This paper on the Haitian language expands the discussion about the impact of “linguistic imperialism” (Phillipson 1992) on Haitian Creole development and on Haitian children's educational experience. It mirrors an interdisciplinary attempt to elucidate the influence of linguistic, cultural and historical agents and elucidates Haitians' lived experiences within the wider Haitian democratic project launched in 1791 (James 1989; Dupuy 1997; Dubois 2004).