Haitian Creole: Not Just Voodoo Dolls & Zombies
Taught by Wynnie & Reuben
Wynnie & Reuben have been Octavia Butler enthusiasts for decades. They are both Educators who focus on working with people of African Descent and have used the words of Octavia to encourage critically conscious conversations. Wynnie is of Haitian descent and is the founder of The Haitian Creole Language Institute of New York. Reuben is of Ghanaian descent and is a Higher Education Administrator at CUNY. Wynnie & Reuben have engaged in dynamic conversation around Octavia at the Brainery for the past several years. They have been married for almost a year and are craftily dodging baby questions from their very traditional families.
You might already know lots of facts and stats about Haiti, and you've probably donated to the earthquake relief efforts, but what do you really know about this small island nation whose population is approximately the size of NYC?
Using language as our medium, we will uncover some of Haiti's best kept secrets. Going beyond the negative media portrayal of Haiti, we'll learn about Haiti's rich culture and history.
Class sessions will include lessons on Haitian Creole with a focus on structure, sound and vocabulary. By the end of three sessions, participants will know basic Haitian Creole phrases, be able to order comfortably at a Haitian restaurant and understand what it means to be Haitian in the 21st Century.
