Haitian Appreciation Thread

[get these nets]

 

[WTFisWallace?]

Information on the New Parole Program Available to Haitians Outside the United States — Refugees International

The Biden administration has announced the creation of a new parole program that permits sponsors in the United States to apply for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan beneficiaries to fly to the United States and remain in the U.S. for two years. Here is a fact sheet of the program.

www.refugeesinternational.org

FAQs on CHNV Parole Program

docs.google.com

the program extends to Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. 2 year basis, which I’m assuming will be extended if Biden or another Democrat is re-elected….or canceled (with deportations) if a Trumpian Republican candidate is elected.

Biden expands Title 42 expulsions while opening legal path for some migrants

Under the plan, some migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Haiti would be allowed to enter the U.S. legally if they have financial sponsors.

www.cbsnews.com

I’m guessing the drawback, if you wanna call it that, is that it’s gonna give ‘em the greenlight and public cover to deport anyone who didn’t come here ‘legally’

 

[Memorial Stadium Piru]

A Haitian girl stole my heart & I was never the same. I'm still hurt.

 

[Mega]

@havoc @get these nets @Mirin4rmfar @intruder ​

Haiti based POTIWA PIZZA expands their footprint to Miami.​

See Jeanty originally did a segment on them back in 2020.

 

[get these nets]

​

Haiti based POT'IWA PIZZA expands their footprint to Miami.​

Haitian Pizza? With sardine and conch toppings? Gotta call my people down in South Florida and tell them about this. Thanks

 

[get these nets]

@Mega
Dude is standing in the CENTER of the car paths in the parking lot doing his broadcast.Blocking traffic, instead of setting up between the parked cars.
DEFINITELY Haitian, and why does he resemble Jimmy Henchman?

Hehehehehehr

 

[get these nets]

 

[get these nets]

Collaboration between Gap and Ouigi Theodore's clothing line Brooklyn Circus.

Campaign featured Theodore's friend, the late Stephen tWitch Boss, and was photographed before he passed away. Approved by his widow, and

In honor of Boss, Gap is supporting The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by donating to Vibrant Emotional Health. Vibrant administers the 988 Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support and counseling to people in crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States

 

[Mega]

@Mega
Dude is standing in the CENTER of the car paths in the parking lot doing his broadcast.Blocking traffic, instead of setting up between the parked cars.
DEFINITELY Haitian, and why does he resemble Jimmy Henchman?

Hehehehehehr

You're right, he does look like he could be Henchmen's little brother.

 

[Mega]

Collaboration between Gap and Ouigi Theodore's clothing line Brooklyn Circus.

Campaign featured Theodore's friend, the late Stephen tWitch Boss, and was photographed before he passed away. Approved by his widow, and

Congrats to Ouigi.

 

[Mega]

 

[get these nets]

• Celebrating Mama Cax​

• 
  February 8, 2023
  ​

• In honor of Black History Month, today's Doodle celebrates Haitian American model and disability rights advocate Mama Cax. Illustrated by Brooklyn-based guest artist Lyne Lucien, Mama Cax is best known for shattering expectations around beauty. The model and advocate proudly strutted down catwalks on her prosthetic leg, often designed with colors and patterns. On this day in 2019, Mama Cax made her debut on a runway at New York Fashion Week.
  Mama Cax was born Cacsmy Brutus on November 20, 1989, in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. At age 14, she was diagnosed with bone and lung cancer. As a result of her cancer, she underwent an unsuccessful hip replacement surgery at age 16 which led to the amputation of her right leg. At first, Mama Cax was depressed and struggled to accept herself with a prosthetic leg, as she wanted it to look realistic and match her skin tone.
  As time passed, Mama Cax began accepting and loving her new body. She started wearing stylish prosthetic covers with pride incorporating it as part of her personal style. She also began expressing her love for fashion and style with colorful outfits, hair dyes, and bold makeup. During this time of embracing her disability, Cax also leaned into her athleticism and learned to handcycle — she went on to complete the New York City Marathon!
  As the body positivity movement grew, Mama Cax noticed that Black women and women with disabilities were underrepresented in social media. She began posting regularly and advocating for inclusivity in fashion and using social media to discuss her body insecurities. She officially broke into the fashion industry as a model in an advertising campaign in 2017 and was signed by Jag Models shortly after. In 2018, she landed a Teen Vogue cover, and the following year, Mama Cax walked in both the February and October New York Fashion Weeks.
  Mama Cax’s life was tragically cut short by medical complications in 2019. The model and activist is remembered for expanding the image of what people with disabilities should be or look like. Today’s vibrant Doodle artwork is a reflection of her bright life. The artwork highlights the many facets of her identity including her Haitian heritage, her NYC hometown, and her fashion career with her prosthetic incorporated into the look.
  Thank you for being a positive role model and advocating for inclusion in the fashion and beauty world, Mama Cax.
  
  
  
  Pictured: Mama Cax

 

[get these nets]

Haitian Creole classes serve as connection to heritage for Philly Haitian diaspora​

The classes are part of a rise in postcolonial reclamation of Black, Indigenous Haitian culture.

Feb. 09, 2023.

Haitian culture was all around Alain Joinville when he was growing up in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
He could hear Haitian Creole music when he and his family would go shopping on the weekend, from his mainly Haitian classmates, at the Haitian church, in the Haitian restaurants scattered off Flatbush Avenue and at home, where his mom would speak to Joinville and his siblings in Haitian Creole — but they would always respond in English.
As an adult, Joinville, a Philadelphia resident, was still able to understand Haitian Creole — which is a language with roots in both Indigenous African languages and French — thanks to his immersion and connection to the language growing up. But his speaking skills weren’t so fluent, family members often teasing him that his tongue is heavy as he spoke the language. So when he came across an Instagram post with the opportunity to take Haitian Creole classes during the pandemic, he quickly signed up.

“I wanted something to connect with my heritage and culture … and I didn’t have the opportunity to do that because everything was closed,” said Joinville, who is also the director of strategic communication and programs in the Office of Immigrant Affairs.

The Zoom classes Joinville came across during the pandemic were the first opportunity he found in his adult life to constructively relearn his native language. Opportunities to learn Haitian Creole are growing — including in Philadelphia — which Haitian Americans say is a reflection of the diaspora reclaiming their roots, but also a postcolonial reclamation of pride specifically in their Black, Indigenous roots.

Aijeé Austin of Bryn Mawr, class creator Stephanie Sylvain of Wynnefield, Creole instructor Joel Leon, Nicole Austin-Hall of Wayne, Amanda Vital of Phila. and Ashley Vital of Phila. speak and learn the Haitian Creole language during a class at Gou! restaurant in Phila., Pa.

“Certain people look down on Haitian Creole … as not the superior language,” Joinville said.
While Haiti achieved independence from its colonizer, France, in 1804, French colonialism continues to have a stronghold on the country and culture today. Many schools in the country teach in French, and with Haitians there is a general perception that those who are more educated and privileged speak French, while those who have a lower socioeconomic status only speak Creole.

“It’s interesting to see, at least in America, the flipping of that on its head … where people are taking pride in Haitian Creole,” Joinville said.
That pride is exactly what motivated Stephanie Sylvain to start organizing Haitian Creole classes in Philadelphia.
A Haitian American and former president of Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia, Sylvain had had many conversations with people of Haitian descent about their roots and heritage. Every person agreed on their love for the country, the food and the culture — but a number of them, including Sylvain, didn’t know how to speak the language fluently.
Advertisement

“It’s the importance of communication and connection,” Sylvain said. “Our Haitian Creole is communicated with English mixed in it because we’re not fluent — having an opportunity to really be able to communicate myself personally as well as give other people the opportunity to do so meant a lot to me.”
Sylvain ended up connecting with Joel Leon, a Haitian historian and language teacher, through her Haitian Church, and he agreed to lead the classes.
“The first generation has a responsibility to preserve the Haitian culture as a whole, but particularly the Creole language,” Leon said in French. “It’s a way not only to preserve the language, but also to establish a connection between Haiti and the diaspora.”
But the classes have also served non-Haitians, such as Nicole Austin-Hall and her daughter, Aijeé Austin, who have found community and connection through the classes.
“It’s important to be world citizens ... and it’s important to know where we come from as African Americans,” said Austin-Hall. “It’s important for me to submerge my children in various cultures, so they can know who they are and identify with all people.”

 

[get these nets]

La Maison d'Haïti celebrates 50 years of community action in Montreal​

Feb. 11, 2023
Maison d'Haïti is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the Montreal community on Saturday and is inviting the public to join in its day of celebration.


Under the theme 'Living Memories,' the organization is hoping to highlight the importance of the history, heritage and contribution of the Afro-descendant communities -- around 320,000 people in Quebec -- to the cultural life of Quebec and Canada.


"Living Memories is 50 years of memory of the Black population in Montreal, and it is also about never forgetting that we stand on the shoulders of our predecessors. (...) These are not archives locked in a box (...) what our ancestors built, it continues to live," said the organization's excutive director Marjorie Villefranche.


Around 800 people are expected to attend the Day of Celebration, which will be held at TOHU on Saturday and will include free activities open to the public. A gala recognizing the achievements of Black communities and Black History Month will close the festivities in the evening.


The gala also aims to pay tribute to all the members of the board of directors over the past 50 years, "the pioneers who built the Maison d'Haïti, the volunteers and employees," said Villefranche, as well as the people who have benefited from the organization's services.


Public figures, including former Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Senator Marie-Françoise Mégie and Minister Christopher Skeete, will be present.


"This is really a great reunion," said Villefranche. "There will be the founders of Haiti House, who have travelled to be there. Those who signed the first paper of existence of the organization will be there, in addition to former presidents and board members, as well as participants of the youth program who are now adults."

ORGANIZATION FOR EVERYONE​

Founded in 1973, Maison d'Haïti works for the Haitian community and Quebec community action, notably through literacy, intervention, mobilization and access to work services.


"We are a popular education and citizenship organization based in Montreal, but our mission is also to welcome, integrate and develop Haitians and immigrants in general," said Villefranche.


The organization coordinates six areas of activity, namely the integration of newcomers, women, families, youth, adult and children's education and the Centre for the Arts (CAMH).


"We do everything: I often say that we are like a village," she said with a laugh. "We're multi-generational and we offer all the services."


According to a recent press release from the organization, Haiti House has welcomed and supported nearly 12,000 people over the past year

 

[get these nets]

The Board of Directors at Krewe Du Kanaval dedicates this joyous Kanaval season celebrate women and their role in history as "Warrior Women of Ayiti and Nouvelle-Orléans" is our official 2023 Theme.

Ayiti is the indigenous and creole name of Haiti meaning “Land of high mountains”.

Come join us from February 9th to 12th, as Krewe du Kanaval celebrates an homage to Maroon women and Anacaona, the indigenous Queen of the Tainos who heroically held the Spanish at bay longer than any other and kept her kingdom under rule of its people.

Krewe du Kanaval will also honor African elite warrior Adbaraya Toya of the Dahomey Kingdom, who was captured and brought to Haiti as a slave, where she became the guardian of a young boy. Adbaraya sacrificed her young fighting years to raise the child and instill in him her fine warrior skills. The child grew up to be none other than famed hero of the Haitian Revolution, Jean-Jacques Dessalines. In her later years, Adbaraya Toya went on advising Haitian revolution generals, and even joined the fight alongside Marie-Jeanne de Lamartiniere, Sanite Belair, Cécile Fatiman, Catherine Flon and many others.

Krewe du Kanaval will also highlight the life of Marie Laveau, the daughter of a part African part Choctaw mother, and Louisiana Creole father who built a rare multiracial community through her work as a vaudou Queen, herbalist and healer for the rich and poor. Other tributes will include, Ruby Bridges, Oretha Castle Haley, Mahalia Jackson, Baderwina, our past Kanaval Queens, Leah Chase and Irma Thomas, as well as many contemporaries embodying the same warrior spirit.

We are encouraging our members to bring a vibrant feminine spirit with you to Kanaval this year as we celebrate and honor these amazing women and many more