Tune into *Legacy Of 1804* This Friday Oct. 4 at 9PM!

Katia D. Ulysse

Don't forget to join me for ☼Legacy of 1804☼ on Black Whole Radio on Friday, October 4 at 9PM Eastern as I interview Katia D. Ulysse from the blog Voices from Haiti on her new book Drifting and take your calls.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackwholeradio/2013/10/05/legacy-of-1804-with-katia-ulysse-lof1804

Nan Vandredi ki 4 Oktòb koute mwen nan Black Whole Radio a nevè nan aswè. Envite mwen se pral Katia Ulysse ki pral pale nou de nouvo liv li Drifting.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackwholeradio/2013/10/05/legacy-of-1804-with-katia-ulysse-lof1804.

Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

Interviewing Saul Williams on His New Film Tey (Today) Tonight at 7 on Creatively Speaking On the Air

Join me tonight at 7 as I interview SLAM star Saul Williams on his new film Tey (Today). The film's US theatrical run premieres at MIST Harlem on October 6. 

Link to tune in to the show: 
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackwholeradio
(If you get this update too late to catch the show live check my twitter @kiskeacity, or my facebook for the link.)

Check out the website and press release for the film: http://teytoday.tumblr.com/


Get tickets to the premiere screening:
http://www.myimagestudios.com/event/details/877/tey-today--nyc-movie-premier

Tey makes its U.S. premiere following acclaimed screenings at film festivals around the world, premiering in Berlin in 2012. Tey has traveled to over 50 festivals internationally and has won over two dozen prizes including Seattle International’s Emerging Masters Award for best director; Del Primio CittaVenezia Award at the Venice Film Festival; and the Golden Stallion at FESPACO for best film and best actor – a first for Senegal and a first for an American actor. Tey is released by BelleMoon Productions a San Francisco based company. The film will be available in selected theaters around the U.S., October 6th - November 6th, 2013. The U.S. premiere and theatrical run is at MIST Harlem.The film will make its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York’s MIST Harlem Cinema on Sunday, October 6th in partnership with the Creatively Speaking Film Series.


Tey is a powerful fairy tale. In a village outside Dakar, the gods, the stars, or destiny, have spoken — Satché must die by the end of the day. A countdown to his transition, it is a reverse journey to birth – a joyous celebration feted by his community, as if he were a saint. Chosen to disappear, Satché soon finds himself set apart from those closest to him, in beautiful scenes that seek to show those elements of friendship, desire, sadness, affection and anger that are usually left unsaid.


Saul Williams was born in 1972 in Newburgh, New York. He is one of the most well known figures of the hip-hop generation as a poet, actor, rapper, singer and musician. He is recognized for his blend of slam poetry and hip-hop and for his leading role in the film Slam, Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Camera d’Or at Cannes in 1998.

 


ABOUT CREATIVELY SPEAKING Creatively Speaking is a monthly curated film series offering a diverse forum that highlights independent film by and/or about people of color.
http://www.creativelyspeaking.tv/home/



Post-Show Update:

Here is the show! Enjoy! 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackwholeradio/2013/09/25/creatively-speaking-tm-on-the-air-9413

Online Culture Radio at Blog Talk Radio with Black Whole Radio on BlogTalkRadio

Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

PHOTOS of Memorial to UN's Victims in Haiti

courtesy Radio Television Caraibes

courtesy Radio Television Caraibes

courtesy Radio Television Caraibes

Translated from Radio Télévision Caraïbes:
"Some pictures of Resistance Square in Port-Salut. A project of the Eric Jean-Baptiste foundation. The statue depicts a Haitian man looking up to the sun while holding a Haitian flag in his right hand and stepping on a UN blue helmet."
Port-Salut is the hometown of Johnny Jean who was raped on video by UN soldiers.
The UN is widely credited for having brought the cholera epidemic to Haiti.

Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

Phoenix Refined: Representing Haitians on the Parkway #LaborDay2013

 Date: Aug 30, 2013 12:42 PM


Good Morning,
I hope all is well & prosperous. My name is Kimberly Charles & I am pleased to inform you about my organization Phoenix Refined NYC's 1st Costumed Haitian Mas Band.

On September 1st Phoenix Refined will be partnering with LaCaye Restaurant, Changing Gears Ent. & Zing Experience To Present a Labor Day Celebration In the Posh Fort Greene Neighborhood. LaCaye Is Located at 35 Lafayette Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217.
The events are set to begin at 9pm Sunday September 1st with a Performance By Zing Experience. The night will be filled with acoustic vibrations & creole savors. We will be echoing the energy of the annual "J'Ouvert" pre-party celebrations.

http://fortgreene.patch.com/groups/events/p/labor-day-bash-with-zing-experience-at-la-caye

Then on Monday September 2nd, 2013 we will be premiering our 2nd debut on Eastern Parkway for the West Indian American Day Carnival where we will be presenting our theme THANKFUL: An Ode To The Haitian Ancestry!!! Where we'll be reveling in the Ancestral Spirit. We will be located at Rockaway Parkway & Winthrop

Phoenix Refined brought the 1st Annual Haitian Masquerade Camp to New York City for The West Indian American Day Carnival to rejuvenate the numerous aspects of the Haitian Heritage by Teaching Culture through the Art of Masquerading. Our purpose with the Haitian Masquerade Camp is to use it as a platform to enlighten others about the rich legacy of Haiti through Cultural Affairs like Live Events, Conferences, Fashion Shows, Music, Art programs and more. This will therefore empower the Haitian Community & Teach cultural empathy and awareness through out the Caribbean Diaspora. Although the movement began in this manner it doesn’t just end there “We’re more than just a Masquerade Camp; We’re Haitian Cultural Ambassadors To The World!!!”


This Haitian Masquerade Camp was brought to life because of the lack of Haitian Representation in the Caribbean Community. We are the missing link to restoring our countries rich culture and history in New York City. Phoenix Refined believes in giving back to the community and so with that we are collaborating for our 2nd year with It Takes a Community to Raise a Child, a nonprofit learning facility, which addresses the students’, individual needs so that he or she may develop physically, spiritually, intellectually, socially, and morally; ITAC believes in educating the whole child. We play a role in the cultural education of these children and in the near future we hope to branch out further.


Since The creation of Phoenix Refined we have been blessed to work with many non for profit organizations and expose others to the Haitian Culture. We have worked with inner city Schools Like Mott Hall Bridges Academy in conjunction with a group called Passport to the City +NoMadness Travel Tribe, Capra Care, New York Cities Haitian Consulate, Fabrice Armand’s Haiti Cherie Pride, Love & Commitment, The National Haitian Student Alliance, C2C’s Hope & A Future Benefit Concert, LaCaye Restaurant at BAMs Dance Africa Festival and Many More. Our Vision & Our Goal Is To Produce Proud Haitians & Haitian-Americans who are Proactive, Invovled & Aware Of Their Rich Culture. With Phoenix Refined The Proof is in the Pudding come & see for yourself.

With Phoenix Refined we are creating an environment where we bring the camaraderie back into the Haitian Culture and the Caribbean Diaspora as a whole.

Phoenix Refined Premiered Last Year As NYC's 1st Haitian Masquerade Camp & This Month Makes It Makes A Year That We've Not Only Displayed Our Haitian CULTURE On The Streets of BROOKLYN For The West Indian American Day Carnival But We Have Also Been Blessed To Work With The Kids, The Community, Our Elected Officials & Expose Countless Amounts of People from All Over The WORLD To The HEART, The JOY & The PRIDE of HAITIAN CULTURE!!! We Don't Just Sell Costumes for Kanaval In NYC... We Create The CREOLE EXPERIENCE!!!

http://youtu.be/HNsvglwjFXM


 If you are interested in Volunteering, Donating or Partnering up with Phoenix Refined with please feel free to email Team Phoenix Refined via Bus. Line 646.926.0379 or Email PhoenixRefined@gmail.com


Stay Connected With Us!

Email: PhoenixRefined@gmail.com
Facebook| facebook.com/PhoenixRefined
Follow Us On Instagram| PhoenixRefined
Follow Us On Twitter| twitter.com/PhoenixRefined
Check Out Our Interview On BCAT’s TV Neworks: With MarieAnge Daniels Beyond FocusTV http://youtu.be/Pt1bi-U5tCg




Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

Code for Dealing with Requests to Donate Money "for Haiti"

There is now plenty of evidence that the most effective number of western NGOs in Haiti are not helping Haiti at all. (See the film Fatal Assistance by Haitian filmmaker Raoul Peck if you have not already.) Would you like to avoid being used towards the raising of funds for non-constructive activities by the WSIC in the area of the world of your origin? Avoid donating your hard earned money to any entities with sexy yet empty names concocting savily branded fundraisers towards vague/non-constructive goals.

Here are some examples of questions to ask members of the WSIC when they ask you to donate money towards their activities in Haiti. (You can also ask  these questions to Haitians or afro-descendants who ask you to donate in the name of  western NGOs or entities that they do not run, control and fund, especially the larger ones.) In order to increase the chance of receiving truthful answers, remember to remain calm and polite when asking your questions.

QUESTIONS:

Are you raising funds to provide Haitians a service or a good? Have you asked any Haitians who do not work for you whether they need your help towards the service/good for which you are fundraising? Have you asked Haitians who do not work for you how much of that service or good they will need and the specific form in which they would like to receive that service or good?

Since you are using the word Haiti in your fundraising drive, will  Haitians ultimately benefit  the most from the fundraising and in a way that they have deemed constructive?

Is there an NGO involved in/behind your fundraising drive? If so what is/are the name of the NGO(s)? What governments if any does that NGO receive funding/support from or work in close collaboration with?

What percentage of the money raised will go to "overhead" or to activities not linked to relief determined necessary by Haitians?

What percentage of the money raised will empower one or more Haitians to improve his/her/their life (lives) in a way that they have determined is the most constructive for them? 

Will the funds raised help to further JUSTICE in Haiti? 

Will the funds raised help to further INJUSTICE in Haiti?

What does (fill in the requesting entity's name or the fundraiser's name) mean? How does your entity accomplish what its name promises? How does your fundraiser's name accomplish what it promises?

What is the relationship of your entity to MINUSTAH?

How does your entity collaborate with MINUSTAH?

What is your entity's position on MINUSTAH remaining in Haiti indefinitely?

●●●

Wait until your questions have been answered to decide whether donating is the most constructive use of your resources. Use this code also to deal with entities that ask you to donate time/energy.

Please react in the comments section as I would like your constructive help in enriching this code.



Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

Haiti Film Fest Schedule May 9-12

The Haiti Film fest starts today with tonight's Opening Reception.

Films will be screening FREE Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at St. Francis College.

Here is the schedule



If you haven't yet seen Toussaint and Stones in the Sun by Patricia Benoit, this is your opportunity.

I will be moderating/translating at two Q&A's, one each day. 

One is on Saturday at 12pm – with Frantz Voltaire & Kendy Verilus.  The films are about the degradation of Port-au-Prince and environmental issues related to garbage.

Lineup:
Zafè Fatra (2012,  8 Minutes, Kreyòl with English subtitles) by Kendy Vérilus
Exclusive New York Premiere
Port-au-Prince, Ma Ville (2000, 57 minutes, Kreyòl & French with English Subtitles) by Rigoberto Lopez

The second one is on Sunday at 5 pm with Romel Jean-Pierre.

Lineup:
Anita (2012, 15 Minutes, Kreyòl with English Subtitles) by Ricardo Tranquilin, Ciné Institute
Plezi Gede Credit (2012, 6 Minutes) by Romel Jean-Pierre
Anita (1981, 45 Minutes, Kreyòl with English Subtitles) by Rassoul Labuchin


Full Film descriptions http://haiticulturalx.org/hcx-haiti-film-fest-2013-schedule




Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Faceook

Open Letter to Eve Ensler: A Lesson for Haitians

A letter by a Canadian Native American woman to Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues, echoes many of the issues Haitians face with the White Savior Industrial Complex  ("WSIC") and its army of 3,000 NGOs, 12,000 UN troops, innumerable speakers for Haiti, appropriators of Haiti's ancestral religion, culture and music and other so-called "allies" who silence Haitians for a profit while assuming our voice:

Your organization took a photo of Ashley Callingbull, and used it to promote V-Day Canada and One Billion Rising, without her consent. You then wrote the word “vanishing” on the photo, and implied that Indigenous women are disappearing, and inherently suggested that we are in some type of dire need of your saving. You then said that Indigenous women were V-Day Canada’s “spotlight”. V-Day completely ignored the fact that February 14th is an iconic day for Indigenous women in Canada, and marches, vigils, and rallies had already been happening for decades to honor the missing and murdered Indigenous women.[...]

When women in Canada brought up these exact issues, V-Day responded to them by deleting the comment threads that were on Facebook. For a person and organization who works to end violence against women, this is certainly the opposite of that. Although I’m specifically addressing V-Day, this is not an isolated incident. This is something that Indigenous women constantly face. This erasure of identity and white, colonial, feminism is in fact, a form of violence against us. The exploitation and cultural appropriation creates and excuses the violence done to us.

When I told you that your white, colonial, feminism is hurting us, you started crying. Eve, you are not the victim here. [...] This is not being a good ally. [...]


At the end of our conversation you offered me the opportunity to join V-Day. Offered me money. Offered me to become a spokesperson for Native American women. These are things I am not interested in. I do not want to be part of the white savior industrial complex, and I never want to duplicate saviorism and colonialism within my own organization, Save Wiyabi Project, and I’m surely not interested in selling my soul and integrity for a bit of cash and perceived prestige.

 Read the full letter here: An Open Letter to Eve Ensler - Life Returned ht.ly/kIGXq

Kudos to the author, Lauren Chief Elk, for refusing to be bought off. Indeed, it is often because of money and potential "prestige" carried by WSIC "brands" that we relinquish our voices and agency to the WSIC, only to regret it when the damage is irreversible.


We owe the concept of the White Savior Industrial Complex to Teju Cole. [The White-Savior Industrial Complex - Teju Cole - The Atlantic http://ht.ly/kOELo ]  In his own words:

The white savior supports brutal policies in the morning, founds charities in the afternoon, and receives awards in the evening. ... The White Savior Industrial Complex is not about justice. It is about having a big emotional experience that validates privilege.

More about the ways in which Haitians are hurt by the army of non-Haitian "experts" who speak for us every day in the corporate media here. [Colonialism of the Mind – Part I | NEWS JUNKIE POST http://ht.ly/kMuJA.] In author Dady Chery's words:

Western journalists increasingly assume the voices of subjugated countries’ natives while muzzling them by denying them access to the press. In the United States, the more visible venues of the alternative press, such as online news sites Truthout, Common Dreams, and Huffington Post are essentially closed to native writers. This colonialism of the mind is rampant when it comes to Haiti ... Westerners, whatever their political leaning, do reserve their right to rule the world, and the right to pontificate to the ignorant natives is very much a part of it.

SOLUTIONS?

• Stop posting, quoting or amplifying the appropriators of your voice  EXCEPT WHEN THEIR ARTICLES CONTAIN INFORMATION OF CONSTRUCTIVE VALUE TO HAITIANS. In that case, cut and paste ONLY the useful information without otherwise promoting your sabotager. After all, they are insiders to the current system, and as such may have information that you will never be privy to. But beyond that information, do not further amplify their inevitable references to "poorest country in the you know what" or gratuitous use of the word V-O-O-D-O-O in the titles of their books or other tragic depictions of Haiti that leave out their own participation to its plight and ultimately demean YOU.

• Stop seeking their approval and attention. They will not help promote your voice in any meaningful way or beyond the strictures of tokenism.  Instead carry your own voice on your own behalf via the innumerable free communications tools available to you online or in the Haitian or Afro-descendant groups, associations or organizations you belong to. If you are Haitian and you need guidance or training in online communication tools, let me know.

• Do not honor, reward or give awards to these covert profiteers in any way.

• Avoid spending too much time or energy in forums, conferences or platforms that seek to explain to members of the WSIC how  they muzzle you. That is a waste of time and energy and they know the answer better than you while most Haitians do not. Instead spend that energy in explaining to HAITIANS how and why they should not promote their silencers and pointing them to Haitian authored content and cultural production. 

• Read the Haitian papers and Haitian blogs regularly and repost the content. Do so with a critical eye because inevitably some of our own content is heavily influenced by the WSI/NGO complex.  After all, WSIC dollars are in constant and heavy rotation in Haiti and their ideas are common currency in the global mainstream and therefore among well-meaning Haitians.

UPDATE 4:49PM: Just received this bit of feedback on this post from the author of the Open Letter, Lauren Chief Elk, @ChiefElk, via Twitter:  "Raising a fist in the air for you and Haiti. Your additions to the open letter were very important & needed. Thank you. We've been applying how this saviorism & exploitation is in direct correlation to violence against us & a gleaning example is the Indian Child Welfare Act. The cheerleaders against it see us as pathetic & tragic, & think our babies should be able to be adopted into "better homes" off reservations. I thought about the missionaries who kidnapped Haitian babies post-earthquake in the name of "saving" them. *puke*."

Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook

Does Haiti Really Need More Prisons?

Dady Chéry has the answer:

"Canada and the U.S. are itching to build prisons in Haiti.  True, Haiti’s prisons hold three times more prisoners than the capacity for which they were built, but Haiti does not need more prisons, it needs better prisons and fewer prisoners.  Already Haiti has the lowest per-capita number of inmates in the Caribbean, at a rate of 55 per 100,000.  It turns out that more than two thirds of those incarcerated have never been tried. In prison: young, old, and contagious are thrown together.  Two hundred of seventy five inmates have died of cholera because the prisons are not supplied with clean drinking water.  Many of the inmates are political prisoners who were locked up after Aristide’s overthrow.  The sensible thing to do is to respect these individuals’ rights.  This should have the salutary effect of dropping Haiti’s incarcerations to a number very close to the country’s prison capacity."

This and more facts here:
Haiti Has Lowest Inmate Per Capita in Caribbean and 70% Await Trial | Haiti Chery by Dady Chéry ht.ly/kfDa6








Kiskeácity Daily | HaitianBloggers.Collected | @kiskeacity| Facebook