On this fine Easter morning, I’m 
wondering about the path to Haiti’s resurrection, and thinking of Atlanta’s Phoenix-like rise from ashes. This little country has accomplished much, endured much, and been promised even more. I suspect that musician activist and now President-elect Michel Martelly represents a coming of age for a country stuck in its infancy by trade embargos, self-serving depot leaders and natural disasters. His meeting this past week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bodes well for a new beginning. But why am I, an African-American and native Atlantan, thinking of Haiti this morning? Is this a phoenix-on-the-rise-remix kinda morning?
Well, recently, my Haitian-American friend and filmmaker Rachelle Salnave dubbed me HBA, Haitian By Association . We’d met at my beloved alma mater Spelman College during one of the closing events of the inaugural Bronze Lens Film Festival. The Cosby Center’s auditorium was a welcoming space for documentary screenings and panel discussions, part of a Social Justice-themed call to action for festival participants.
I was humbled that Rachelle had bestowed this honor on me. Since 2009, my Haitian-born partner Audy, along with his friends and relatives, have graciously included me in intimate gatherings: weddings, birthdays, communions, dinner parties. I’ve learned about Creole, Kremas, black rice and konpa. To my great surprise and delight, even a “Welcome Home, Julie” cake greeted me on my first trip to Haiti last November. I’ve often said my intolerance of cold weather must surely mean I was an island girl in a previous life; the cake’s words called to me from a more specific home base: Aiyti!
How do we define home? Where the heart is, where there’s love overflowing? Haiti’s rebellious beginning is one of the things that most draws me to this island nation. The upstart in me has much respect for the African slaves who threw off the yoke of slavery to form their own nation. Though the country’s history is both epic and sordid, I have much hope for this Martelly administration. I can see Haiti Literate, Green & Free. What can we do, as HBAs, to empower its people to realize such a dream? This blog seeks those pathways. Won’t you join me on this beautiful exciting and challenging journey?
