Happy Haitian Heritage Month!
Each day this month, I will drop a fun fact in Haitian history!
A Thread.

Each day this month, I will drop a fun fact in Haitian history!
A Thread.
Haiti
assisted Greece
in their independence against the Ottoman Empire.
Greek government sent a letter to then Haiti's president Jean Pierre Boyer, asking him for military and monetary help for their fight against Ottoman rules.


Greek government sent a letter to then Haiti's president Jean Pierre Boyer, asking him for military and monetary help for their fight against Ottoman rules.
Did you know the founder of Chicago was Haitian?
Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable founded the city of Chicago around the 1770s.
Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable founded the city of Chicago around the 1770s.
Did you know w/o Haiti, the US wouldnât have most of its territory?
The Louisiana purchase was a consequence of the Haitian Revolt. Napoleon planned to invade the US w/Haitian soldiers however Haitiâs revolt against the French forced Napoleon into selling 15 states to the US.
The Louisiana purchase was a consequence of the Haitian Revolt. Napoleon planned to invade the US w/Haitian soldiers however Haitiâs revolt against the French forced Napoleon into selling 15 states to the US.
5/4: Did you know Haiti
has the WORLDâS LARGEST solar powered hospital
?
After the 2010 earthquake, 1,800 solar panels
were installed for Hospital Universitaire De Mirebalais.
Which cut energy consumption by 60% compared to traditional lighting!


After the 2010 earthquake, 1,800 solar panels


Which cut energy consumption by 60% compared to traditional lighting!
5/5: Did you know Haiti
assisted Mexico
in fighting for their independence?
Fransisco Xavier Mina (
General)sought to liberate slavery of Spanish/French control & Alexander Petion(former
president) supported him by sending
soldiers to Texas in 1816.


Fransisco Xavier Mina (



5/6: Did you know the Merengue dance originated in Haiti
then in Dominican Republic
?
MĂ©rengue/mĂ©ringue, originated in early 1800âs as a blend of African dance & the French Minuet. Haitiâs mĂ©ringue or mereng can be fast paced but is known to be slower in tempo.


MĂ©rengue/mĂ©ringue, originated in early 1800âs as a blend of African dance & the French Minuet. Haitiâs mĂ©ringue or mereng can be fast paced but is known to be slower in tempo.
5/7: Did you know the first known black graffiti artist was Haitian
?
Jean-Michel Basquiatâs pieces ranged from abstract to political. He used his art to shed light on issues in the black community, capitalism & racism. His tag SAMO stands for âsame old shitâ.

Jean-Michel Basquiatâs pieces ranged from abstract to political. He used his art to shed light on issues in the black community, capitalism & racism. His tag SAMO stands for âsame old shitâ.
5/8: Did you know Haiti
has the most mountains
out of all the countries in the Caribbean?
2 tallest mountains
are Pik Lasel (highest peak) and Pic Macaya (2nd highest) part of Pic Macaya National Park


2 tallest mountains


5/9: Did u know Haiti
was the 1st carribean country to have an Olympic size pool?
The pool at Centre Sportif de Carrefour was built in 1982 & is 50 meters long! Pool has been out of use since 1990 but renovations were set in motion by the Haitian Fed of Water Sports in 2017.

The pool at Centre Sportif de Carrefour was built in 1982 & is 50 meters long! Pool has been out of use since 1990 but renovations were set in motion by the Haitian Fed of Water Sports in 2017.
5/10: Did you know Haitian Motherâs Day is celebrated on the last Sunday of May?
In Haiti
they give out 3 colored flowers or ribbons.
Red/Pink, if your mom is alive.
White, if she recently passed.
Purple/Black, if she has been deceased for a long period of time.
In Haiti

Red/Pink, if your mom is alive.
White, if she recently passed.
Purple/Black, if she has been deceased for a long period of time.
5/11: Did you know Haitiâs
first official movie theater opened in 1914?
Parisiana was located in Port au Prince & seated 500 people. Movie screenings were held at PĂ©tion-Ville Grand Hotel prior to Parisiana. Unfortunately Parisiana burned down in 1930 by an arson attack.

Parisiana was located in Port au Prince & seated 500 people. Movie screenings were held at PĂ©tion-Ville Grand Hotel prior to Parisiana. Unfortunately Parisiana burned down in 1930 by an arson attack.
5/12: Did you know any of these celebrities were Haitian
?
21 Savage
50 Cent
Blake Griffin
Zoe Saldana
Gary Dourdan
Dawn Richards
Tony Yayo
Jacki-O

21 Savage
50 Cent
Blake Griffin
Zoe Saldana
Gary Dourdan
Dawn Richards
Tony Yayo
Jacki-O
5/13: Did you prior to Miss Haiti
pageants, beauty/popularity contests were held in the early 1910s?
Les BeautĂ©s dâHaiti (The Beauties of Haiti), held in Port au Prince. Below are photos of an entry ballot asking for the ladies prefixes (Miss or Mrs) & their photo submissions

Les BeautĂ©s dâHaiti (The Beauties of Haiti), held in Port au Prince. Below are photos of an entry ballot asking for the ladies prefixes (Miss or Mrs) & their photo submissions
5/14: Did u know Dessalinesâs
aunt taught him everything he knew about combat?
Adbaraya Toya taught Dessalines how to fight as a soldier. She taught him skills such as hand to hand combat & knife throwing. Her training made Dessalines eventually join the 1791 slave rebellion.

Adbaraya Toya taught Dessalines how to fight as a soldier. She taught him skills such as hand to hand combat & knife throwing. Her training made Dessalines eventually join the 1791 slave rebellion.
5/15: Did u know a Haitian
woman intiated the Haitian revolution?
CĂ©cile Fatiman, a Haitian vodoo priestess whose spiritual guidance & power helped others enslaved seek revenge for their oppression. The ceremony she held in Bois CaĂŻman sparked a historical reset.

CĂ©cile Fatiman, a Haitian vodoo priestess whose spiritual guidance & power helped others enslaved seek revenge for their oppression. The ceremony she held in Bois CaĂŻman sparked a historical reset.
5/16: Did you know one of Haitiâs
first army lieutenants was a woman?
Suzanne SanitĂ© BĂ©lair was a freedom fighter, sergeant turned lieutenant in Toussaint Louvertureâs army. Her & her husband, Charles BĂ©lair, taught many escaped slaves how to defend themselves in battle.

Suzanne SanitĂ© BĂ©lair was a freedom fighter, sergeant turned lieutenant in Toussaint Louvertureâs army. Her & her husband, Charles BĂ©lair, taught many escaped slaves how to defend themselves in battle.
5/17: Did u know Haitiâs
last kingdom was ruled by a woman?
Anacaona ruled the Taino kingdom of XaraguĂĄ, now western Haiti @ the time of the Spanish invasion led by Columbus in 1492. She was a rebel warrior who defied only men can conquer kingdoms.

Anacaona ruled the Taino kingdom of XaraguĂĄ, now western Haiti @ the time of the Spanish invasion led by Columbus in 1492. She was a rebel warrior who defied only men can conquer kingdoms.