A New Home for Haitian Art in Bowie

by: Mardline Prevot 

Via Mazopal Design (Haitian Community: The Vintage View)

The words sting, even when they're not directed at me. In my courses, when Haiti comes up, it's a predictable script: poverty, political instability, a place to avoid. A casual dismissal of a country so rich in history and resilience. It's a narrative that paints my home as a lost cause, a cautionary tale. And for a long time, I just listened, the words sinking in.

But then I realized something. They're not completely wrong. Haiti has faced incredible challenges. But that's not the whole story, and it's certainly not the only story. What's missing from their textbooks is the vibrant, powerful history that makes Haiti what it is today. They don't talk about the incredible strength and ingenuity of a country that, after 1804, became the first free Black republic. They don't mention the Black liberation that sparked hope across the diaspora.

This incomplete narrative is exactly why I'm piecing together my own Haitian culture business. It's my way of setting the record straight, of telling the stories they leave out. My focus is on the incredible women who have shaped my country's history. They are the freedom fighters, the leaders, and the quiet forces of change who deserve to be celebrated.

I'm talking about women like Sanité Bélair, a revolutionary soldier who fought for independence, and Marie-Jeanne Lamartinière, a warrior who defended the country with fierce courage. I'm honoring Catherine Flon, who sewed the first Haitian flag, and the spiritual power of Cécile Fatiman. I'm looking at the modern activists like Yvonne Hakim Rimpel and Myriam Merlet, who fought for human rights and justice. And I pay tribute to the legendary figure of Dédée Bazile and the powerful spirit of Erzulie Dantor.

And I'm not just honoring them in my head. As a student at Bowie State University, a historically Black university, I feel a deep connection to this history. I recently purchased a piece of art that pays tribute to these incredible women. It's a vibrant, powerful image, and as soon as I get my next paycheck, I'm framing it. It won't just be for my eyes. I want to install it in a public space for everyone to see.

Because the world needs to know the full story of Haiti—the story of its strength, its spirit, and the indomitable women who have always been its heart.