Wyclef Jean's Hopes For Haiti

Scott Pelley On The Rock Star's Efforts To Help His Homeland

(CBS)  But truth is, the developed world is tired of Haiti. Billions of dollars in aid have been spent and yet the country is all but a failed state. U.N. troops have been there since 2004 to ease political violence. Food is moved through the city in an armored convoy.

Wyclef found that navigating the halls of the U.S. Congress has been just as difficult. He's testified to committees asking them to make Haiti a priority and he's lobbied Washington powerbrokers for more aid. For a rock star who didn't go to college, it has been quite an education.

He got there with fame and fortune, built on hits like "Hips Don't Lie" for reasons that are obvious: Wyclef wrote it and produced it and performed it with Shakira.

His music is often about beauty over brutality, dreams over despair, songs of hope summed up in this lyric.

Wyclef’s journey started in a village called Lasserre, a town that still throws a celebration when he comes home. He showed 60 Minutes the one-room house where he lived with six relatives.

"Every time I’m in this room it's almost like surreal. Pinch myself and I say to myself 'Did I really come from this room?' I actually came from this room," Wyclef explained.

When he was nine, Wyclef and his brother left the village with no electricity, and found themselves looking out of a plane onto New York City at night. "I looked at my brother and say 'Yes, we have arrived. The city of diamonds. We're rich now,'" he remembered.

"Rich" was a housing project in Brooklyn where they joined the rest of the family. His father was a disciplinarian and a fiery Christian minister. Wyclef's music career started in the choir, but when his taste grew to rap, his father disapproved.

"He wanted us to be in the church. Once we drifted outside the church, that's when the clash started," Wyclef explained. "He said, 'If I ever hear you listenin' to this thing called crap music - crap music, I will kill you.' I said, 'Dad, it's not 'crap,' it's called rap.' He said, 'Crap, rap, whatever.'"

Despite his father's objections, Wyclef and two friends started "The Fugees." Their album, called "The Score," won two Grammys and is still the top selling hip hop album ever. Even so, years later, when Wyclef performed at the White House, his father still wouldn't come.

Wyclef told Pelley his father had shown up at one of his concerts.

[jaudley]

To Scott Pelley,
The Rev. Rebecca Crosby,Associat Minister of the Old Lyme, CT Congregational Church and her husband fund a school in Haiti. The story of their work on that tragic island would be a perfect sequel to Wyclef Jean's story. I can't do justice to their story. Please call Becky and decide for yourself if I am right.860-434-8686. your

[11thGroupSF]

Hey Middy! I am going to the Green Inaugural Ball Saturday night. Wyclef is great individual. On a side note.. I knew a Middy in High School. Did you go to WJ?

[11thGroupSF]

Hey Middy! I am going to the Green Inaugural Ball Saturday night. Wyclef is great individual. On a side note.. I knew a Middy in High School. Did you go to WJ?

[Cas2dy]

Mr. Jean''''s comment of why me of all the people in this country, was so refreshing to hear instead of I deserve this because I am me. I quess it proves that class and character has nothing to do with money.

Posted by davemanfoot

Wyclef is a good guy. I met him at a wedding once, he was guest just like us. I knew my daughter would be so disappointed if i didn''t get his autgraph, so I waited for the right opportunity and asked. he very kindly obliged, and I know that it must have irritated him when he was simply out celebrating a friends wedding, just being a regular person for a change. I guess that''s just him, in Haiti or in America, his heart is always out there for others. maybe when he gets a little older, he might rethink that President thing...

[agingyouths]

The story (Wyclef Jean''s Hopes for Haiti) by "60 Minutes was both effective and manipulative. It was an apt profile of Wyclef Jean, an individual who appropriately deserves a lot of praise for his work and the valuable service his organization provides. The report was a manipulative piece of journalism, which read like a manuscript that''s been read many times before: it details the story of a triumphant hero returning to his homeland who stands as this lone voice of hope as he is threatened to be overwhelmed by the misery around him. Informative, somewhat. Simplistic, yes. Dramatic, wholly. That''s "60 Minutes" on Haiti.

[middyb]

I heard Wyclef will be in DC on the 17th - isn''t he performing at The Green Inaugural Ball?? He is amazing!!

[soulshadow55]

To all the Haitian nationals and Haitian-Americans - may I ask you a question.

How much of Haiti''s problems do you think are a result of bad leadership? Do you think that much of Haiti''s problems began with the Papa Doc Duvalier or does it go back further? Where do you think Haiti''s problems started? I don''t mean any disrespect, I just want your opinion.

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere .

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[manuchca]

Haiti is a country like any other with your good in bad parts. It''s just that the bad parts are always being display.Is anyone thinking about the kids that are growing up with all that negative image of themselves in their home land,which brings self hate. I wish for once that the Haitian world, as a whole would take their image serious for the love of God. For God sake please people take this negative image serious, we can get anyone to invested in Haiti with this kind of negative image time in time again being showed to the world. I ask myself as a Haitian how long will we allow the world to brand us as the poorest in the western hemisphere . Haiti biggest problems are the image issues.Don''t get me wrong, we have lots of social issues to deal with as a nation.First we need to find a way to show the good side of Haiti,we can''t let one area spreak for all of Haiti. that is excetly what is being done here sun-city has to be dealt with , to be honest with you%2

[terivitela]

Thank you Wyclef for all you are doing in assisting the Haitian people and for your foundation YELE HAITI!God blessed you with a wonderful talent, may He continue to bless you and may you be successful in your mission.

[jompbonnet]

W,
It''s [e-mail]. I''m up in sussex county. old web site is www.immeds.com. Jean-Paul Bonnet

[jompbonnet]

Bravo Wycleff,
Haiti can and willbecome the beacon of light. What we do for the least of men we do for him. This is the hour, this is the place. We have been blessed with the technology, now let us create the human initiative. To take third world to new world. It is in fact a revolution of thought or the mind as you say. What say you of a global peace concert to help the poor of HAiti. Summer solstice 2009. Let me know. Stopped at your dads church not to long ago, hoping to catch you. Peace, ask Gwynne she knows

[davemanfoot]

Mr. Jean''s comment of why me of all the people in this country, was so refreshing to hear instead of I deserve this because I am me. I quess it proves that class and character has nothing to do with money.

[js11411]

Thank you for beginning to shine some light on Haiti. Wyclef''s commitment to and love for his country, particularly to the youth is inspiring. Kouraj, Wyclef! The reporting, however, fell short. I understand that the reporter was trying to play "devil''s advocate" in the face of Wyclef''s optimism and hope, but PLEASE, can just one journalist refrain from reciting the usual script when talking about Haiti? I refer to comments like "poorest country in the Western hemisphere," "dangerous," "the developed world is tired of Haiti." While these phrases might be true, they tell us NOTHING about the place that is Haiti or the people who are Haitian. I find these stock phrases insulting, to say the least, because their use implies that there is no need to know anything else, or that there is nothing else to know, or that these conditions are inherently Haitian, which they are not. Continued use of these phrases simply fuels the ridiculous notion that people from Haiti are not really people like the rest of us. The core truth, best expressed by a Haitian proverb, is that every person is a person: Tout moun se moun.

[lescayes]

I traveled to Haiti in 1998, with a mission trip. The country is beautiful. People from Haiti are not like the rest of us...they're more loving, giving, and friendly than most. In one week I became close to Lounia, Micheline and Madam Etennie. I will most likely see them next in heaven, and will love the reunion. I think Satan has had a firm hold on the government for awhile. The people have suffered, but are not in despair. It's that age old battle of good and evil. Many in Les Cayes were eager to know more about the Jesus I came to share. Some were not. Yes, most are poor, but not poor in spirit. If the government would spend some money on infastructure and build a resort or two on the coast of beautiful Haiti, the Haitians would do the rest. I will always remember that week as a glimpse of heaven, truly. God bless you Wyclef, and your vision. Tout moun se moun.

[soulshadow55]

cont''d.

Wyclef is "Renaissance Man." A great musician and humanitarian who loves his native land. I admire the fact that he''s more concerned about Haiti than big cars, lots of women and bling. His heart and mind are in the right place and I love that. I''m just a middle-class working secretary. I live in Washington, D.C. but every month I try and send his non-profit a little money. Sometimes $20, sometimes $30. I figure every little bit helps. It may help a child go to school another year, plant a tree, buy someone a flock of chickens or a pig - something that will help them feed themselves - not a hand-out but a hand-up. If you have it in your heart, please go to Wyclef''s non-profit organization''s website: Yele Haiti at www.yele.org - you can donate money for schools, reforestation, work programs, food programs, small business programs. The time for judging people is over, the time for action is now. Haiti didn''t get this bad overnight and it won''t become better overnight either. Remember, by birth you are lucky to be born in the U.S. As a black American I see these people and I know that there but for the grace of God goes me. My ancestors could have been dropped off in Haiti and I could be living in that nightmare so I feel an obligation to these people as I know they are my brothers and sisters. I cannot not give!