Two Steps Forward to Make Three Steps Back
Where do I start? I finally got my oldest child to be amped up in being proud to be Haitian. I tell her, how much fun were going to have in Miami the week of May 15. I have professional counterparts explain to her how, though we are the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, there are many who besides, Wyclef who have money. I stir all up all this Haitian pride, only to have her go to school today, international week dressed in representing clothing, for kids to tell her how poor our country is. How the moo moo style dressing makes her look like a slave. How she should pick up the pen or the article of things that they knocked over. How they messed with her hair style, you know the one where we have balls and burettes in our hair as kids. Boy let me tell you, my daughter left the house a proud haitian and left school early with her head down.
Don't get me wrong, I know we don't all where moo moo's but hell my mother still does. My daughter wore it to reflect the olden days. She wore her hair style proudly, as she use to remember me doing her hair every morning. That being our "Our Time". She came home, with the burettes snatched out her hair and in dress clothes, with her head down. I explained to her after she told me what happened, that if these are the same kids that use to mess with you freshman year, then they have not progressed. You have. I said to her what do they ask on America's next top model or on making the band....they ask who has made the most progress.....my point to her is obviously her class mates have not ....her point to me, is that she has never been so embarrassed in her life....
I told her look, I got you. Do what you do. Thing about it like this.....There are people in America who are still alive and remember slavery first hand. ....Imagine that. We have been free for 200 years. It took us, the little island that we are to begin the revolution....I told her, use the fact that we as Haitians come here to the United States and learn if we do not already come over English, write English and speak English better than a majority of the black Americans born here.......I told her hold her head up.....She says what's to be proud of........
This assignment was in regards, to International Week and the Olympics. I said to her if she really feels that strongly, to boycott the Olympics.....and mind you she is the one making shirts with Haiti designs.....and getting the paintings on jeans.......But I let her know, if she is going to boycott make a statement, if they mess with her tomorrow and what it is, it is...I got her. I created a documented paper trail with the teacher, so the school can't act as if this is the first they are hearing of it. her thing to me, was if I voice my opinion, even if it is constructive I can get kicked out of National Honors Society and possible school suspension. I told her....I got her. Be who you be....I will help you with the consequences. What these kids did was disrespectful to you, your grandmother, and Haitians as a whole.
I guess, the reason that I am sharing this with you, is because I am asking if anyone else have any stories, or comments to respond. I think that there are a lot of kids out there that after the first incident, don't want to represent being who they are as Haitians. I think they need to know, they are not the only one's who have gone through ridicule, or even what they consider embarrassing situations. They need to know that other people not only survived but survive with their heads up high. And later on down the line not only have become stronger people, but more productive and usually better financially situated.
I thank you for reading this. I thank you in advance for posting comments, that our kids, our next generations to come can read. Because by the time you finish typing your comments, it becomes the past and our kids need to understand our present day issues that they can work on, to make things right.