Caleb François during his visit to the Citadelle Laferrière in 2016. Photo courtesy of Caleb François

During Haitian Heritage Month, The Haitian Times is running these mini-profiles that look at how different people experience being Haitian in America. Have a story to share? Send it to submissions@haitiantimes.com.

During his senior year in high school in 2016, a friend saw Caleb François’s last name on the ID badge hanging around his neck. Curious, the friend asked François if he was French. François immediately felt trapped between those walls of insecurity again. 

The Haiti that François, of Bradenton, Florida, heard many non-Haitians describing was that it was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, the one cursed by Vodou. It was also the country others falsely claimed brought AIDS to the United States. 

Although he didn’t subscribe to the negative narratives about his parents’ home country, that version of Haiti other people believed made him feel ashamed.

“I was like ‘I’m French, yeah,’” said François who was 18 at the time. “When the nation of which you are descended from is constantly being portrayed as horrible, it becomes difficult to embrace it. Everything I heard, every image about the nation was always negative.”

Since those teenage days, François has grown to adore Haiti and is the founder of a Haitian club at his college, The George Washington University. Like many young Haitian-Americans coming of age, François overcame the shame of being associated with Haiti and now proudly represents his country. 

The turning point for François came when he heard other students at Southeast High speaking positively about their countries of origin. He later began learning about the positive aspects of Haiti through books and documentaries. During his first year of college, François had graduated into being a proud Haitian-American. He has since memorized Haiti’s national anthem and visited Haiti.

“Most of my peers were always so proud to discuss their heritage,” François said. “I went to school with Indian-Americans, Filipino-Americans. But me as a Haitian-American, it was something [I] didn’t discuss. I hated that.”

When he got to college, François embraced being Haitian. “I was tired of being ashamed of who I am,” he said.

As François dove into books like “The Avengers of the New World” and “Haiti: The Aftershocks of History” he couldn’t help to be proud of leaders of the Haitian Revolution like Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint Louverture, whom he memorized his final words. He was mesmerized by the resilience of the people, among other features of his ancestors.

François, whose father emigrated from Haiti in 1991 and mother is Haitian-American, said he also learned that many of the stories he heard about Haiti were exaggerated. 

“Had I been more aware of how rich and beautiful Haitian Heritage is, it probably wouldn’t be an insecurity to begin with,” François said.

“I was upset with my parents and other adults in my life. I said, ‘Why didn’t you ever tell me I’m descended from greatness?’”

Caleb François, founder of The George Washington University Haitian Alliance

François fully connected with being of Haitian origin when he took a trip to Port-au-Prince, Saint-Marc and Cap-Haitien, where he visited the Citadelle Laferrière, an historical site, in 2016. 

Peyi pòv men peyi dous,” said François, quoting a Creole saying that a lady in Haiti shared with him. “A poor country but a sweet country.”

Upon his return, François felt compelled to express his love for Haiti with other people. In 2020, the International Affairs student founded The George Washington University Haitian Alliance club.

“I’m committed to my mountain now,” said François, referring to Haiti being a mountainous land. “Nobody can take that fire away from me.”

Email me at onz@haitiantimes.com
Onz Chery is a Haiti correspondent for The Haitian Times. Chery started his journalism career as a City College of New York student with The Campus. He later wrote for First Touch, local soccer leagues in New York and Elite Sports New York before joining The Haitian Times in 2019.

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13 Comments

  1. I am so proud of my son Caleb and stand by him as he seeks to realizing his dream of becoming a trailblazer to Haiti’s new generation.
    Goo Caleb May God be with you

  2. I am proud of you Caleb and I pray to God to fill you with all kind of grace and blessing that you need to make your dream come true. I already know you have victory because you are in Christ and Christ in you.
    Say Jesus is coming soon.

  3. Je suis fier de toi Caleb et je prie Dieu de vous combler de toute sorte de grâce et de bénédiction que vous avez besoin pour accomplir votre rêve. Je sais déjà vous avez la victoire parce vous êtes en Christ et Christ en vous.

    Jésus Revient Bientôt.

  4. I am amazed to see how my nephew embraced his culture when so many grown up like us are not too proud of whom we are. Keep up the flame my nephew be courageous and strong for us.

  5. This is just the beginning, Caleb. Your name will be etched in history for so many reasons. I’m so proud of who you are and everything you stand for. Godspeed to you, my dear nephew.
    Great job, Ms. Chery.

  6. Congrats my dear Caleb may God continue
    Bless you. We proud of you and love you.

  7. Congratulations Caleb, you’re always fighting for the Haitian. I am so proud of you. Your friend Monalissa Padovany 🙏👑👑🥰🥰🥰

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