I for one always say that being Haitian is more than a nationality, it is a series of experiences that must be lived. For one to fully grasp “haitianism”, one must have at least experienced it in its fullest, at it’s most raw.

I’m talking living through the different waves of insecurity, the fears and traumas of everyday life IN Haiti, and things as basic as eating street food, being stuck in traffic in Kanapevè or Boudon or Wout Frè and Kafou. These things that we’ve gotten used to.

I am not saying this to say that “it is the hardships of living in Haiti, that make you Haitian thus deserving of claiming your Haitianity” no, I’m saying, there are levels to this sh*t . Whether we like it or not, our “effective nationality” is that of the country in which —

— we evolve and to the customs of which we have developped a certain sensibility and attachement.

For example, when I lived in the USA post-earthquake, and came back to Haiti a few years ago, I felt DIS. CO. NNEC. TED. To the max.

It was this tedious relearning process. This “training” to reattach to haitian customs and ways.

And I feel like that has its own weight.

My folks and I fought and argued constantly.

Now is someone from the diaspora less haitian because they haven’t lived here? No... but they are definitely not as aware and they are totally different. As a matter of fact, even within the haitian diaspora there are different experiences.

Even New York, Boston and Miami Haitians are NOT the same Haitians . The sentiment of pride and attachment is still great, but the experiences lived and how they are lived aren’t the same.

So when someone states their pride in being Haitian, despite never having been here, we have to let them be.

And also, let us not allow those “differences” to divide us, when we could be celebrating how vast and different we are.

Don’t y’all think it is dope that someone who has never really lived here feels a strong sense of belonging to this country? I think it is.