As part of Black History Month Lesly Condé Ex-Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 2004 - May 2018), delivered a message of reflections that we invite you to read and share.

Message by Lesly Condé :

"Dear fellow citizens and friends from everywhere,

I have the immense privilege of greeting you very warmly as we all welcome this month of February 2022 with all the challenges, all the expectations, all the hopes and all the apprehensions that accompany it. This month, which is the shortest of the year, is also the Black History Month. It's a too succinct period during which we will speak of the more or less recent contribution of certain black people. Because our education systems fail to clearly highlight these contributions, the Black History Month is a patronizing, often pleasantly surprising parenthesis.

Today, if we are to speak of black history away from the petty and dishonest stereotypes that have long served the cause of Western colonialism, we must first acknowledge that the experience of this race transcends continents, and will not cease to disturb those who delight in prejudice and imposture. It is clear that the month of February each year is far from sufficient to cover all aspects of the experience of the black race on this planet. I therefore fear that those who have thought of dedicating this month to black history have made the mistake of believing that the history of this race began with slavery. If Africa is the cradle of humanity, if arts, science and organized societies originated on the African continent, black history simply cannot be a month's affair.

Black history is, indeed, a history that colonization and slavery have skillfully falsified for centuries. Today, scientific evidence has established beyond doubt that Egypt at the time of the pyramids was black. This kind of information belongs in our classrooms. The history of blacks is, alas, a history of usurped heritages, and brave visionaries cowardly murdered. To find themselves, these black people need to discover their true story, and to believe in it.

One cannot talk about black history without mentioning Haiti, the first black State in the New World. Our identity is not celebrated around the world, but we know it is precious and we value it.

In closing, I wish you all a pleasant and safe month of February. Take care of each other. Whatever you do, think HAITI."

Lesly Condé

Message from Lesly Condé in 2022 :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35702-icihaiti-earthquake-2010-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35620-haiti-218th-anniversary-of-independence-traditional-message-from-lesly-conde.html

Messages from Lesly Condé in 2021 :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35847-haiti-canada-black-history-month.html

HL/ HaitiLibre