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10 Facts You May Not Have Known About the Haitian Flag

Kat — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:42:03 +0000

The Haitian flag is a symbol of pride for many Haitians. Some flaunt the flag, tattoo it on their bodies but may not be aware of its history or the full meaning behind the symbol. Come now, Haiti History 101 pupils, how many of these did you know? 10. The woman who sew it together was Catherine Flon. 9. It was sewn together on May 18, 1803 in the city of Archaie [come on, you can say it: Ar-kai-yeah]. "Pour le Drapeau" (For the Flag), Haiti's national anthem was written 100 years later by Justin Lhérisson with music by Nicolas Geffrard. No, not that one; another Nicolas Geffrard. 8. Historians have maintained that the former slaves of Haiti shredded out the white of the flag so that the blue and red could come together, symbolizing the unity of the mulatto class of Haiti with the "full-blooded" blacks. 7. As romantic and dramatic as Fact #8 might seem, it appears that The Haitian flag did not come into being just then, and the red and blue union not just some impromptu on the part of the new nation. According to the book Vodou in Haitian Life and Culture: Invisible Powers edited by Claudine Michel, and Patrick Bellegarde-Smith, the whole origin of the national symbol is deeply rooted in the Vodun religion. The red and blue are the colors of the god of war Ogou, and Dessalines was reportedly in a temple of the religion in Merote, Haiti when the flag was created. Most of the objects that make up Haiti's national coat of arms, such as the machete, the palms---according to Laurent Dubois---are symbols of a Vodun temple. 6. The flag was changed from blue and red to black and red in 1964 during the presidency of Francois Duvalier. When Duvalier's son went into exile in 1986, the flag was restored to red and blue. Duvalier wasn't the first person to adopt the red and black flag. According to historian Elmide Méléance, Dessalines switched to black and red upon his crowning as Emperor Jacques the First in 1805. 5. According to the book Revolutionary Freedoms, at one point, two different national flags flew in Haiti. After the death of Dessalines, Haiti was divided between two rulers Alexandre Sabes Pétion and Henri Christophe. Pétion reverted to the blue and red flag in the South of Haiti, while King Henri (ahem, Henry) kept the black and red. Jean-Pierre Boyer, the man who served as president of Haiti following the deaths of Henri and Christophe ruled Haiti under a red and blue flag. 4. The Dominican flag was partly based on the Haitian flag. The Trinitarians who were ardent contributors to the Dominican Independence movement added a cross in the middle to reflect Catholicism and added a distinctive coat of arms. 3. "L'Union Fait la Force" (Unity Makes Strength) is a motto accredited to Pétion, but according to John D. Garrigus' book Before Haiti: Race and Citizenship in French Saint-Domingue, as early as 1793 a former slave from Haiti in Paris was showing off a red, white and blue flag with the motto "Notre Union Fera Notre Force" (Our Unity Will be Our Strength). "Liberté ou La Mort" was the flag's motto at the time Catherine Flon sew the flag. 2. Jana Evans Braziel has written that as early as 1982, Haitians were commemorating Flag Day in the United States, mainly the organization UHA (United Haitians Association), in partnership with the New York City Council. In the late 1990s, there was a resurgence of Haitian pride and display of the Haitian flag all over the United States among Haitians and Haitian-Americans. Wyclef Jean, a hip-hop star with a band called the Fugees, started the movement. Haitian businessman Rodney Noel strategically started a Haitian music festival tied around the Saturday of the Haitian Flag day. The Haitian flag had been flown high and mighty before, but it was often during moments of protest (such as a march organized by Haitian activists when Haitians were labeled as AIDS carriers in 1990), and rarely celebratory. 1. During the U.S. Occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934, it was the U.S. flag that was flown on flag poles in Haiti. Haitians were not exactly thrilled. Journalist Jean-Léopold Dominique recalled in the documentary The Agronomist, that his father would "every May 18, Flag Day, defiantly put the Haitian flag in front of the house. I said, 'Father, what does that mean for you?' He said 'That means that you are Haitian." Shall I throw in a bonus? Of course. You probably know this one already, but here goes: Haitians love to wave their flags. Cab drivers displayed it in 1986 with bumper stickers that read "Haiti Libere" (Haiti's Free at Last) say Linda Green Basch, Nina Glick Schiller, Cristina Szanton Blanc in Nations Unbound: Transnational Projects, Postcolonial Predicaments. There you have it folks, 10 Things You May (or May Not Have Known About the Haitian Flag). Phew. Bet you thought we wouldn't be able to come up with ten!

Haiti History 101: Fort Dimanche Prison

Kat — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:48:46 +0000

A photo of Fort Dimanche that appeared in March 1963 in a Life Magazine article on Haiti.

With a name that means Fort Sunday, you might think that Fort Dimanche was some kind of family weekend retreat. But, er, no, that was not the case at all. Fort Dimanche has gone down in history as Haiti’s most notorious prison. Built during a public works campaign in the 1930s, the prison was at one point used as a questioning site during the presidency of Francois Duvalier, before turning into a full-pledged prison.

But it was no ordinary prison. Not like Attica or Saint Quentin where court of law-convicted criminals were thrown in; Fort Dimanche held prisoners who were condemned without a trial. In the book Encyclopedia of War Crimes and Genocide by Christopher Catherwood, Leslie Alan Horvitz assert that the people occupying the prison’s cells were thrown in there by the Tonton Macoutes Haiti’s secret police agents:

“They proceeded to round up Duvalier’s enemies, among them politicians, journalists, and radio station owners, where they were tortured to death.”

U.S. journalist Thomas Sanchez summed of the place: “Most men do not leave Fort Dimanche; if they are not beaten to death they die of tuberculosis, dysentery, or having the blood sucked from them by scores of vermin.”

According to Haitian historian Elizabeth Abbott, some of the male prisoners sometimes were subject to sexual torture by Rosalie Bosquet, also known as Madame Max Adolphe, the prison warden.

A former prisoner referred to as Bobbie in an article for Harper’s Magazine in 1987, described the journey of the prisoners in these words: They send you there to die, to live until you die in a thirteen-by-fourteen-foot room with forty people, all day, all night. You [go to the bathroom] in a five-gallon can.”

The prison housed prisoners, staring in the 1950s, and well into the late 80s.

In 1973, three Haitian nationals who had relatives and friends in the prison, kidnapped U.S. ambassador Clinton Knox, and requested the release of 31 prisoners being held at Fort Dimanche as ransom for his release. Eventually 12 were released and flown to Mexico, but the prison continued to flourish, despite the activism of organizations like Amnesty International and others.

A 1975 report in Worldview, a publication of the Council on Religion and International Affairs, reported that young Haitians accused of being Communists were often dragged to the prison for immediate or later execution, their bodies buried in the courtyard, or even at times displayed publicly as a “lesson” for others.

In the late 1970s, Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman published a book The Washington Connection and Third World Fascism in which they report having been told that the prison was going to be renovated and modernized, but that was not to be.

People continued to be thrown in there without a trial. An individual would be arrested, and no accounts would be given for the reason for their arrest. Families were not able to see their incarcerated loved one. If you have ever seen Raoul Peck’s film L’Homme Sur Les Quais to get an idea of what Haiti was like in the 1960s, in particular.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were some reports (including one by the journalist Richard R. Hofstetter and a 1980 article in Newsweek magazine) that Haitians who had tried to flee Haiti by boat, and were deported, were thrown inside the prison upon arrival in Haiti. Several deportees and immigrants interviewed for the book The Tarnished door: the New Immigrants and the Transformation of America, published in 1983 profess to have been subjected to, or had relatives who had been subjected to Fort Dimanche imprisonment post-deportation.

Thousands were held prisoner at Fort Dimanche, some whose names are known, others whose first name had survived. A log was kept of the prisoners, but it doesn’t include all their names.

Two months after the February 1986 departure of Haitian president Jean-Claude Duvalier, protestors held a march in front of the prison to commemorate the death of the thousands who had died in Fort Dimanche. A massacred ensued.

Today, the site where the prison once stood is an unofficial memorial.

The video above is part of a news report about the ruins of Fort Dimache.

This is part 2.
Patrick Lemoine, one of the few—one of the very few prisoners—to have survived the horrendous insitution—wrote a memoir, and maintains a website Fordi 9, where the memories of the known victims of Fort Dimanche prison are kept alive. Visit it here.

Chapo Ba: Justin Lhérisson, Man of Letters and Historian (1873-1907)

Kat — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:15:20 +0000

Chapo Ba...in which we give a brief tribute to someone who has had a significant impact on Haitian culture. Today's Chapo Ba goes out to Justin Lhérisson. Lherisson's name will always go down in Haitian history for writing "La Dessalinelienne", which is the Haitian National Anthem. In recent years, many have recognized him for being among one of the very first writers to write in Creole. His novel La famille des Pitite-Caille: les fortunes de chez nous, published in 1904 had huge portions in Creole, although it was written mostly in French. In his book A History of Literature in the Caribbean: Hispanic and Francophone Regions, literary pundit Albert James Arnold praised Lhérisson being the first Haitian novelist to create a literary work that tackled incest and sexual abuse. The literary work in question was his 1904 novel Zoune Chez sa Ninaine (Zoune at Her ~~Grandmother's~~ Godmother's House-thanks reader!), also recognized for its sensitive treatment of Haitian peasant life. A lawyer, Lhérisson was also a historian and a poet, writing three volumes of poetry Les Chants de l'Aurore and Passe-temps, both published in 1893, and Myrtha, published the previous year. Among Lhérisson's accomplishments was the founding of Le Soir, the Haitian version of People magazine of its day (in terms of popularity), with literary substance. Born Alexis Michel Justin Lhérisson in Port-au-Prince in 1873, Lhérisson was 34 years old at his death.

Pluie D’espoir Movie DVD To Be Released at Last

Kat — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:30:04 +0000

In an exclusive note given to Kreyolicious.com, it has been revealed that the long wait for the DVD version of Pluie D'espoir is nearing its end. The DVD's release is slated for November of this year! Let's not forget that Pluie D'espoir was initially shown in movie theaters in Haiti in 2005, and had a showing at a couple of festivals in the USA, most notably the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. But the fact that the movie was bootlegged and sold in some stores in communities like Boston, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and New York, put a real damper on the hopes of filmmaker and screenwriter Jacques Roc. Roc promises to reward fans for waiting for the official version. The film will come with Dolby sound, and there will be about a dozen scenes that were, of course, not part of the pirated DVD version, in addition to other extras. Roc's next project is a film called Emilia. Stay posted by regularly visiting the movie's website.

Jessica Fièvre: An Interview with the Novelist

Kat — Mon, 14 May 2012 10:00:18 +0000

With her perky smile and well-carved face, Michèle Jessica Fièvre might easily be taken for a model on the streets of Miami, but no, she writes novels. Fièvre, who was born in the 1980s in Haiti, carved a little niche for herself in the mystery and horror novel genre. She became one of the youngest people ever to be published in Haiti, next to the 20th Century poet Carl Brouard, and the youngest to have published a novel. Her last name Fièvre means 'fever' in English, and she---through her writings---seems bent on giving her readers one, albeit a high one! Obsessed with macabre, mystery-filled subplots, her prose can haunt you even after you've flipped closed one of her books. In addition to half a dozen novels published since her 1997 debut, Fièvre's work has appeared in magazines, and more recently in Haiti Noir, an anthology of stories about Haiti. Although still at the apogee of her career, the novelist is highly interested in keeping the young Haitian literary movement going, having been the co-founder or founder of two important literary initiatives to encourage writing and help flourish the Haitian literary tradition. Q&A Out of all your literary works, which was the most difficult to write? Sortilège Haitien required the most foot work. Although the book falls within the fiction category, I wanted most of the historical facts to be accurate; this required a lot of research, including phone calls and face-to-face interviews about the political turmoil, the murders and kidnappings, and the protests that were taking place both in the Capital and in the provinces at the time. Sortilège Haïtien is the story of Manon, a young woman who discovers her sacred ties with Lasirèn, the goddess of the sea. After marrying the most corrupt politician in Port-au-Prince, she goes on a dangerous quest, using both her strength of mind and special powers to deliver Haiti from a powerful dictatorship. Manon is a painter. I’ve always wanted to be a visual artist but, unfortunately, all I can draw are stick figures. I did not know much about painting then; therefore I needed to research the art and see some artists at work. Also, the novel addresses topics that are still taboo in Haiti, such as homosexuality. I wanted to stay away from clichés and decide whether or not my character would be pro-gay or homophobic since I’m not sure there’s anything in the middle. According to the feedback you’ve gotten from your fans, and according to your own conclusions, which one of your books would lend itself to a movie adaptation? I think La Bête (The Beast) or Les Hommes en Rouge (The Men in Red) would make great movies. They’re both action-packed and have been said to leave the reader breathless from one chapter to the next. Scenes are very important in a script, and both stories are scene-oriented with special attention paid to dialogues. At one point, you left Haiti for the USA, specifically South Florida. Leaving Haiti was not an easy decision. I love my country—my inspiration comes from my experiences there, and there’s nothing like the warmth and sense of humor of my people. In 2001, I was a third-year med student at Notre-Dame of Haiti. While other students seemed to be able to focus on their studies, what I mostly remember about this period are the panic attacks and the nightmares that haunted me at night. Due to the violence in the country, my anxiety had been growing for years. In 2002, it all just became unbearable. I needed to get away. South Florida has since become my home. I like it here. I have found a community of writers that I wouldn’t trade for anything else. I graduated from Florida International University, and founded Sliver of Stone Magazine with some of my writer friends who also attended the Creative Writing program there. I’m very involved with the Women Writers of Haitian Descent---WWOHD---a literary organization that encourages the development of Haitian women writers and fosters greater public awareness and appreciation of their work through local, national, and international education programs, lectures, and events. I’m the editor of Onè? Respè!, WWOHD’s literary magazine. You’ve chosen to write most of your books in French. French is my first language. Growing up in Haiti, it was only natural that I write in French. I learned English in high school, and furthered my study of the language by watching HBO and reading the Sweet Valley High and Goosebumps series. When I left Haiti and enrolled at Barry University, I was forced to fully embrace English as a third language. You completed your fist novel Le Feu de Vengeance at just 13. Oh, I’ve been writing forever. I was actually in 5th grade when I completed my first manuscript, a novella titled La Fenêtre Magique (The Magic Window), which I gave to my teacher as an end-of-the-year present. I want to believe that she still has it, but—oh well! In high school, I finished Le Feu de la Vengeance (The Fire of Vengeance). I wrote most of the chapters during math class. Which of your characters are you most like? I guess part of me can be found in all of my characters. I can tell you who my favorite character is: Magalie, in Le Fantôme de Lisbeth. I love her innocence, her talent, and her wit. Any writers in particular that you model yourself after? I read so many different writers that it’s a bit difficult to say. Growing up, I loved stories edited by Alfred Hitchcock. The mysterious novels of Gary Victor, I found fascinating. Now I’m particularly fond of Anton Chekhov. You are one of the most prolific young writers on the scene, having written and published eight books over the course of a decade. Where do you find the inspiration? Haiti remains my main source of inspiration. Whenever I travel there, I spend hours writing. There’s a feeling I get when I’m walking Haitian grounds—there’s nothing else like it. Do you think that one day, the ink from your pen will dry out in terms of inspiration? Sure. When I’m dead. What would you say was the moment when you felt you had arrived as a writer? I’m still growing as a writer. Plus my interests and my style are ever changing. Any advice for other aspiring young novelists? I’ll say: Just write. Many novice writers get sidetracked because they keep worrying about whether they’re doing the right thing. Well, it’s a bit difficult to find out whether your writing is compelling if there’s nothing on the paper. Finish the manuscript—worry about fixing it later. Some do get the writing done, but do not value the editing process enough. They’re over-confident and believe that the very first draft of their story is ready for publication. Remember: Even the most accomplished writers revise their stories multiple times. What’s next for you as a writer? I’m pretty busy. I’m mostly focused on finishing my nonfiction book. I’m working on a manuscript that tells about my experience growing up in Haiti in the 1990’s. The memoir describes a sometimes difficult and sometimes pleasurable journey through my childhood and teenage years in Port-au-Prince. The book is reaching its final editing stage. I’ll be looking for an agent soon. I’m also working on a fantastic novel taking place in Haiti, and on a collection of horror short stories. Photos: MJ Fievre; Florida Book Review

Anedie Azael: Miss Haiti Universe on Her Life, Love and Haiti

Kat — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:00:47 +0000

Haiti's beauty queens have been many, Claudinette Fouchard, Gerthie David, Evelyne Miot, Marie-Edith Vaval, Sarodj Bertin and now Anedie Azael. Azael edged out several contestants to represent Haiti in Brazil last summer at the Miss Universe pageant, and life won't stop there. Haiti Miss Universe has big plans for herself, thank you very much. Azael, who was born in Haiti and left the country in 2004 to further pursue her studies in South Florida, has been everywhere (or so it would seem) since her crowning. The beauty pageant wasn't her first foray into the fashion and beauty world. She was signed as a model to an agency in Miami and with her nearly 5'10 frame, she worked the runway and was featured in several print campaigns for different brands. It's been more than 5 decades since Fouchard was Miss Haiti, Miss Sugar Cane---among other pageant honors, and more opportunities have presented themselves for Haiti's beauty queens. Anedie is mining them all, kicking all the tires. She's undoubtedly grateful for all those who paved the way for her, but she's blazing her own path. She's her own woman. Q&A Tell us about Anedie, the real Anedie. Well what can I say about the real me? I love to laugh, have a good time, and help others in need. I also recently developed a passion for cooking. I am all about doing things right with perfection. I am a great listener, a loyal friend. The rest of me stays as a mystery. How have you been enjoying your journey as Miss Haiti thus far? Being Miss Haiti has been a challenge as there is no real organization of “Miss Haiti” that supports and helps me. So I have been doing everything on my own. Besides that it has been great, as I’ve been able to speak to young girls to motivate them as well as develop their self-esteem. Also, I’ve had some doors open for me in Haiti to do some projects. How did you first learn of the Miss Haiti pageant, and did you think you had a chance? I learned about it from the previous Miss Haiti Universe. I always thought I had a chance because it has always been my passion to represent my country on every level, and staying positive and confident is the only way. Do you have any advice for the person who's going to be taking over your crown? All I have to say is enjoy your year as a Queen to the fullest, especially the three weeks at Miss Universe competition as these memories will last a lifetime. Also have a passion in life besides the beauty world. Believe in a cause, in a change, advocate it and start the change. And once you've turned your tiara over, what are your plans? When I turn my crown to the next Miss Haiti, my plans continues with my non-profit organization Peace Love International and my campaign Ayiti N’Ap Mache. I plan on having a TV Show in Haiti about fashion and the beauty world and also I plan to have a boutique for men and women in Haiti. I also plan to continue with my modeling life as I stopped since Miss Haiti. Who do you admire the most? I really admire Mahatma Gandhi for his non-violence tactics to achieve freedom and independence in India, in hope that one day we will have world peace. Given the proper clothes and suitable makeup, can a girl be made beautiful? I believe that it is the inner beauty that always shines through. A girl is “beautiful” through her actions, personality, humility and poise. The clothes and make-up are just extras, for the outer beauty. You're heavily involved in the campaign to help restore Haiti's place on the tourism map. I think that Haiti, once known as the Pearl of the Antilles, needs to be marketed better. Haiti is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and I’m not saying this because I am from here, but I’ve traveled to many places and never I can’t compare the beauty of Haiti to anywhere in the world. Therefore, one of my missions is to change the image of Haiti throughout the world and my strategy of doing so is to invite the most beautiful women of the world and the ambassadors of other countries to visit my home. In February, I invited 6 Miss Universe candidates to Haiti during our carnival and in April, I invited another set of 3 beauty queens. It is a hard and difficult battle but very possible. Haiti is a virgin country with much history. Our beaches and mountains are magical. Very soon, I am launching a tourism agency called Perfection Tours where everyone can come and visit the beauty of Haiti. Have you ever been betrayed by someone who you trusted? Yes, I have. When I started high school I got betrayed by my best friends and until now I do not know why, but I do not regret anything as it made me the person I am today. It is difficult for me to have a “friend” or to let anyone in my life now. I am very cautious of who is in my surroundings. You have a foundation. Yes. My foundation is my heart. It is called Peace Love International and our mission is to empower people, to give them the resources and knowledge to do for themselves. Currently, I am supporting two orphanages and 17 children which accounts for 112 children in Haiti. I am launching a campaign called “Ayiti N’ap Mache” (Haiti we are Walking) which is about protecting yourself and your environment and everything that has to do with ecology; such as reforestation, recycling etc. When you're not performing activities related to Miss Haiti, what do you enjoy doing? I enjoy watching movies, spending time with my other half, going to restaurants and my new hobby, as I mentioned earlier, cooking. Do you have a close relationship with your family? Yes, I do. I love my family. I am who I am because of them as they are my support system. But I have to say, my grandma holds a special place in my heart---whoever is reading this I am not playing favorites, haha. I owe everything I know in terms of fashion and beauty to my mother, my business mind to my father, my spirit to my grandma. My sisters are my best friends and I don’t know what I would do without them. You recently worked with famed photographer Marc Baptiste on several shoots. How was that experience? Wow. He is one of the best photographers I have ever worked with. He is just amazing. We shot for the December cover of Haiti’s fashion magazine Rebelle and also for my 2012 calendar and that was one of the best photography experiences in my life. A lot of the photos I was wearing no make-up and without bragging I never thought I would look so beautiful without make-up. He is just amazing with such great energy and inspirations and I am proud to say that he is Haitian. Where can your calendar be purchased? You can find my calendars in Haiti, at Caribbean Supermarket, Giant Supermarket and Big Star Market. Pretty soon, in about 2 months I will be giving the remaining calendars to fans and supporters. Are you still a spokeswoman for the Rebo brand or have you gotten any endorsements as a result of being Miss Haiti? No, I am not and until now I have not gotten any endorsement yet, but I am currently working very closely with Jedco Company as they care very much for the environment and the Haitian people as I do. Do you find yourself wondering if some people might want to get close to you because of your fame? Well it’s quite sad to say this, but, yes. It has happened already. In high school, I did not have that many friends and suddenly people that used to ignore me would come up to me and say hi, try to talk to me and become friends. I do not hold any grudges, so it’s all groovy! Do you at times feel that you can't be yourself, that you have an image to uphold at all times? I do believe that there is a certain character that you must be in depending on your environment. But never have I been fake or not myself. Sometimes I do have to keep my back more straight then other times, haha, but that inner person is always Anedie. For example, I will act and look a certain way if I am in the same room as the President then I would in a room with a couple of my friends. When I say ‘act', I do not mean that my personality changes, I just probably speak with a more sophisticated language. But never will I be in an environment where I can’t be myself, and if I do find myself in that position, I am sure that I will have the will to leave that place ASAP. As someone in the public eye, how do you deal with gossip and rumors? Honestly I do not like to gossip and create rumors so I stay away from that. If someone next to me starts to gossip and create rumors I move away or I just start thinking about other things and daze off. It's the year 2022, what do you imagine yourself doing? Ten years from now, I will have a family, a husband and children, maybe two, have my tourism agency, my fashion store, and hopefully my non-profit will be bigger so that I can help more people. I will always be a voice for the Haitian people therefore in ten years I will still be advocating for a better country in hope that I start see and feel a change. A beauty does not live on her looks alone, or so the adage goes. What are your educational plans? I am done with college. I graduated from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. I studied Business Management with a minor in Liberal Studies. I never stop educating myself, as they say, “Knowledge is power” so I always try to learn more from people, mentors, in all aspects of life. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ KREYOLICIOUSLY YOURS...ANEDIE A sure way to get me angry is to...Betray my trust The last time I cried was when...I watched a romance movie (yesterday) I can't help but smile when...I see children happy. At this point of my life, what I value most are...My family---especially grandma---my better half, my home, knowledge---education---positiveness. Most people don't know that I...Have a tattoo (hidden) Artists I'm really feeling right now...Dido, Sade, JPerry. Three words that describe me for sure...Honest, loyal, goofy I wish people weren't...So materialistic and selfish. In my downtime, I like to...Watch movies, cook or go to restaurants, spend time with loved ones. These are my instructions to the man who I will marry...I found you already and you better stay the same or get better. Image Sources: Various, including Paul Cobo Photography

The Haitian Heritage Museum: Have You Been There Lately?

Kat — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:10:24 +0000

The Haitian Heritage Museum is the first, and thus far, the only one of its kind. Founded by Eveline Pierre, it is located in the heart of the Miami Design District. The museum is where Haiti's past and future meet at the crossroads. Its vast collection includes paintings, crafts, books, photos, and other relics that say a thousand things about where Haiti has been. Pierre runs the museum with Serge Rodriguez who oversees operations. May is the Haitian Heritage Museum's biggest and busiest month, as it is also Haitian Cultural Heritage Month. This year, the museum's staff planned a Mr. and Ms. 18th contest, one of the several initiatives being launched by the institution to increase the involvement of Haitian-American youths. Between planning cultural events, researching funds, creating alliances with other organizations, and other assorted matters that accompany running a museum, Pierre enthusiastically the museum's programs and purpose to Kreyolicious.com. Q&A When did the concept of the museum first occurred to you? The concept of the Museum came to me while I was living in Washington, DC and I was at the library at Howard University and I notice many artifacts about Haiti there. So I thought for a quick second it would be great if we have a Museum dedicated entirely to the Haitian people. As the CEO of the museum, what would you say is the biggest obstacle being faced by the museum? The biggest obstacle I would say is getting people to entrust the museum with their family historical items. Has it been a challenge as well to track down materials since the earthquake? It has not been a challenge to track down items as I had mentioned earlier the issue is getting people to relinquish them. What plans do you have for the museum’s future? We are looking forward to building our capacity with more staff and creating an endowment for the Museum. Obviously in running a museum, you often come across a lot of different archives. What period of Haiti’s history do you find most fascinating? For me personally, I like the 1940s and 1950s, as this was the heyday in Haiti. You had so many interesting people traveling to Haiti that at that time it was considered the French Riveria of the Caribbean . Where did this appreciation for history come from? As a child my parents would send me to Haiti and I was very intrigue by what I was seeing on the island which brought me to want to know more about the my culture and others. So I went on ahead to study History with a focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. We suppose that the museum has different collections. The Museum collection is growing we have a large collection of books that was given to us by a professor estate from NYU, we also have a large collection of Haitian Art work dating back to the 1950’s to 1980’s, we also have a collection stamps and old music. What sort of feedback have you gotten from visitors? The feedback from the visitors has been very encouraging as most of the visitors were elated to find us and would like to help support us in what way they can. Images: via

Chapo Ba: Antenor Firmin, Man of State and Anthropologist

Kat — Thu, 10 May 2012 09:00:18 +0000

Chapo Ba...in which we pay tribute to a person who's had significant impact on Haitian culture. We had to place just two of his roles in Haitian history, so as not to run out of space, but the truth is, Antenor Firmin was not only a man of state, an intellectual but also an intellectual, an activist, an attorney, an educator and an opponent of ahem, anti-black racism. As an activist, Firmin according to Brenda Plummer was against Haitian law that prohibited foreigners from owning land, as he saw it as detrimental to foreign investment in Haiti. As a defender of the black race, in 1885 Firmin wrote De Légalité des Races Humaines, which was translated in English as On the Equality of the Human Races. In the book, Firmin blasted those who insisted that the black race were inferior, and wrote an extensive dissertation of accomplishments and intellectual maturity of the black race from the time as a rebuttal to a series of publications, articles, and speeches that were popular at the time in France (in particular a particular essay by Count Joseph Arthur de Gobineau), the USA, and elsewhere that painted the black race as a sub-specie. Today, this book has accumulated recognition as one of the most powerful works on the subject, and one of the most influential. Joseph Antenor Firmin was born in Cap Haitian into bourgeois family, but unlike the other elite children of the time, he wasn't shipped off to Paris, or anywhere offshore for his education. In 2000, the American Anthropological Association labeled him and his work as "a remarkable figure in anthropology" in its newsletter, but today very few outside of anthropology and historical circles know him though he remains an enigma for all those who are knowledgeable about the history of anthropology.

Esther Lafontant: At the Reigns of Amour Creole Magazine

Kat — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:34:05 +0000

Could publishing a magazine for Haitians living in the United States---with mass appeal to other Caribbeans in the middle of a much-publicized decline of print---be a success? Esther Lafontant thought so. The former model and fashion industry employee put her mind to work, formulating a publication she named Amour Creole. With an ever-growing subscriber base, as well as an online version, the magazine which recently celebrated its first year, has had cover stories on a host of luminaries: singer Dawn Richard, actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, celebrity chef Manoushka Guerrier, and teen heartthrobs Olivier Duret and Jason Derulo. The efforts of Lafontant and her staff have paid off; this year Amour Creole joined other major magazines on the racks of national newsstands as one of the content-heavy publications targeting black and Caribbean readers. It's been quite a journey for Lafontant, a single mother who immigrated to the United States and is now based out of Boston. Q&A At which point did you get the concept for Amour Creole? I always wanted to do something that would uplift the Haitian community in the U.S. and showing the beauty of my people and, culture. and Haiti. I always had the idea for a magazine for a very long time - I felt like it was the best medium for to display the beauty of my people and culture. There's this impression that it's doomsday for the magazine and print industry in general. Please share your thoughts. Yes, the last couple of years haves been very difficult for print because of the other media outlets. The numbers for print seem to be rising again and there are is still an impressive need demand for print. People like to curl up with a magazine, feel the pages. Eand experts feels like say print will be around for a long time. Amour Creole is such a new and unique niche, our target market loves the idea and the direction that of Amour Creole. There?s clearly is going and had shown a big need for it in our community. What do you feel sets apart Amour Creole from other Caribbean lifestyle and entertainment publications? Amour Creole covers a range of topics. We are very diverse in our writing. and that things that we write about. We don't focus on just one aspect like most other magazines would. We cover so much: everything from beauty, to fashion, entertainment, culture, etc.. I think our in-depth, well researched features are a huge part of capturing readers attention. we catered to a bigger audience. We are not just a woman or a men's magazine. We are the people's magazine. The arrival of the internet killed a lot of other mediums. What do you think will kill it? I like to keep maintain the position, thinking every avenue has an end. When? No one knows. As the founder of Amour Creole, and its publisher, what is a typical day like for you? Very stressful. Even though Amour Creole is quarterly it feels like a weekly publication. Our editorial schedule is very tight and we have to get to the next issue before we even close the current ones right after another. There are days that me and my staff and I are in the office until 1 or to 2 A.M. I am just so grateful that I work with a group of amazing people. You probably have some counsel for someone delving into the publishing world. Please share. Know what you are getting in to. Educate yourself as much as you can---go to as many publishing conferences, trade shows and network events that you can. Publishing is a very hard business to get into especially if it?s print publication, because they are so many rules and regulations. If you are not prepared for them, you will fail. When someone sees a finished product, they just see the glamour of it, not, the work and a lot that goes in to putting it together. What's in the plans for Amour Creole? The plan for Amour Creole is to became a household name in the Haitian/Caribbean community. I want it to be a name that all Haitians everywhere can be proud of and that it will last for many generations. For information on how to subscribe, go here.

Filmmaker Patricia Benoit on Her Film Stones in the Sun

Kat — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:40:07 +0000

Haitian-American filmmaker and screenwriter Patricia Benoit is the mind behind the drama Stones in the Sun, (Creole title Wòch Nan Solèy), one of the very few feature films released in the United States that depict the Haitian-American experience. The film was an official selection at the Tribeca Film Festival (where it won the Heineken Audience Award, and a Special Jury Mention prize), not a small accomplishment for a first feature film. Benoit collected quite a cast: Edwidge Danticat plays a role, and veteran performer Michele Marcelin, and new blood Carlo Mitton, James Noel, Patricia Rhinvil, and Thierry Saintine round up the principal cast. The film explores the krazy glue-like bond that exists among families in the Haitian immigrant community and the pains of assimilation and exile. Q&A How did you get your start in the film industry? I founded a community organization with France Pean, called the “Haitian Women’s Program”, and made some educational films. Is it difficult being both the director and writer of a work? You need to maintain perspective vis a vis the work and not be too kind or too brutal to your writing. A portion of the film was shot in Haiti, correct? We worked with Cine Institute. Their students were amazing. I and the crew were impressed with the level of professionalism. The students never encountered a problem they couldn’t solve and they and the institute are part of their community. Their energy was boundless and they’re a really creative bunch - finding creative solutions to problems. They found actors, locations, did costumes and production design as well as Assistant directors and grip. I’ve already worked in Haiti with groups and I know that it’s essential to work with people who are respected and trusted within their own community. You’re among the Haitian-American film community. Will you be collaborating with the community in Haiti for future projects? I definitely intend on continuing. Is it particularly harder to be a woman filmmaker? Sometimes. What inspired you to write Stones in the Sun? My family was exiled under Duvalier. After the completion of a film, a director has over the course of production, learned a lot. You are only as good as the people you work with. Why did you choose the 1980s as the decade for the film’s setting? The film doesn’t take place in a specific time. It takes place during a military dictatorship after the departure of Duvalier because I didn’t want to focus on political specificities. Hopefully the issues are timeless. Do you imagine a day when a film like Stones in the Sun will get wide theatre release? That would be great, but I don’t think that any film with subtitles and not in English gets that yet. A Separation---a wonderful film set in Iran---I recommend that everyone see it---won the Oscar for best foreign film and is only playing in two theaters in New York City. What advice do you have for aspiring directors and first-time directors? Don’t get an undergraduate degree in film. Learn about other things - in and out of school. Try to get as much experience in non paying gigs and be ready to work really hard without complaining. That way you can watch other people work. Try to see some great movie classics, not just Hollywood films. That way you can be exposed to different ways of making films. And do you have a few words for actors and actresses on how to make them more appealing to a film director? I would recommend highly taking scene study classes. For example at HB studios in Manhattan. Your film had its premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival. That must have been grand. It’s great. New York is the perfect venue for this film because of the large Haitian community here and because the film takes place here and in Haiti. How did you manage to put together such a great cast? Through friends, acquaintances and online casting searches. What’s next on your agenda? I’m working with Edwidge Danticat on a film that will take place in the peasant community in Haiti.