Description of the Book

Witness in the Dust is a novel about a young Haitian woman’s resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit in a democracy torn apart by moral struggles. When earthquakes and hurricanes devastate Port-au-Prince, Celine, full of idealism, faith, and quiet strength, seeks a better life in the United States. Celine travels to Chicago, where she joins fellow immigrants fighting for dignity in a system that is unwelcoming to them. Drawing on resources from her community and church, she becomes a witness and advocate for justice. Before she can claim her place in the promised land, she must reconcile her beliefs about equality, democracy, citizenship, and the promises of sanctuary for people yearning to breathe free.

The novel is a work of political fiction that sketches a vision of the enduring strength of an immigrant community, a church fighting for justice, and the unyielding spirit of those who refuse to be broken. Lyrical and analytical, the novel explores equality, democracy, ideological divisions, and whether reconciliation is possible in a world coated in the dust of decaying promises.

Witness in the Dust sheds light on a democracy that is in decay. The plot exposes an overly aggressive immigration enforcement policy and America’s failure to keep its promises to some cultural groups who seek opportunities in the “land of the free.” The novel presents a vision for what can happen when diverse communities, the Church, and resilient individuals stand in solidarity with their neighbors.