Last night I was deeply moved by the Jonathan Demme documentary, The Agronomist. The story of the slain Haitiian journalist, freedom fighter and operator of Radio Haiti Jean Dominique, Demme began filming Dominique in 1986 during his first exile from Haiti. As the owner and operator of his nation’s oldest and only free radio station, Radio Haiti, Dominique was frequently at odds with his country’s various repressive governments and spent much of the 80’s and early 90’s in exile in New York where Demme continued to interview him over the years.

Gunned down in April of 2000 (his murder is still unsolved), I was affected by the story of Dominque, who fought tirelessly for the rights of his people, particularly the poor who held him as their hero. Seeing the movie fed my inner flame to insure that social change is not just an matter of politics, but a way of life, something that does not go in and out like fashion.

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The Podcast

Join Naomi Ellis as she dives into the extraordinary lives that shaped history. Her warmth and insight turn complex biographies into relatable stories that inspire and educate.

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