Essay On Haitian-American Independence

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Independence Soup As the sound of chirping overshadowed her thoughts, Shari knew that it was time to wake up. Today is January 1st; now some may take this day as the beginning to a brand new year, but for Shari it is a day of remembrance and history. You see, Shari is of Haitian-American descent and in this culture; this is the day that Haitian Independence is celebrated. It was on January 1st, 1804, that Haiti became the world's first independent black republic by defeating the French. On this day, a special tradition is followed. Haitian pumpkin soup or soup Joumou is made in commemoration of Haitian Independence Day. Shari’s mother wakes up bright and early to prepare the soup. The first thing that her mother does is to let the pumpkin puree in the water on the stove at low heat for about 30 minutes. While the pumpkin cooks, Shari’s mother cleans the beef with lime, rinses and then…show more content…
We then gather around the table to bow our heads and say grace before we eat the soup. The soup is represents freedom. On this day even if you could not find the time to make your own soup, you would always find a neighbor who was willing to share. It is days like this that bring you closer to one another, making learning about the past more invigorating. Shari makes it her obligation to always ask questions about the history of her ancestors. She loves her culture and would not change it for the world. Shari is very appreciative and blessed to be part of a culture with so much history. Shari longs for the day when she will have children and be able to teach them the customs and life style of Haiti’s culture. To conclude, no matter a person’s background, his or her family has an important tradition(s) that is held close to the heart. Shari knows that are many more traditions to learn about as the time progresses. Haitian Independence Day is not only special because of the soup that is made but of the joy that it brings out in the

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