Ben Dupuy: Difference between revisions

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== Early life ==
== Early life ==
[[File:Ben Dupuy siblings.png|left|thumb|181x181px|<small>Ben Dupuy, far right, with five of his eight siblings circa 1940.</small>]]
[[File:Ben Dupuy siblings.png|left|thumb|181x181px|<small>Ben Dupuy, far right, with five of his eight siblings circa 1940.</small>]]
Ben Dupoy was born in [[Cap Haïtien]] on September 30, 1931, as the fourth child among eight siblings. He spent his formative years in various cities such as [[Gonaïves]], [[Aux Cayes]], [[Port-au-Prince]], and [[St. Marc]]. His father, [[Georges Dupuy]], served as a senior officer in the [[Haitian Army]], leading to the family's relocation to different military posts across the nation.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Kim Ives|newspaper=Struggle La Lucha|title=Ben Dupuy, quintessential Haitian revolutionary leader, dead at 91|date=2023-04-28|url=https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/2023/04/28/ben-dupuy-quintessential-haitian-revolutionary-leader-dead-at-91/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216194604/https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/2023/04/28/ben-dupuy-quintessential-haitian-revolutionary-leader-dead-at-91/|archive-date=2024-02-16|retrieved=2024-02-16}}</ref>
Ben Dupuy was born in [[Cap Haïtien]] on September 30, 1931, as the fourth child among eight siblings. He spent his formative years in various cities such as [[Gonaïves]], [[Aux Cayes]], [[Port-au-Prince]], and [[St. Marc]]. His father, [[Georges Dupuy]], served as a senior officer in the [[Haitian Army]], leading to the family's relocation to different military posts across the nation.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Kim Ives|newspaper=Struggle La Lucha|title=Ben Dupuy, quintessential Haitian revolutionary leader, dead at 91|date=2023-04-28|url=https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/2023/04/28/ben-dupuy-quintessential-haitian-revolutionary-leader-dead-at-91/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216194604/https://www.struggle-la-lucha.org/2023/04/28/ben-dupuy-quintessential-haitian-revolutionary-leader-dead-at-91/|archive-date=2024-02-16|retrieved=2024-02-16}}</ref>


Ben's mother, [[Anna Therese Anduoar Dupuy]], was [[Dominican]], which contributed to his near-fluency in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref name=":0" />
Dupuy's mother, [[Anna Therese Anduoar Dupuy]], was [[Dominican Republic|Dominican]], which contributed to his near-fluency in [[Spanish language|Spanish]].<ref name=":0" />


== Early work life ==
== Early work life ==
Initially contemplating a [[Religion|religious]] vocation, Dupuy ultimately pursued a career as a civil engineer. His endeavors included involvement in diverse projects such as constructing irrigation canals in the [[Artibonite Valley]] and establishing a butter factory near [[Aux Cayes]]. In the latter location, an Army officer requisitioned his work Jeep to pursue the "[[Jeune Haiti]]" [[anti-Duvalierist]] [[Revolution|revolutionaries]] who had landed near [[Jérémie]] in 1964.<ref name=":0" />
Initially contemplating a [[Religion|religious]] vocation, Dupuy ultimately pursued a career as a civil engineer. His endeavors included involvement in diverse projects such as constructing irrigation canals in the [[Artibonite Valley]] and establishing a butter factory near [[Aux Cayes]]. In the latter location, an Army officer requisitioned his work Jeep to pursue the "[[Jeune Haiti]]" [[anti-Duvalierist]] [[Revolution|revolutionaries]] who had landed near [[Jérémie]] in 1964.<ref name=":0" />


The successful insurgency led by [[Fidel Castro]] in [[Republic of Cuba|Cuba]]'s [[Sierra Maestra mountains]], situated just across the [[Windward Passage]], served as inspiration for both the ill-fated [[Guerrilla History|guerrilla]] incursion and Ben, alongside many of his contemporaries.<ref name=":0" />
The successful insurgency led by [[Fidel Castro]] in [[Republic of Cuba|Cuba]]'s [[Sierra Maestra mountains]], situated just across the [[Windward Passage]], served as inspiration for both the ill-fated [[Guerrilla warfare|guerrilla]] incursion and Ben, alongside many of his contemporaries.<ref name=":0" />


Additionally, Dupuy contributed to the [[United States of America|U.S.]] government-sponsored [[Geodesic Survey]], which involved mapping Haiti's terrain and took him across the entirety of the country, akin to the size of [[Maryland]]. This experience ignited his imagination regarding the prospect of establishing a movement akin to Cuba's [[July 26th Movement]].<ref name=":0" />
Additionally, Dupuy contributed to the U.S. government-sponsored [[Geodesic Survey]], which involved mapping Haiti's terrain and took him across the entirety of the country, akin to the size of [[Maryland]]. This experience ignited his imagination regarding the prospect of establishing a movement akin to Cuba's [[July 26th Movement]].<ref name=":0" />


As an avid ham radio enthusiast, Dupuy would spend hours tuning into broadcasts from revolutionary Cuba. Simultaneously, he collaborated with figures such as renowned journalist [[Jean Dominique]] and his close friend at the time, [[Herby Widmaier]], at [[Port-au-Prince]]'s [[Radio Haiti]].<ref name=":0" />
As an avid ham radio enthusiast, Dupuy would spend hours tuning into broadcasts from revolutionary Cuba. Simultaneously, he collaborated with figures such as renowned journalist [[Jean Dominique]] and his close friend at the time, [[Herby Widmaier]], at [[Port-au-Prince]]'s [[Radio Haiti]].<ref name=":0" />


== Near death experiences ==
== Near death experiences ==
He encountered numerous close calls with death. On one occasion, members of the [[Tonton Macoutes]], Duvalier's notorious paramilitary force, nearly executed him and a companion after halting their vehicle, which bore resemblance to that of [[François Benoît]], an Army sharpshooter suspected by François "Papa Doc" Duvalier of plotting to abduct his son, [[Jean-Claude Duvalier|Jean-Claude]], from school in 1963.<ref name=":0" />
Dupuy encountered numerous close calls with death. On one occasion, members of the [[Tonton Macoutes]], Duvalier's notorious paramilitary force, nearly executed him and a companion after halting their vehicle, which bore resemblance to that of [[François Benoît]], an Army sharpshooter suspected by François "Papa Doc" Duvalier of plotting to abduct his son, [[Jean-Claude Duvalier|Jean-Claude]], from school in 1963.<ref name=":0" />


Ultimately, a Tonton Macoute, later eliminated by Duvalier, cautioned Ben to flee the country, as he had been targeted for arrest due to his involvement in organizing [[Strike action|strikes]] among [[Proletariat|workers]] at the [[Reynolds Metals]] bauxite mine in [[Miragoâne]], where he was employed.<ref name=":0" />
Ultimately, a Tonton Macoute, later eliminated by Duvalier, cautioned Ben to flee the country, as he had been targeted for arrest due to his involvement in organizing [[Strike action|strikes]] among [[Proletariat|workers]] at the [[Reynolds Metals]] bauxite mine in [[Miragoâne]], where he was employed.<ref name=":0" />

Latest revision as of 22:36, 16 February 2024

Ben Dupuy
Born1932/33
Haiti
DiedApril 23, 2023
Miami, Florida, United States
NationalityHaitian
Political orientationMarxism
Political partyNational Popular Assembly


Benjamin Dupuy (1932/33 – April 23, 2023) was a Haitian Marxist and head of the National Popular Assembly. He helped create the movie Bitter Cane about the Duvalier regime and later wrote for the newspaper Haïti Progrès. He also served as an ambassador for President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He frequently spoke to progressive and anti-war groups in the United States during the 1980s and 90s.[1]

Early life

Ben Dupuy, far right, with five of his eight siblings circa 1940.

Ben Dupuy was born in Cap Haïtien on September 30, 1931, as the fourth child among eight siblings. He spent his formative years in various cities such as Gonaïves, Aux Cayes, Port-au-Prince, and St. Marc. His father, Georges Dupuy, served as a senior officer in the Haitian Army, leading to the family's relocation to different military posts across the nation.[2]

Dupuy's mother, Anna Therese Anduoar Dupuy, was Dominican, which contributed to his near-fluency in Spanish.[2]

Early work life

Initially contemplating a religious vocation, Dupuy ultimately pursued a career as a civil engineer. His endeavors included involvement in diverse projects such as constructing irrigation canals in the Artibonite Valley and establishing a butter factory near Aux Cayes. In the latter location, an Army officer requisitioned his work Jeep to pursue the "Jeune Haiti" anti-Duvalierist revolutionaries who had landed near Jérémie in 1964.[2]

The successful insurgency led by Fidel Castro in Cuba's Sierra Maestra mountains, situated just across the Windward Passage, served as inspiration for both the ill-fated guerrilla incursion and Ben, alongside many of his contemporaries.[2]

Additionally, Dupuy contributed to the U.S. government-sponsored Geodesic Survey, which involved mapping Haiti's terrain and took him across the entirety of the country, akin to the size of Maryland. This experience ignited his imagination regarding the prospect of establishing a movement akin to Cuba's July 26th Movement.[2]

As an avid ham radio enthusiast, Dupuy would spend hours tuning into broadcasts from revolutionary Cuba. Simultaneously, he collaborated with figures such as renowned journalist Jean Dominique and his close friend at the time, Herby Widmaier, at Port-au-Prince's Radio Haiti.[2]

Near death experiences

Dupuy encountered numerous close calls with death. On one occasion, members of the Tonton Macoutes, Duvalier's notorious paramilitary force, nearly executed him and a companion after halting their vehicle, which bore resemblance to that of François Benoît, an Army sharpshooter suspected by François "Papa Doc" Duvalier of plotting to abduct his son, Jean-Claude, from school in 1963.[2]

Ultimately, a Tonton Macoute, later eliminated by Duvalier, cautioned Ben to flee the country, as he had been targeted for arrest due to his involvement in organizing strikes among workers at the Reynolds Metals bauxite mine in Miragoâne, where he was employed.[2]

References

  1. G. Dunkel (2025-05-05). "Ben Dupuy: Rest in power!" Workers World.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kim Ives (2023-04-28). "Ben Dupuy, quintessential Haitian revolutionary leader, dead at 91" Struggle La Lucha. Archived from the original on 2024-02-16. Retrieved 2024-02-16.