All are welcome to attend an inaugural Haitian Flag Day Fête I’m co-facilitating in the heart of my Pk Slope Bklyn neighborhood. We’re commemorating the 220th anniversary of a first flag of Haiti made on May 18, 1803 by nurse, seamstress and Haitian heroine, Catherine Flon. As the first independent Black Republic in the western hemisphere, iterations of the Haitian flag inspired those of other formerly colonized Caribbean & New World nations…
An iconic emblem of their Revolution, the Haitian flag’s also a stimulus to explore Haiti’s oft overlooked yet interconnected history with the American and French Revolutions. And for examining the symbolism of the shared (red, blue…white) colors of each nation’s respective flags — that each fly amidst an enduring fight for the revolutionary promises of freedom for all people …
Commemorate & celebrate in 3 parts at 3 community-centered spots; with immersive history that connects crucial dots betw 3 revolutions with overlapping 18th century timelines. Mapping out this historic chronology in sequence, for PART ONE (1): we start at the Old Stone House of Brooklyn (OSH / 336 3rd St.), site of the first official battle of the American revolutionary war in August 1776, kicking off here at 6:30 with an informative intro by OSH Scholar in Residence, Dylan Yeats and readings by Haitian heritage Artivist & Cultural Vigilante, Tasha Douge…
PART TWO (2): circa 7:00pm we’ll proceed directly across 5th Ave (a stone’s throw away!) to Good Wine (327 5th Ave) for a French rosé tasting + the scoop from yours truly on the serious role that wine played in that revolution....
And for PART THREE (3), the Pièce de Résistance, we’ll stroll a few doors down to Bonbon Lakay Snack Bar (351 5th Ave) circa 7:30pm for a delicious culmination to this special Flag Day affair with more historic intel, Haitian snacks (+ food for purchase) plus a colorful and culturally-rooted drink demo I'll do using clairin, an emblematic national spirit of Haiti — in conjunction with The Spirit of Haiti, the first export company to offer opportunity and support to small producers of Clairin Traditionnel — as we end the evening raising a glass for freedom for ALL!
You won't want to miss this informative and festive affair! Come out, commune, and learn at least a 'lil history while celebrating, sipping and supporting local BIPOC (i.e., Haitian, Jamaican/Caribbean & African American heritage) women-owned, local Park Slope 5th Ave BID businesses along the way. See you there! …RSVP (it’s FREE!) on EVENTBRITE…
