•  Summary 
  •  
  •  Actions 
  •  
  •  Committee Votes 
  •  
  •  Floor Votes 
  •  
  •  Memo 
  •  
  •  Text 
  •  
  •  LFIN 
  •  
  •  Chamber Video/Transcript 

K00832 Summary:

BILL NOK00832
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORRules (Bichotte Hermelyn)
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSRAbinanti, Buttenschon, Cook, Dinowitz, Englebright, Forrest, Lupardo, Sayegh, Seawright, Simon, Stirpe, Taylor, Thiele, Vanel, Zebrowski
 
 
Go to top

K00832 Text:

 
Assembly Resolution No. 832
 
BY: M. of A. Rules (Bichotte Herm
 
        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 2022, as Haitian Heritage Month in the State  of
        New York
 
  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with
its time-honored traditions, to  recognize  and  pay  tribute  to  those
organizations  which  foster  ethnic  pride  and  enhance the profile of
cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of  the  communities  of
New York State; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize  Governor  Kathy  Hochul  to  proclaim  May 2022, as Haitian
Heritage Month in the State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS, Haitian Heritage Month celebrates the rich culture of Haiti
and its  people,  including  the  history,  language,  distinctive  art,
delicious foods and traditions; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  purpose  of  the  month  is  to  raise  awareness and
understanding about Haitian culture, history and traditions;  strengthen
the  self-esteem and ethnic pride of Haitian and Haitian-American youth;
and celebrate Haitian achievements across the globe; and
 
  WHEREAS, Jamaican-born Dutty Boukman, a Houngan,  or  Vodou  priest,
held  the ceremony of Bois Caiman on the night of August 14, 1791, which
is considered the founding act of the revolution; and
 
  WHEREAS, Jean-Jacques Dessalines defeated Napoleon  and  the  French
colonists  at  the  Battle of Vertieres at the end of 1803 to become the
first independent Black republic in the world; and
 
  WHEREAS, General Toussaint Louverture led his revolutionary army  to
many  victories,  gaining  the  adoration of Blacks and mulattoes alike;
surrendered to French general Charles Leclerc in  1802  on  the  promise
that  Leclerc  would  not  restore  slavery to the island; and was later
arrested under false pretenses and imprisoned at Fort-de-Joux in  France
where he died in April of 1803; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Haitian  flag was designed by Jean-Jacques Dessalines
and was adopted on May 18, 1803, at the Congress of Arcahaie  which  was
held to establish the united command of the revolutionary army under the
supreme authority of Jean-Jacques Dessalines; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  independence  of Haiti echoes the importance of women
and women of color in  nation  building,  through  revolutionaries  like
Marie-Jeanne  Lamartiniere,  who  fought  as a soldier in the Indigenous
army, and Catherine Flon who, like Betsy Ross, is credited with crafting
the Independent Black Republic of Haiti flag in 1803; and  served  as  a
nurse during the Haitian Revolution; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Flag  Day is a reminder of the struggle to freedom and the
Haitian Flag symbolizes the unity that borne the Haitian nation  through
 
the  alliance  of the Blacks and mulattoes during the Revolutionary War;
and the coat of arms that currently adorns the flag shows  a  palm  tree
surmounted  by  the Phrygian cap of liberty and ornamented with trophies
with  a  banner  that  reads "L'Union Fait La Force" (In Unity, There is
Strength); and
 
  WHEREAS, Culinary dishes, such as Soup Joumou, a soup Haitian slaves
were forbidden from eating as it was "reserved for their white masters,"
has become a symbol for Haitian freedom and  has  become  a  traditional
dish  to  most  Haitian  families  every  January  1st  to  mark Haitian
Independence Day; other traditional dishes include a variety  of  native
foods  and drinks such as Griot, Black Rice, Plantains, jus grenadia and
rhum; and
 
  WHEREAS, Haitians produce the largest number of health care workers,
nurses, and doctors in the Black diaspora; and
 
  WHEREAS, Eight hundred men of color from Saint-Domingue (present-day
Haiti), fought along the Continental Army during the American Revolution
at the Battle of Savannah in 1779; and
 
  WHEREAS, Haitian-American immigrants have come to the United  States
bringing  their  own  influences and cultural traditions to a variety of
spheres including the arts, business, sports,  literature,  science  and
law; notable figures include: Jean-Michael Basquiat, one of the defining
artists of the 20th Century; Jackson Georges, a Haitian-American painter
who worked with wood, marble, metal and leather to create works featured
at  the  World  Trade  Art  Gallery,  United  Nations, and Mehu Gallery;
Jean-Claude Brizard, a Haitian-American teacher and  superintendent  who
served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools from
2011-2012;  and  Dean  P.  Baquet, a Haitian-American journalist who has
served as the Executive Editor of The New York Times since 2014; and
 
  WHEREAS, The New York State Assembly houses the largest  Legislative
Haitian Caucus in the country, with six members; and
 
  WHEREAS, Haitian Creole is one of the top 10 languages spoken in New
York City; and
 
  WHEREAS,  For  decades,  Haiti  has  faced  significant  challenges,
including natural disasters, and multiple  political  crises  that  have
devastated  the  land  and  disrupted  the  lives of millions of people;
however, the Haitian  people  have  demonstrated  resilience  throughout
history; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul  to  proclaim  May  2022,  as  Haitian
Heritage Month in the State of New York; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York, and Haitian Groups across the State.
Go to top