15434: From Netchinsky: Commemoration of Toussaint in Boston's Faneuil Hall, May 4 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Jill Netchinsky Toussaint <netchins@fas.harvard.edu>

Haitian Artists Assembly of Massachusetts (HAAM)

Press Release- 4/7/2003 (Reminder)

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

Program: Conference, Historian Claude Moïse
State Rep. Byron Rushing, Mass.
Books, paintings display on Toussaint
Classical march and Haitian roots music
Poetry reading and theatrical rendering
Proclamation of Louverture Day in Mass

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 Moïse, 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 had 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 classical music, along with the Assembly’s musicians,
Gifrants, Smith Nazaire and Ninon Paul.

· Theatrical renderings by Patric Lacroix, Idi Jawarakim, Ninon Paul.

· Seven artists will display their 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 from both original and famous works on
Toussaint by other writers, such as Pablo Neruda, William Wordsworth
and Denizé Lauture. Readers will include Tontongi, Patrick Sylvain,
Serge Valmé, Ella Turenne, Joel Theodat.

· A slide show will feature various representations of Louverture and
quotes that reveal surprising facts that establish his visionary
philosophy. 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
gathered 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.

*Honorary Committee:

Marie Saint Fleur, State Representative, Mass.
Esther Kaplan, Commissioner of Cultural
Affairs of City of Boston
Henry Louis Gates, Director of DuBois Institute,
Harvard University
Edwidge Danticat, Writer
Clausel Rosembert, Haitian Consul, Boston
Byron Rushing, State Representative, Mass
Claude Moïse, Professor, The National Project
on Toussaint Louverture
Noam Chomsky, Professor, MIT
Michel DeGraff Professor, MIT
Eno Mondesir, Chairman of Haitian Americans
United Inc.
Barry Gaither, Executive Director, Museum of
Afro American Arts
Marc Prou, Chairman of Haitian Studies
Association, University of Mass.
Gerdes Fleurant, Professor, Wellesley College
Rev. Carl L. Jones, Executive Administrator of
Massachusetts Legislative Black Caucus

HAAM's Planning Committee:

Charlot Lucien, Co-director
Eddy Toussaint, Co-director
Oreste Joseph, Treasurer
Dumas Lafontant, Executive Committee member
Idi Jawarakim, 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. Inquiries about the Assembly can be mailed to: Haitian
Artists Assembly of Massachusetts, 10 Blake St. #2, Hyde Park MA
02136. Phone # 617-276-3174.