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15353: Lucien: Re: Toussaint Louverture celebration, May 4, 6-9 Faneuil Hall -- NOTE FOR YOU (fwd)



From: charlot lucien <charlotlucien@yahoo.com>
---------------------
Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts

Press Release-  4/7/2003

What		Commemorating the Memory of Haitian
                Statesman Toussaint Louverture
Date:		May 4, 2003, 6-9PM
Where:	        Faneuil Hall, Boston, Ma
Contact:	Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts;
Charlot Lucien:	617-276-3174

Program:

       -Conference:     Historian Claude Moise
		State Rep. Byron Rushing, Massachusetts
       -Books and paintings display on T. Louverture
       -Classical march and Haitian roots music
       -Proclamation of Mass. Toussaint Louverture Day
--------

The Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts and the
Honorary Committee* to Celebrate the Memory of Haitian
Statesman Toussaint Louverture are pleased to invite
you to a special ceremony that will commemorate the
200th year of Louverture’s death.

Toussaint Louverture, (May 20, 1743- April 7, 1803) is
credited with leading the first successful slave
revolution in the world, setting the stage for Haiti’s
independence, after outmaneuvering diplomatically and
militarily the colonial empires of Great Britain,
Spain and France. Amid numerous achievements
celebrated by historians, much remain to be said
regarding Louverture’s impact on the history of other
nations. It is now widely known for instance, that by
stopping the French army sent to reestablish slavery
in Haiti, Toussaint prevented Napoleon Bonaparte from
setting foot on the Louisiana territories, thereby
changing the course of History both in the U.S. and in
Europe.

On May 4, 2003, artists, academics, public officials,
students, community organizers, Haitians of all
stocks, and friends of the Haitian community will join
together at Faneuil Hall, historic site of Boston,
where the U.S. freedom fighters and independence
founders used to meet, to reflect on the impact of
Toussaint Louverture’s revolution on history, on black
people in particular, and celebrate his memory with
music, art and poetry.  The program will include the
following:

·	Professor Claude Moise, a Haitian historian, author
of “The National Project of Toussaint Louverture and
the Constitution of 1801”, will travel from Montreal
and will be joined by State Representative Byron
Rushing, who has visited Haiti under dire
circumstances to support democracy, for a presentation
on the Universality of Toussaint Louverture.

·	The Haitian Fanfare of Boston, a 25-musician band
will perform Haitian, along with the Assembly’s
musicians, Gifrants, Smith Nazaire, Joel Theodat and
Ninon.

·	Theatrical renderings by Patrick Lacroix, Idi, and
Ninon.

·	Seven Haitian artists will display their artworks,
posters and portraits of Toussaint Louverture: Fritz
Ducheine, Joseph Chery, Valentin Ivikel, Charlot
Lucien, Jean-Claude Sainté, Isaac Pierre, Ludjer
Chikel, Blondel Joseph.

·	HAAM poets will read poetry from both original and
famous works on Toussaint by other writers -poets will
include Tontongi, Danielle Legros Georges, Serge
Valmé, Patrick Sylvain, Ella Turenne- including
reading of poems by Pablo Neruda, Wordsworth and
Denizé Lauture.

·	A slide show will feature various representations of
Louverture and quotes that reveal surprising facts
that establish his visionary philosophy. Some fifty
books on Toussaint will be on display.

Through names such as abolitionist Wendell Phillips,
Senator Charles Summer, the New England Observer
Delegation on Haiti, Haiti has had a long relationship
with the state of Massachusetts. Wendell Phillips
delivered his best speech for the abolitionist cause,
focusing on the life of Toussaint Louverture. Senator
Charles Summer was attacked on the floor of the State
House for advocating the independence of Haiti. It is
fitting that such a ceremony takes place at the
Faneuil Hall, the historical site where the United
States Founding Fathers gather to discuss the
Independence.

The State of Massachusetts and the City of Boston will
issue a proclamation acknowledging a special
“Toussaint Louverture Day” on May 4th, 2003.
Dignitaries from various sectors have joined to form
an honorary committee for this event.

Note that throughout the month of May (Haitian
Heritage Month), the Assembly and its guests will hold
a series of presentations in various media, including
Radio Concorde, Haïti en Marche, Haïti-Progrès, Radio
Energie, Tele Kreyòl, Radio Nouveauté, Tanbou, Boston
Haitian Reporter, to promote a greater awareness of
the impact of Toussaint Louverture on peoples’ search
for freedom and self-determination.

Please join us for these celebrations. Suggested
donation is $20 –– $15 for students.  Please reserve
your seat at: 617-276-3174, or 781-961-5855, 282-3316.
Formal attire encouraged.

This event is organized by the Haitian Artists
Assembly of Massachusetts, and is made possible thanks
to the sponsorship of the Boston Haitian Reporter, the
Haitian Consulate in Boston, Haitian Americans United
Inc., Haitian-American Public Health Initiatives,
Oresjozef Publications, Haitian Multi Service Center,
Haitian Fanfare of Boston, Association of Haitian
Women of Boston (AFAB), Harvard’s Haiti Initiative,
Haitian-American Organization Student Club of the
University of Massachusetts.

For more information, please contact the Assembly at:
(617) 276-3174	(781) 961-5855	(617) 868-1094.

Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts
Celebrating Haitian Statesman Toussaint Louverture,
May 4, 2003


Honorary Committee
-------------------
Marie Saint Fleur 	State Representative, Mass.
Esther Kaplan  		Commissioner of Cultural
                        Affairs, Boston
Henry Louis Gates 	Chairman, Dubois Institute,
                        Harvard University
Clausel Rosembert  	Haitian Consul, Boston
Byron Rushing 		State Representative, Mass.
Claude Moïse		Professor, historian (The
                        National Project of
Louverture)
Michel DeGraff		Professor, MIT
Eno Mondesir 		Chairman, Haitian Americans United Inc.
Barry Gaither  		Executive Director, Museum of
                        Afro American Artists
Marc Prou  		Chairman, Haitian Studies
                        Association, University of
Mass
Gerdes Fleurant		Professor, Wellesley College
Rev. Carl L. Jones 	Executive Administrator,
                        Mass Legislative Black Caucus

Central Planning Committee

Charlot Lucien 	        Co-director
Eddy Toussaint  	Co-director
Oreste Joseph 		Treasurer
Earlh Lafontant	        Executive Committee member
Idi Jarawakim		Executive Committee member

The Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts is
dedicated to promoting Haitian art and culture in the
State of Massachusetts and in the Diaspora through
cultural events, educational workshops, and
presentations and fostering fellowship and skills
development among its members.  Inquiries about the
Assembly can be mailed at: Haitian Artists Assembly of
Massachusetts, 10 Blake St #2, Hyde Park MA 02136.
Phone #617-276-3174.


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