Born in Haiti, Ms. Jarvelle was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and attended the best schools and colleges. Her mother, Yanissa Elie, nicknamed, "Lola," was a beautiful black woman, whose glamorous voice attracted tourists and VIP's visiting Haiti in the late fifties. She used to sing when tourism in Haiti was booming. Ms. Jarvelle shares a very similar soul with her mom. However, she is not committed to singing, but rather to serving. As she often says, "You waste your life when [you're] not serving others. Changing the attitudes of Haitians in New York, motivating others to help their community and helping people to be themselves, such are her dreams and challenges.
Top music industry stars visited the MMPRM booth, sang some of their songs and signed autographs. Haitian-American Hip-Hop and R'n'B artist Jimmy Carter came with his entourage, including a group called "Starvin Krew and he sang his songs "The World," "If You Want To Roll" and some "free style." Special Kudos go out to E-Uneek who M.C'd along with Emmanuel Marcellus. E-Uneek's rendition of his songs from his CD, "200 Years Of Blood, Sweat and Tears" and "Voule" were well received by the crowd. Sweet Micky a/k/a, "The Bad Boy of Haitian music"'s latest CD, "GNB" was represented at the MMPRM booth as Sweet Micky was in Miami and couldn't make it.
Problems that I think young Haitian American girls face in Bridgeport is learning about who they are as a person. Some Haitian-American girls are afraid to let people know that they are Haitians due to the fact that a lot of people who don't understand the Haitian culture sometimes tend to make fun of others. Growing up, I was one of those girls who were afraid of letting people know that I was Haitian because I always heard people make jokes about how poor and corrupted Haiti is. So, as a child I didn't want anyone to know that that was where I came from. Now that I am older, I have learned to embrace my culture and love everything about it.
The concerns raised by the opposing view that dual nationality is a form of conflicting allegiance have been a lingering irritant to relations between the Haitian politicians and the Haitian Diaspora. For too long, we were led to believe that all birthright Haitian nationals who stayed in Haiti to endure the political vicissitudes of the last three decades did so out of blind patriotism. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the most vocal restrictionists, those most passionate in their denunciation of double nationality as an antithesis to the patriotic principle of uncompromising allegiance are the first to make use of cheaper technology, communication and travel to shuttle between the great metropolis of North America for all their basic needs, including banking, shopping, investing and schooling for their kids. They are essentially enjoying the less taxing lifestyle of a languishing economy while spending, investing and enjoying the glitters of flourishing ...operating in small villages in Haiti.
At the 32nd convention of Black Mayors, which was held in Memphis, Tennessee, from April 26 to 30, 2006, Minister of Interior and Territorial Collectivities Paul Magloire led the Haitian delegation. In the name of the interim government of Haiti, here is the speech he pronounced April 28, on the third day.
It goes something like this: A Dr. James D. Watson made a statement in an interview with the Times of London, which was interpreted to mean that blacks are dumber than whites (those are my words). Here's what he actually said: "...there are many people of color who are very talented," ...he is "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Àfrica. ' "All our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours - whereas all the testing says not really," the Times quoted him as saying. As a child growing up in Haiti, I often heard my peers making comments that would reflect views similar to that allegedly expressed by Dr. Watson. There's no truth to the belief that Haitians are inferior to citizens of other nations, but sadly, many Haitians believe that. Unfortunately, many non-Haitians believe that about Haitians as well. For as long as I can remember, there s been a cancer spread throughout that says that we as a people aren't capable of rising above our circumstances and becoming who we were created to be. It's time for all of us to recognize that all people are created in the image of God. One race or people group isn't created "better than another. We are all created equal and we are all loved equally by a Heavenly Father who desires the best for His creatures.
When Mr. [Jean Berard] died of pleurisy, "Toussaint discreetly supported his widow. He even postponed his own wedding until Madame Berard's death. Although themselves childless, [Pierre Toussaint] and Juliette (a slave whom Pierre freed) Toussaint went on to co-found one of New York City's first orphanages. During an epidemic of yellow fever, while thousands fled the city, the Toussaints stayed behind to nurse the sick. He and his wife donated funds for New York's first Catholic school for blacks." Did you also know that these Haitians send almost $1 billion back to their families in Haiti every year. This amount makes up about 15 percent of Haiti's GNP. This goes a long way to help the balance of payment and foreign currency. This amount is also close to double Haiti's total exports and almost double the international assistance Haiti receives.
There is a bit of hope on the horizon. According to the Associated Press, self styled "General Toutou," one of the most powerful armed gang leaders linked to [Aristide], said he'd be willing to give himself up if United Nations peacekeepers would guarantee his safety. "If the (U.N. mission) is ready to guarantee our security, we'd be ready to give up the fight," said Toutou," whose real name is unknown. Government officials have accused "Toutou" of involvement in the slaying of prominent Le Matin journalist Jacques Roche along with dozens of other killings and kidnapings. "Toutou" has denied any connection with Roche's death.
Haitians or anyone with an intimate knowledge of Haiti knows what a historic event [Michaelle Jean]'s selection is. For her, and for Haitians in Canada and throughout the world. We all know what an improbable and almost impossible choice this is for anyone, except perhaps for Michaelle Jean. Born in Port-au-Prince, Jean and her family fled from Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier's regime in 1968, and came to settle in Montreal when she was only eleven years old. "I have come a long way," Jean told a news conference in Canada's capital on August 4th, when she was introduced as Canada's 27th governor general. "My ancestors were slaves, they fought for freedom. I was born in Haiti, the poorest country in our hemisphere. I am a daughter of exiles driven from their home by a dictatorial regime." "I think it's a fascinating appointment," John Aimers, director of the Canadian Monarchist League was quoted by the CanWest News Service. "Because of the astonishing range of work she's done in Quebec, she's clearly a federalist voice who will be listened to and respected."
To me, it's a miracle that elections are even being held in Haiti this fall. It's a wonder that such an expression of democracy even exists after the last two years the country has been through. My greatest concern isn't fraud, it's whether or not there will be bloodshed. Also, whether or not enough eligible voters will make it to the polls in order to make Haiti's elections legitimate. News reports coming from Hurricane Rita's brutal assault on the U.S.'s Gulf Coast indicate that mercifully, there was no loss of life as a direct result of the hurricane. My prayer is that the same will be said about the upcoming Haitian elections. I need to remind myself that Hurricane Rita was not man-made, but elections are. Honestly, I have more confidence in a "God thing" than in something that's "man's doing." On the other hand, I do believe that just as God controls the world's weather systems, He can also control Haiti's elections. The second piece of evidence that things haven't changed all that much in Haiti Chen was the report that shipments of food and aid to the victims of last year's Gonaives flood are still sitting in the Port of Port-au-Prince because of bureaucratic "red tape." In other words, someone wants a bribe that relief agencies aren't willing to pay. This is horrendous and absolutely intolerable! Something's gotta change.
