By Swe Swe Aye | Myanmar Gazette
LOS ANGELES – People from across Los Angeles gathered last month to commemorate Haitian Flag Day, an event celebrating the historical significance of the Haitian Revolution as a powerful symbol of Black liberation.
Immigrants from the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and from across Asia were among those present at the May 18 event.
Organized by the non-profit Global Urban Cultural Community, the event showcased a vibrant tapestry of Caribbean cultures, featuring traditional foods, live performances, and attire from various Caribbean nations.
“We all love who we are, no matter where we are from,” said attendee and Haitian immigrant, Ferdo Marsolek. “From slavery to wherever we ended up, we have Africa as our ancestors and a connection to the Caribbean and Haiti.”
As he spoke, flags representing an array of countries, including Palestine, Myanmar, and Japan, fluttered above the crowd.
“In America, everyone comes from different backgrounds, yet we are all united as one. That’s why we are celebrating Haitian Flag Day, in conjunction with cultures from all over the world,” added Marsolek.
Haiti, once a French colony, gained its independence in 1804, becoming the world’s first free Black republic and only the second country in the western hemisphere after the US to gain independence from colonial rule.
Today, it faces severe challenges. Armed gangs have taken control of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and other key areas, disrupting access to crucial infrastructure like ports and airports.
The crisis worsened after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021, leading to widespread violence and the absence of elected officials since January 2023.
Haiti is also particularly vulnerable to natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, with significant events including the 2010 earthquake, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and another major earthquake in August 2021.
Recently, three missionaries from the group Missions in Haiti, Inc., including a married couple and a mission director from the U.S., were killed in Port-au-Prince.
Haitians are now facing one of the world’s most profound humanitarian crises, with UN estimates of up to 5 million Haitians facing severe hunger.
According to Pew Research Center, one-in-ten Black people – 4.6 million – in the U.S. are immigrants. That number is expected to rise to 9.5 million by 2060.
“I love being Haitian,” says Benita Cledomy as she waves a Haitian flag. “Both of my parents are Haitians. Knowing that we are the first Black country to gain its independence, liberates me in so many ways… It gives me power and strength.”
Cledomy was last in Haiti in 2022.
Attendees also joined in a parade starting from People Square, then proceeding along two blocks of Leimert Boulevard, W 43rd Place, and Crenshaw Boulevard. People from Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nigeria, Palestine, Senegal, Trinidad, and Madagascar were among those waving flags during the procession.
“Today, we are here on a wonderful path. I would say it’s a little Africa in Los Angeles, said Ladee Dred, a Los Angeles based reggae singer and a third-generation American with ancestral roots in Madagascar, displaying an Africa map tattoo on her forearm. “Today, we experience the Black neighborhood and community, with everyone coming together in love and unity. It’s not about color or kind, but about love and peace.”
David Monkawa with Save Our Seniors was part of a group that carried flags representing America’s internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. He pointed to rising hostility against Asian Americans and the growing US-China rivalry and called for communities to come together in mutual support.
“Long ago, Vincent Chin, a Chinese American, was killed and beaten by white workers who blamed him for their layoffs due to the success of Japanese cars over American cars. It’s the same situation today,” he said. “I think Japanese American and African American and Latin American people all need to unite together and we need to change this society.”
Rev. Baba C. Eziokwu Washington is the CEO of Global Urban Cultural Community, which organized the event.
“As a 79-year-old African American born in this country, a Viet Nam Vet, I have witnessed the profound contributions and the enduring spirit of Asian immigrants throughout the years. I welcome Asian immigrants and deeply appreciate the significant role they have played in the success and growth of our nation,” he said.
“Their journey, marked by both pain and resilience, mirrors the struggles faced by many communities in America, including my own.”
Image credits: Swe Swe Aye.
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