Haitian Heritage Month

Whereas, Haitian Heritage Month is celebrated yearly in May to commemorate Haiti’s declaration of independence from the French in 1803; and,

Whereas, Haiti was the first Independent Black nation in the Western Hemisphere, the second oldest republic, behind only the United States, and is considered one of the few Black countries that successfully fought and won their independence; and,

Whereas, as we speak of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Diane Nash, and even the late Harry Belafonte, we cannot forget the names of Toussaint Louverture and W.E.B. Du Bois, and the forefathers of the American Civil Rights movement who could look to an island in the Caribbean for hope regarding freedom, autonomy, and a sense of pride; and,

Whereas, despite how the news focuses on a specific narrative when it comes to Haiti, you can look around you, here in (Municipality) and see that it is but a minuscule part of the story; and,

Whereas, you only need to look at (Insert Name) to see what being raised, knowing your heritage can do for someone, and how, no matter where you go, how far that pride can take you; and,

Whereas, in (Municipality), we want you to understand diversity means something. That it isn’t just the superficial of what you look like but what culture you bring, the beliefs and thoughts that come from varied experiences, and how that can merge with what (Municipality) has to make our town feel like a worldly place.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that I, (GOVERNING BODY), do hereby proclaim the month of May 2023 as Haitian Heritage Month and May 18^th Haitian Flag Day. I also encourage our citizens to explore the rich history of Haiti, both past and present, so future generations can know of its importance in world history and Haiti can continue to inspire those who understand what it means to fight against second-class citizenship.