I find it pretty ironic that the same year I return to Haiti- after 17 tears- is the same year that Haiti enters the Miss Universe pageant.
You see, I'm pretty big on pageants. I LOVE them- don't judge me. I set the dates on all calendars in my house and remind my mother everyday until the actual day (where I then remind her every couple of hours so she doesn't fall asleep). I even entered in the Miss New York Teen USA pageant back in the day (#FAIL). To many people I know, pageants are for airheads with no talent or goals in life. I tend to disagree as the women who do enter are grad students, lawyers, models, med students and so much more. I enjoy it for the entertainment value (hello evening gown competition!) as well as hearing of the winners' participation in various nonprofit organizations/programs throughout the year.
When I first came from Haiti at the age of five, I spoke only my native language Creole and a bit of French My mother would watch the pageants and translate (poorly) what the pretty women on TV were saying. I sat and admired the women who looked both poised and graceful- and with blindingly white and straight teeth. My mom always said she'd love t see her daughter there one day for all the world to see her beauty.
I remember watching them all- Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, Miss Universe and Miss America (note: Miss America is not part of the Miss Universe franchise). One thing that always stuck out to me was the lack of brown skinned beauties- more specifically Miss Haiti was never represented. I swore that I'd go there to fill that void. Now, after 21 years, someone has beat me to it.
Sarodj Bertin, 24, is the daughter of Mireille Durocher Bertin. Any Haitian who has done their research, know their history or cares of the country's history would know that Mireille Durocher Bertin was a human rights advocate and lawyer who was about to enter the presidential elections '95 when she was murdered (some say it was a political move by her opponent- and later President of Haiti- Jean-Bertrand Aristide though no evidence has been founded to support such claims). Bertin, then nine years old, fled across the border to the Dominican Republic where she was raised.
A law student, Bertin speaks four languages (Creole, Spanish, French and English- this is actually what students in Haiti learn to this day) and is
learning Mandarin and Italian Some say that pageant was rigged. Others (and fellow Haitians)say that she isn't a fit representative for Haiti due to the fact that she's a
grimelle (light skinned black woman but isn't mixed). The nerve! But my beef isn't with them because black people- Haitian or otherwise- have had color complexes for eons and I have no time for their tomfoolery and ignorance.
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| Bertin displaying her national costume |
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| All photos from threads on http://www.dominicantoday.com/ |
My beef is with
Lilit Marcus and her piece on the Huffington Post a couple of days ago. Marcus felt that Haiti shouldn't be participating due to the events of
January 12.
le sigh Really? Why keep mourning? The people of Haiti are trying to move on as best as they could with whatever resources they have available. Yes, Ms. Marcus, all Haitians are supposed to wallow in their own self pity and poverty. You're right- we're not allowed to celebrate something and try to lift our spirits- 8 months after the tragedy. We'll just sit here and feel as downtrodden as our environment.
Why even
try to be happy?!
pfftt
WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING WOMAN?!
The 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards were helod November 4, 2001- just 2 months after NY was attacked by terrorists and one month after we officially went to war with Afghanistan. The Grammys were held in February 2002- five months after 9/11. Trust me, everyday the people of Haiti are reminded of the earthquake. School has been out since April and do not open until October. Houses are gone. Family members and friends are either dead or missing. They know they're poor.
In times of tragedy people turn to entertainment to lift their spirits, no matter how small. For them not to be represented and, hell, ENJOY themselves is a bt foolish. You ask, "Who paid for Bertin to fly to Las Vegas? How many people competed in the Miss Haiti pageant, and how were they able to get clothes and makeup and pay for travel?" Well, guess what, NOT EVERYBODY IS POOR IN HAITI! Some people have family in the States and elsewhere sending food, money and clothing to them (my family being one). Secondly, Miss Bertin was raised in the Dominican Republic and is a LAWYER. Lastly, the country doesn't pay for a contestant to attend the pageant (not to my knowledge). It's the pageant officials (remember there are actual organizations created for pageants). I HIGHLY doubt that Barack Obama and the US government handed Miss USA, Rima Fakih, money and said "Make us proud."
Not everyone is living in tents and stick houses, contrary to what you see on CNN or FOX. There are houses! There's electricity and water. Not everyone eats dirt! Hell, I feel like I ate more in the past two weeks I spent there than in two weeks I spend in NYC.
Bertin is an educated and beautiful young Haitian woman attempting to show people, like you Ms. Marcus, that their is more to Haiti than poverty. Haitian women are beautiful too. Haitians are resilient and this is one small but significant step in building the morale of the people.
Let us enjoy it.
Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.
