As a Haitian woman born and raised, freedom is the foundation of my identity. It is the force that has driven more than two decades of resistance, courage, and unshakable hope among the Africans and Creole people who were enslaved on this land. Freedom embodies the spirit of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Pétion, and Christophe, as well as Marinette and Catherine Flon. It reflects the strength and fire of our warriors—men and women—who fought for our right to live.
My whole being comes alive when I hear the word “freedom,” especially during May, Haitian Heritage Month. This month allows us to honor our roots and celebrate the creation of the Haitian flag, the banner of the first Black-led republic in the world. We are a people forged in resistance and resilience.
Freedom flows through my veins; it is my legacy—the drumbeat of my ancestors echoing in every step I take. I am becoming their greatest dreams simply by existing, choosing, and being.
Freedom is the right to make choices about my life, my body, my work, and my path. It is the space to express my pain without shame, heal, and strive daily to become the best version of myself.
I stand in the legacy of a people who refused to be broken. And I rise, again and again, because freedom is not just my birthright—it is my inheritance.
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