The first time was when I was around age 8.
My Haitian aunt was supposed to come to the States for a birthday party.
She was proud, dignified.
Photo: Signature Theatre
She had a very good life in Haiti.
Never would she want to learn English or live in any homeland besides her own.
This was my early education on how my home country viewed my fathers home country.
The cast of Morisseau’sBad Kreyòl: Pascale Armand, Kelly McCreary, Jude Tibeau, Fedna Jacquet, and Andy Lucien.
The second time was when I was around 12.
My mother had his book and she thought I should hear him speak.
And then he laughed callously, along with the audience.
I turned to my mother, enraged and confused.
Why would he insult us for no reason?
What did we do to him?
Before we returned to the car for our five-hour drive home, I saw him read it.
His face turned slightly red.
He laughed smugly and said to his assistant, Theres one in every crowd.
And then he tossed my letter.
My mother and I tossed his book.
(His score was perfect the second time too.)
The underestimation and misrepresentation of Haitians are nothing new to me.
And completely denigrating to justify and qualify our humanity.
This is why I find myself uninspired when biased accusations resurfacemost recently out of the mouths of race-baiting politicians.
How can we be surprised that we are once again the target of ridicule and xenophobia?
The messaging has always been clear that Haitians are the unwanted immigrants of the American melting pot.
Weve since learned not to tether our self-worth to misconceptions of our people.
But then there is the danger.
There are repercussions to disinformation.
We are always in a defensive position.
Anyone has permission to make up whatever they want, but it becomes our burden to disprove it.
If we do not, we are more vulnerable to physical attacks and hate crimes.
If harmful narratives are spoken about them, then harmful actions will be taken toward them.
I do not know what my play will and will not solve.
I do not accept the responsibility of changing minds and hearts and proving the value of my people.
Bad Kreyolbegins performances at the Pershing Square Signature Theatre on October 8.
