Nyack celebrates Haitian Heritage Month with trilingual poetry reading and book launch

Samantha Antrum, Rockland/Westchester Journal News

Haitian Heritage Month in the Lower Hudson Valley kicked off Saturday with a poetry reading and book launch at Nyack library. Haitian poets, musicians, dancers and supporters of Haitian culture gathered for performances of select poems from the new book, “This Land, My Beloved: A Trilingual Anthology of Contemporary Haitian Poetry.”

The text, arranged by co-editors Elizabeth Brunazzi, Tontongi and local poet and author Denizé Lauture, is a collection of poetry published in English, French and Haitian Creole.

“It was nice to hear the past, the present, the hopes for the future (of Haiti) and the struggles… interwoven into all of the poetry and music,” said event attendee Pascale Jean-Gilles, who is also a trustee of the Nyack Village Board.

The month of May was proclaimed Haitian Heritage Month by a New York State resolution to recognize the contributions to society from Haiti and its community members. According to the resolution, Assembly Resolution No. 393, which was adopted in May 2023, the celebratory month originates in Haitian Flag Day, a national Haitian Holiday on May 18 that honors the country’s flag, designed by Jean Jacques Dessalines and adopted during the Haitian revolution.

Denizé Lauture, poet, author and co-editor of the new anthology, "My Land, My Beloved," read some of his poetry at a book launch event on Saturday, May 4 at Nyack Library. The anthology features poetry in three languages: English, French and Haitian Creole.
Denizé Lauture, poet, author and co-editor of the new anthology, "My Land, My Beloved," read some of his poetry at a book launch event on Saturday, May 4 at Nyack Library. The anthology features poetry in three languages: English, French and Haitian Creole.

‘This Land, My Beloved’ features Lower Hudson Valley poet

A small audience listened intently as poets who appear in “This Land, My Beloved,” such as Lauture, who is also one of the anthology’s co-editors, read pieces in Creole, English and French. Accompanied by drummer, Steve White, much of the poetry performed shared the themes of resistance and resilience, common threads throughout Haiti’s history, its struggles and its people.

“I feel like this is something that we do not see often as far as the Haitian culture,” audience member Katyana Andre West said while discussing her excitement before the reading. “It's sad... to see what's happening today in the country.

"But there's so much beauty and so many gifts in our culture.”

Story continues after gallery.

Haitian heritage events continue in Lower Hudson, NYC and beyond

While the anthology reflects some of the country’s struggles, it also celebrates Haitian culture, demonstrated by impromptu singing and dancing that took place as poets concluded their performances on Saturday.

The event "was a success because of the joy it brought," said Nanor Pogosian, librarian at the Nyack Library and organizer of the event. "I hope everybody got something out of it.”

Celebrations will continue throughout the month of May, read on for our list.

  • N'AP Boule screening: Date to be determined, screening to take place at Finkelstein Memorial Library, 24 Chestnut St, Spring Valley. Check bit.ly/44BBsDl to learn more.

  • 2024 Parade of Unity & Community Concert in the park: 4 to 10 p.m., Sunday May 19 at Memorial Park, Spring Street, New York City. Learn more at bit.ly/3UPQthE.

  • Haitian Flag Day Celebration night with Kaï: The Bridge sports bar and lounge, 92 Main Street, Nyack, tickets start at $28.52. Learn more at bit.ly/3yi6Zhr.

  • Zoe Fest "Biggest Haitian Flag Day event in NJ/NY": Starts at 9 p.m. Friday, May 17 at BarCode Entertainment Complex, 429 North Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ. Tickets start at $20. Go to bit.ly/3WwAPJj to learn more.

For more events, check out our full list online: bit.ly/3Wxa8nK.

Know of a Haitian Heritage Month event you'd like to see on this list? Email reporter Samantha Antrum at santrum@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Creole poetry event in Nyack NY kicks off Haitian Heritage Month

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