and morality.' He argued against the prevailing prejudice and ideology which favored European cultures from the colonial period and rejected non- white, non- Western, elements of the cultures of the Americas. Price-Mars championed Négritude in Haiti through his writing, which 'discovered' and embraced the African roots of Haitian society. In his eighties, he continued service as Haitian ambassador at the United Nations and ambassador to France. He was secretary of state for external relations in 1946 and, later, ambassador to the Dominican Republic. In 1941, Price-Mars was again elected to the Senate. Īfter withdrawing as a candidate for the presidency of Haiti in favor of Stenio Vincent in 1930, Price-Mars led Senate opposition to the new president he was forced out of politics.

In 1922, Price-Mars completed medical studies which he had given up for lack of a scholarship. (1909) and as chargé d'affaires in Paris (1915–1917), during the initial years of the United States occupation of Haiti. Price-Mars served as secretary of the Haitian legation in Washington, D.C. Jean Price-Mars (15 October 1876 – 1 March 1969) was a Haitian medical doctor, teacher, politician, diplomat, writer, and ethnographer.

From Toussaint to Price-Mars by Celucien L. Joseph