Just now getting a chance to update the blog! This week, was my mother-in-law's birthday!!! She is in Haiti, so we didn't get to celebrate with her, but I wanted to share a picture of me and her in Haiti with you! Happy Birthday Madam Jean!!!!!!!!!!

Also, this week, I had a visit from a new friend, Geansli. He is a portrait artist and a student at Palm Beach State. I met him at the Art & Life: Spirit of Haiti opening reception, which he was in. He stopped by my office on Tuesday this week and I was so happy to see him! He's undecided on his area of study so I hope I gave him some good tips! I love meeting new, motivated and self-driven students like him. He is such a pleasure to know and talk to ... not to mention his talent!

There's no need to go on and on about what happened on Jan. 12, 2010. The news did enough of that and will remind everyone today about how Haiti is the "poorest nation in the western hemisphere," about cholera outbreaks and nothing but sadness and poverty. Whatever your impression of Haiti is, I hope it's not that wrong one.

Not ignoring the fact that there is so much sadness attached to the 2 year anniversary of the earthquake, I am going to share some Haitian history with you that I recently learned of (from the Proud Haitian App - see my Haitian Pride blog category on the right for App info).

Although I visited the Citadelle only 2 weeks ago, I didn't know all of this great history Haiti has. {Thanks Proud Haitian App for the history info + a lot more history I, and many others, never knew}.

Toussaint Louverture
Though born a slave in Saint Dominique, Toussaint learned of Africa from his father, who had been born a free man there.

He learned that he was more than a slave, that he was a man with brains and dignity.

Toussaint took full advantage of this, reading every book he could get his hands on. He particularly admired the writings of the French Enlightenment philosophers, who spoke of individual rights and equality.

DURING THE NIGHT of August 22, 1791, a wave of fire engulfed the French West Indies colony of St. Domingue (present-day Haiti), as hundreds of thousands of slaves set fire to plantations, torched cities, and massacred a terrified white population. The slave rebellion that started that night--the most successful slave rebellion in history--lasted 12 long years. It culminated in the founding of the second independent nation in the Western Hemisphere and its first black-governed republic. But more than this, the Haitian Revolution was a turning point in history, the repercussions of which extended far beyond the small island nation.

Georges Biassou was an early leader of the 1791 with Jean François and Jeannot, were prophesied to lead the revolution. by the vodoo priest, Dutty Boukman, a Jamaican born vodoo priest. 

Thomson, Jim, The Haitian Revolution and the Forging of America. The History Teacher 34.1 (2000): 19 pars. 15 May 2011.

L 'Ouverture drove out the Spaniards and the British invaders who threatened the colony restored stability and prosperity to renew revenues for the island.

By 1803 Napoleon was ready to get Haiti off his back: he and Toussaint agreed to terms of peace. Napoleon agreed to recognize Haitian independence and Toussaint the French invited Toussaint to come to a negotiating meeting will full safe conduct. Betrayed by the French he was captured, imprisoned.

In 1803 Toussaint died in prison, but others carried on the fight for freedom(Toussaint Breda) Toussaint l'Ouverture (the one who finds an opening), a former slave lead the revolt.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines -  Born Jean-Jacques Duclos (20 September 1758 – 17 October 1806), long an ally and general of Toussaint Louverture, brilliant strategist and soldier.

Henri Christophe,  (6 October 1767 – 8 October 1820)long an ally and general of Toussaint Louverture, brilliant strategist and soldier.

100k slaves and 24k of the 40k plantation owners were murdered.  

In its attempt to retake the colony, France had lost more than 50k soldiers, including 18 generals.

For emancipation and independence, former slaves proclaimed the independence of Saint-Domingue on 1 January 1804.

In July 1825, King Charles X of France sent a fleet of 14 vessels and thousands of troops to reconquer the island. Under pressure, President Boyer agreed to a treaty by which France formally recognized the independence of the nation in exchange for a payment of 150 million francs (reduced to 90 million in 1838) – an indemnity for profits lost from the slave trade.

I have never met a Haitian that was not proud to be Haitian. Now I know why. After visiting Haiti, I am proud to be Haitian and I am not even Haitian! There's something in the spirit of the people and country that is just magical! 

It doesn't matter if they have little or no material things, their proud attitute to be Haitian is still there. I met the creator of the "Proud Haitian" app for apple products - iphone, ipod, ipad. I just downloaded it to my ipod touch. It's awesome...it has history, location info, Haiti's historical impact on the world, Haitian restaurants in the U.S., and more!  I just took the quiz and got 1 wrong! 14 right with a score of 12750!

You can read about the app at these two links
http://www.cnweeklynews.com/la-section-haitienne/87-la-section-haitienne/3244-new-app-on-haitis-history
http://defend.ht/lifestyles/articles/technology/2253-new-iphone-application-called-proud-haitian

I had the most amazing evening last night talking with so many people that share the same passion as me - the beauty of Haiti. Although I was there mostly for work and to do a video on the event, I spoke with several of the artists, poets and inspirational people involved with Haiti. The video below is the one I created for the College. I got lots of great interviews and can't wait to share them on the blog! Thank you to EVERYONE who was there, including the guests...it truly was amazing. I also got to create some connections that I think will help the blog out a lot...stay tuned!

I am super excited for tonight's opening reception for Art & Life: The Spirit of Haiti at Palm Beach State College. I have some interviews lined up for tonight to learn more about art and life in Haiti, so I can share it with you. We have a pretty large Haitian student population so the excitement is definitely there. 

I am going to interview Judy Hoffman, the president of the Art Creation Foundation for Children, a non-profit arts organization created for education and personal growth of children in need in Jacmel, Haiti. There is some of the children's art displayed outside of the gallery and will be sold for donations. Can't wait to buy some!!!
Luckily Judy lives right here in Lake Worth so I get to meet her and learn all about this great foundation. I hope one day I can visit them in Jacmel, Haiti (my next destination in Haiti to see!). Here's their website.


I did a pre-interview about the exhibition with the Curator Onajide Shabaka, and gallery specialist Karla Walter. Here's the video.

Event info: Art & Life: The Spirit of Haiti - at Palm Beach State CollegeThis exhibition will show an exciting cross-section of art done by artists of Haitian descent. In the aftermath of the 2009 earthquake, Haiti continues to rebuild, and its people continue to live another day with the hope of a better life. The family and national ties among the Haitian people, both here and elsewhere in the U.S. are strong and resilient. Through artists, we can see this strength of character and love of life. Art and crafts by youth of the Art Creation Foundation For Children in Jacmel, Haiti, will also be on exhibit. These will include paper mache', paintings, mosaics, and pieces from a special post-earthquake exhibition that links rubble, stories, and paintings. There will be an Opening Reception on Tuesday , January 10th from 5:30 -8pm. The exhibit and reception are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday with extended hours on Tuesday until 8:00 p.m.   View the website. Where: BB 113 Art Gallery [Palm Beach Gardens]Call 561-207-5015 or email walterk@palmbeachstate.edu
January 5 - February 10, opening reception Jan. 10

I am so excited that my intro for videos is done! Looking forward for the future of The Real Haiti.

_Soup Joumou is traditionally consumed on New Year's Day (January 1), as a historical tribute to Haitian independence in 1804 where newly freed slaves consumed the soup, a meal forbidden them by their French masters.

I've made the soup before, but I actually combined several recipes that I found online. Click here for one that I found that looks close to how I made it. ENJOY!!!!!