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Haitian Heritage Month

The Haitian Heritage Month was first celebrated in Boston, Massachusetts. It began in 1998 when Tele Kreyol, one of the Boston Haitian Access Television programs, celebrated the whole month of May, with a series of programs on Haitian history, culture, and contributions to the world. The month-long celebration has continued with such activities as parades, flag raisings, and exhibits organized by the Haitian-Americans United, Inc. (H.A.U.) in collaboration with several Haitian organizations in the New England area.

The Haitian community of Palm Beach, Florida, which started the Heritage celebration in 2001, contributed greatly to make the Heritage Month first a statewide celebration, and then, a national one in the United States. Their Congressman, Kendrick B. Meek, introduced unsuccessfully a bill in the House in 2004 and 2006 to recognize the month of May as Haitian-American Heritage Month in the United States. President and Mrs. Bush sent a letter in May 2005 to congratulate the Haitian-American community for the Heritage month and organized a celebration at the White House the same year.

Since 1998, several governors, members of State Senates and Houses of Representatives, Mayors and City councilors have issued annual citations and proclamations, recognizing the Haitian Heritage Month celebration in their states or cities.

In 2008, the Haitian Heritage Month/Flag Day was celebrated with parades, festivals, schools activities, and flag raising ceremonies in the following states, cities, and counties in the U.S.: Connecticut: Norwich, Florida: Broward, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, Miami Beach, Miramar, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Collier, Palm Bay Georgia: Atlanta Illinois: Chicago Massachusetts: Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Lawrence, Malden, Waltham New Jersey: Irvington, Trenton New Hampshire: Manchester, New York: Brooklyn, Spring Valley, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Rhode Island: Providence, Virginia: Roanoke City.

The Haitian Heritage Month celebration is an expansion of the Haitian Flag Day, a major patriotic day celebration in Haiti and the Diaspora. Haitian President Dumarsais Estime started the Flag Day celebration with parades, cultural and athletic events in many cities in Haiti in the 1930s, when he was minister of education under President Stenio Vincent. Estime wanted to commemorate annually the creation of the Haitian Flag on May 18 to encourage the development of patriotic sentiments among Haitian youth.

Beside the Flag Day celebration, the month of May carries a number of significant historical and cultural traditions that Haitians are proud to make aware of and to pass on to future generations. In Haiti, May 1st is celebrated as Labor and Agriculture Day. May 2nd used to be Flower Day. The Congress of Arcahaie that united black and mulatto officers to fight together for Haiti̓s independence is remembered from May 15 through18. Haitian Slave Revolutionary General, Toussaint Louverture, was born on May 20, 1743. Teacher̓s Day is May 17, University Day May 18, and Mother̓s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. For Haitian Catholics, May is the month of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

The celebration of the Haitian Heritage Month is aimed at promoting awareness and understanding of Haitian history, culture, and traditions. It̓s a celebration to recognize the invaluable contributions of the Haitian people to world history and to reinforce the self-esteem of Haitian and Haitian American youth. It̓s a great contribution to the promotion of diversity and multiculturalism for harmony, unity, and understanding among all people.

For more information about the Haitian Heritage Month celebration, please check the following links: www.haitianheritagemonth.net, Haitian Treasures [www.haitiantreasures.com] http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/PublicAffairs/Creole/HaitianHeritageMonth.htm http://www.haitianparade.com/home.php http://kendrickmeek.house.gov/press/2006.05.04.shtml www.hauinc.org http://www.haitianheritagemonth.net/CitationsAndProclamations/CitationsAndProclamations.html