| Sumario: | Cécile Accilien and Patrick Jean-Baptiste explore themes of intellectualism, accessibility, positionality, cultural representation, and the role of scholarship in the digital age. Jean-Baptiste, a serial entrepreneur and lifetime flâneur , reflects on the origins of his podcast Nèg Mawon , which aims to provide a platform for scholars to engage with Haitian history and culture while addressing the complexities of public discourse. Rejecting the label of "public intellectual" when it is divorced from enforceability, Jean-Baptiste emphasized a role for public intellectuals but only when tethered with accountability; only then does scholarship's deliberative nature gain not only trust en masse, but also serve as the bulwark against the extractive, dopamine-driven algorithms. The conversation highlights the podcast's mission to make scholarly work accessible to a diverse yet targeted audience: students, other scholars, diaspora Haitians, and serious readers. Jean-Baptiste underscores the need to contextualize narratives surrounding Haiti to counter reductive portrayals in mainstream media, while also addressing the challenge of fostering inclusivity within Haitian Studies. Both speakers discuss the tensions between global north scholars and Haitian scholars in representing Haiti's history, critiquing the exploitive practices often found in academic and media narratives, while Jean-Baptiste delves into the evolving role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, in disseminating and reshaping knowledge production. They discuss AI's limitations and implications for scholarly integrity, emphasizing the enduring value of methodical research, and advocate for intentionality, community-building, and intergenerational mentorship within Haitian Studies, promoting a praxis of citation and collaboration to advance the field in a decolonized and inclusive manner.
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