Istwa Pam, my story is mine to tell...

A few weeks ago when the news broke about how my Haitian brothers and sisters were being treated in Springfield I woke up semi paralyzed.

I read a piece “To 15 Year Old Me”, by France Francois. Which reminded me of my lil self and my experience growing up, in Miami, Florida.

This one really hit me in the throat and gut! I don’t have many words(right now), to describe how this is making me feel. I didn’t realize till now that there was trauma that still needs to be healed. i thought that just focusing on the work and showing up for my community would be enough. but what about me…

I shared this on my IG as it felt relevant to say and actually it was all I could share with out letting the anger over come my emotions…

That same week I talked with my wife, Dominica about the importance of being more vocal. Serendipitously, Sarah Leibovitz from KUOW’s Soundside session reached out to me asking if I wanted to share my viewpoint on what was happening in Springfield. Yes indeed I said!

Yesterday, September 25th. I had a wonderful conversation with Libby Denkmann & Hans Anderson from KUOW.

https://www.kuow.org/stories/amid-harmful-lies-about-haitian-immigrants-members

Amid harmful lies about Haitian immigrants, members of the diaspora vow to tell their own story

They’re repeated over and over in debates, speeches and media appearances during this presidential campaign: harmful lies about Haitian immigrants.

Springfield, Ohio has been at the center of the fabrications. Former President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance have falsely asserted that Haitian immigrants are eating people’s pets. 

Despite thorough debunking by local officials, including the Republican Governor of Ohio –  Trump and Vance have doubled down on these falsehoods.

The dehumanizing rhetoric didn’t exactly shock members of the Haitian diaspora in the United States, but it has saddened them and put people in Springfield at risk.