In welcoming this new year, we celebrate Haiti's 209th year of Independence, by honoring her legacy of resistance with an affirmation of love.
An excerpt from Gina Athena Ulysse’s memoir, “Loving Haiti, Loving Vodou: A Book of Rememories, Rants & Recipes”
Haiti’s emblem on the wall of a family temple in Port-au-Prince, fractured (broken) during the Jan. 2010 earthquake. Photo Courtesy of Gina Athena Ulysse
I grew up in a country that most of the world degrades and continues to dismiss because it is broken.
Several years ago, I had a revelation. I was trying to sort out a problem, when it hit me. I am not Haiti. I may have been born in Haiti and may resemble Haiti and have its characteristics: something of an enfant terrible, too proud, too black, too strong, too spiritual and too confident. But I am not Haiti. I am not as broken anymore and that scares people. Often we find it easier to love that which is broken. It can make us feel stronger… better about ourselves. We tend to be less threatened by that which is in disarray or needs us to feel whole.
When Haiti attempted to peace itself together two centuries ago (209 years ago on this January 1st), many among those in power at home and abroad took calculated steps to ensure that it would remain shattered. All of my life, I have lived various aspects of the shame of this heritage. I have also been continually reminded I was born in a small place that is devalued and is trampled upon precisely because of its weaknesses. I persevere holding on to knowing my little country dared. It dared to step out of line. It dared to stand up for itself. It dared to try to define itself. It dared.
In the last decade, while struggling to redefine myself in the all-too-hierarchical-world that is the academy, where you are only as good as the person you are better than, I have fought to dare, and not accept labels that were being thrown at me or etched onto me for others need me to fit into a category to be comfortable with me. I resist, insisting that Haiti needs new narratives to explicate its myriad contradictions. I continue to do so since the answer to the “why” of this question is simply not good enough. So, I look to the future, embracing what I can of my past determined not to recreate it.
Imagine, what Haiti would be like had it been supported and nurtured instead of disavowed and shunned in its infancy. Imagine what we would think of Vodou, had its imaginative spirit of resistance been recognized instead of dishonored.
When I look at people, I try to think of everyone as having a little Haiti or Vodou in them. That makes it easier for me to practice what I have learned growing up, loving Haiti and loving Vodou – live, let live and respect.
Gina Athena Ulysse is the Associate Professor of Anthropology and African-American Studies at Wesleyan University. She is also a performance artist; for more on her work, visit ginaathenaulysse.com
From Babette Grunow:
I can very much respect that spirit of daring and resisitance.
From Zeech:
Yep, this is For Sure! and is Bush Mentality at it’s best, an essential antidote to that middle class value system obsessed with order and Security. When I was a Child and would have my daily run ins with racists, coz it was england the bastion of WASP.
My mother would nurture me but my fadda! He never gave any sympathy, he would say ‘Clarity comes from Resistance. Just like in the gym you get muscle definition and clarity from Resistance of the weights. So bless that porkhead! All that resistance breeds clarity and definition, so nah budda wiv da hatred’.
This is Ju Ju mentality, which is an attitude to Life that works. As I grew up along with others London Nubians we would joke how our bush parents were Right in there unsentimental advice to us.
As from all the resistance of racism forced us to clarify and define who and where we are. SO thanks for posting this coz liberal white folks never let us voice this in any of the kumbaya multiculti PC events I attended
Your personality is very strong,its incredible how haitian people face the problems with daring,dignity and proud.
You’re an example for all of us. I am Brasilian and I admire the strength of your country.
Hugues!!