Breath, Eyes, Memory Outside Source
Stories of Haitian-American youth being called names, taunted or assaulted because of their ethnicity go as far back as Haitians have been c
The article “Experts: Teach younger Haitian-Americans to fight stubborn stereotypes” relates to the novel “Breath, Eyes, Memory” because it highlights the many tales of Haitian students who come into the country for a better tomorrow yet have to bear underlying pains. A student named Eileen Ternize opens up about how she was afraid to let other American students know that her parents are Haitian immigrants and had to keep her ethnicity a secret in elementary school. In her doing this, this complicates her identity and how she expresses who she is. When you hide a part of yourself for the benefit of others and the benefit of not being harassed, it does something to you. In the sixth grade, students overheard her grandfather speaking Creole to another parent, and her student career was made for by then. Eileen had to deal with being made fun of and students chanting “you eat dirt” and “you do Voodoo.” This is similar in the novel when Martine had to prepare Sophie before she attended her NY school. Now that students with similar backgrounds have taken their power back and are choosing to speak up for themselves, this will help others come out and stand up for themselves as well.
