Afro Elite

Diversity: the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. South Florida can be described as a salad bowl, different ingredients that gather in one place to make something new. That's what this new generation is and proceeds to be. In today's society, we are slowly but surely evolving into something others could have never imagined. We are more open to the ideals of others and are more willing to be critiqued. But in some cases, it is not always as simple. In order to start diversity, you are faced with adversity, but studies have shown that moral support can lift spirits and help people preserve. The West Indian population in South Florida is an expanding group of people who are coming to the United States with a new language, culture, traditions, food, and so much more; we are thankful to have places like Little Haiti, Little Havana, and Little Santo Domingo to keep those cultures alive. But at times, these cultures tend to get diluted by other things in their environment, due to things like age, gentrification, or just being alone in a new environment. College, is typically a new environment to learn who you are and learn about other cultures, but being alone can become a bit frustrating. Having a place to bring your home dialects in a new place can ease that frustration, which is why I want to start the Afro Elite for the Honors students at the Miami Dade North Campus. About thirty-seven percent of Miami Dade College: North Campus identifies as African American/Black, and with such a rich and diverse black population, you will find more countries than you could ever imagine, all within five acres of land. I feel that having students who have similar home experiences and mannerisms can really help one another flourish. Research shows that being around those with like minds help push one another, create healthy competition, and create the environment of “we can do this together”. Given that many of the students here at the North Campus are first generation college students, it will also provide a space where students with similar situations can help counsel or even help in certain situations. The idea of the Afro Elite stems from the Haitian Student Association at universities like FIU, FAU, Howard University, and more. I hope to start an organization with the same fundamentals, but more inclusivity for others and their cultures.  The Afro Elite will be a safe space for people of all cultures. A hub for students and community members can feel welcomed and the cultures acknowledged. 

Methodology

Afro Elite would be created with the goal of being a home to people of different culture within the African diasporas. In this space we will be advised of different cultures, promoting scholarship, cultural inclusivity, and open mindedness amongst one another. 

The first workshop series we would have would be a Learning Haitian Creole workshop series. Since Haitian Creole only became a written language fairly recently, not many people had the opportunity to learn it in school. Since the government still required academics to be taught in either English or French. To put the workshop into motion I spoke to Nancy St. Leger and Jean Mapou, two prominent Haitian figures here in South Florida. Nancy who is a Haitian folklore dancer and choreographer is also an Elementary school teacher. Has helped Haitians who are new to America adapt, teach English and more. Jean Mapou owns Liberie Mapou, a library located in the heart of Little Haiti, devoted to West Indian culture and books. Who are both willing to help the new minds learn what is now Haitian Creole. By doing this workshop not only does it provide advancement to Haitian students, but it also can promote literacy. We will also be volunteering hours at the North Miami Senior Highschool’s night classes. Where newly immigrated persons go to learn English. In the hopes of passing on tips of immigration stories and how to become adapted in the United States.

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In the Afro Elite we will be able to learn Afro Cuban as well as Haitian Folkloric dancing. Afro Cuban would be taught by Marisol Blanco, she currently teaches Afro Cuban dance at the Koubek Center at the Miami Dade Padron Campus, which we can hopefully host throughout the workshop series and allow students outside the honors college and even those in the community. Which will help promote other styles of dancing in Cuba as well as learning Cuban history through dance. Haitian Folklore would be taught by myself, I have been professionally dancing Haitian folklore for the past thirteen years. I have traveled, taught, and even performed in front of dignitaries like the United States President Joe Biden. By teaching the class myself it can influence younger students to learn Haitian folklore and the meaning behind the dances. As well as show the older generation that their culture is still alive.

I will also be hosting zoom workshops about the African diasporas. I will be using documents from the Miami Public Library and the African American Smithsonian Museum to uncover a vast majority of my research on African descendants and their effects in South America and the West Indies. Given that many students do not have adequate black history knowledge I believe that this is a way to help inform students and members of the community.

 

Results

 

September 16.....15 participants 

October 14.....20 participants

November 18.....16 participants

These are the results from the Haitian Folklore Workshops.

 

June 17.....10 participants

July 15.....12 participants

September 30.....9 participants

January 1.....6 participants

 

These are the results from the historical workshops.

 

North Miami Night School

15 hours 

 

Discussion

I was not able to lead a Haitian Creole class, due to lack to the lack of availability and lack of an audience. Which is what pushed me to volunteer with the night students at North Miami with Nancy St. Leger who at the time was an English teacher. We were able to accomplish a total of fifteen hours with the students. What my finding included from this experience was that many of the students have a very into depth knowledge of history from their country and the United States.

I was not able to have Marisol from the Koubek center teach Afro Cubano classes in partnership with the afro elite. I had a total of 51 participants in my Haitian folklore shops. A total of 36 participants have never heard of Haitian folklore and where forty-six participants did not even know the rhythms had meanings. Many of my participants never knew of folklore and few did not even know of the country Haiti. The workshops taught me that many people do not know much of what’s happening outside of their bubble. With that, I promoted my historical workshop series for more information in regard to African history and lineage of other countries.

Recently, three of my workshops have been entitled: Latin American Women in History. The workshop will be a discussion on Immigration: The American Dream. In these seminars I have spoken about women in Latin American history being forgotten, but their contributions never were. I took a poll at the start of the discussion and as I spoke, the audience tells me if they heard of the topics and if they have any information for the rest. These workshops have accomplished the goal of passing on knowledge of other countries within the diaspora. I will be doing a workshop for high school girls in Kenya about the strength of black women in academia. The fifth workshop will be about “the American dream”. Since it is interpreted in a number of ways, what is it really? This discussion will provide the audience with an understanding, showing them how their cultures and values truly align with one another's. 

 

 

To conclude my proposal for the Afro Elite, I hope will model it to promote inclusivity as well as teach others about different cultures. promote global scholarship throughout with the help of the Honors College and others students will receive the drive to succeed academically not only for themselves but those that they represent.