Growing up in Haiti, I never had to search for “culture.” It lived in the air — in the food, the music, the street sounds, the proverbs of elders, the tim tim bwa chèch stories told under a moonlit night. It wasn’t something we studied; it was something we breathed. There was no need to […]
I’m Done Being Modest
They told us modesty was a virtue. Especially us women. Be soft-spoken. Be agreeable. Don’t take up too much space. Don’t say too many good things about yourself, because that’s “arrogant.” And for a long time, I believed them. But I’m done. As Maya Angelou said, “Modesty is a learned affectation.” And when I heard […]
Haitian Flag Day and the Legacy of Slavery: Why ‘Human Nature’ Is Not an Excuse
Last week, during a deep and spirited conversation with a friend, we landed on a topic that sits heavy in the heart but is often tiptoed around—slavery and human nature. My friend said something I’ve heard before: that human nature is cyclical, that injustices like slavery have always existed and will continue unless someone disrupts […]
