The news of the earthquake that rocked Haiti has left me feeling helpless. I've seen images on my television set of the destruction and hopelessness. Buildings have collapsed, people have survived 12 and 15 hours of being buried under rubble.
Many people in my hometown -- Rochester, New York-- have friends and family in Haiti. They are worried about how their family members and friends are. A few plan to travel back to their beloved country to help. The international community has sent relief aid and help to bring Haiti back to normal.
Haiti's history has been a bleak one. I first learned about this Carribbean nation during my freshman year in college. I played The Lady In Brown in Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. The piece that I performed was about Haitian national hero Touissant L'overture who freed Haiti from slavery. During my momlogue, I discovered all the things he did to free his people and why he was so admired by the country.
Many people assumed that I picked this monologue because of my island roots. The fact that I got this part was truly a coincidence.
The Haitian community is a resilient one and they have weathered many storms. This is perhaps the worst in its history.
Besides dealing with a legacy of extreme poverty, Haiti now has to build itself back-up during these tough economic times. What amazed me during the news segments was the spirit of the community hasn't died. People were singing and happy that they survived. Knowing the Carribbean community, Haiti will survive; they just need our help.
I'm hoping some of you can spare just $5 and automatically donate it to Wyclef Jean's Haitian relief fund (text yele to 501501) or to the American Red Cross. I plan to send a donation. I'm sending out a lot of love and prayers to our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Posted By: Marsha Jones
Thursday, January 14th 2010 at 11:26AM
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