We need a History Lesson

This is an email from my cousin. No edits have been made
*****
For the past few months I have been entrenched in settlement negotiations with a plaintiff counsel on a serious medical malpractice matter. In the process of our telephone exchanges he and I have cultivated a pleasant professional relationship premised on mutual respect. Yesterday morning we transgressed from discussing the case and started to discuss the devastation caused by the earthquake. At some point I mentioned I was Haitian, and then there was a deafening silence on the other line. When he broke the awkward silence, he said, “Your parents must be proud that you were able to make something of yourself”. Now it was my turn to return the awkward, deafening silence.

When we agreed we reached another impasse in our negotiations, I sat back to reflect on the conversation. Once again I was reminded how people have little understanding of my rich heritage and culture. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors: Arawak Indians; slaves from Benin; Europeans settlers and free Haitians. We inherited the spirituality of our Indian, African and European ancestors. We are born to thirst knowledge. We are born with a sincere desire to help those in need. As with so many Haitians, Haitian-Americans, Haitian-Europeans, Haitian-Africans, Haitian-Latinos, Haitian-Chinese and the like, we are destined to make something of ourselves. It is in our genes to be the best that we can be.

In today’s issue of the New York Times there is a letter in response to a NY Times article, which gives a historical perspective on the problems of Haiti. I ask you to read the article and to share it with your friends and family. Please help me to educate those who do not understand Haiti and Haitians.

I look forward to my next telephone conversation with this plaintiff counsel. I will tell him the day I was born my parents were proud of me. They already knew I was going to make something of myself. After all, I am a descendent of Arawak Indians, slaves from Benin, Europeans settlers, free Haitians, the great granddaughter of French Aristocracy, the granddaughter of a Judge and Entrepreneur; the daughter of an Educator/Entrepreneur. I am the daughter of loving, nurturing and supportive parents who constantly reminded my siblings and I to walk with dignity and pride in our rich Haitian heritage. They were confident that even though we were forced to leave our homeland and start over in a new country their children would continue to make something of themselves. And this legacy will continue in the next generation and the generation that follows and so on.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.