UHSF presents: I AM…Interviews A FEMINIST MALE ACTIVIST

UHSF presents: I AM…Interviews

A FEMINIST MALE ACTIVIST

Christian Guerrier

                                                                    

In a male dominated society, it is not often that we as women find men who know the true worth and value of a woman. It is not every day that you come across a conscious man who realizes how much power lies within a woman. Essentially we women are life for it is through their wombs through which life exist and is brought forth into the world. So to hear a man refer to himself as a  feminist catches one off guard; let alone arouses one’s thought process, wanting to know more behind the philosophy of this feminist male. One such man who deems himself a radical feminist is Christian Guerrier.

Born in raised in Haiti by a single hard working mother, Guerrier was a very quiet yet high observant little boy. Raised by a single mother who as he puts it “made miracles everyday during the most difficult period of political unrest in Haiti to feed , clothes and educate {him} me” she became his life superwoman. Realizing at the age of 13, that his mother could neither read nor write at his requests for her to sign a form for him; he asked her why was that she could not do what so many take for granted. As relayed to him by his mother, her father deemed it a her job to take care of the home and cook and clean while her brothers were provided with her fathers blessing to attend school. Guerrier’s mother as described by him  “a natural rebel” abandoned her fathers home in the countryside, at 12 years of age and began a life independent to that of her father’s. Self-determined and self- reliant Guerrier’s mother created a life of her own, “working  tirelessly to make sure her {children} were fed, educated and safe”. These were the beginning of Guerrier’s feminist views and beliefs only igniting the flame within him to move and organize in mobilizing the world, specifically Haiti, in acknowledging the power of a woman.

UHSF: Were you born in Haiti and if so how long did you live there? Briefly paint a picture of what life was like in Haiti for you.

CG: I was born in Haiti in April 5th 1979 and i left when i was 16 yrs old. Life was very difficult, but the most difficult aspect of life was and still is the political violence by the ruling elite of Haiti.

UHSF: It is rooted in Haitian history that we come from an assiduous and resilient people ---all around great people, if you had to pick one quality, what is the most unique quality that is characteristic of the Haitian Diaspora?

CG: Yes the Haitian people are resilient because we have a glorious history and for the sake of freedom and humanity we are going to struggle for freedom till the last Haitian. The greatest quality i see in the Haitian Diaspora is  ambition and the audacity of hope.

UHSF: In the black community men often forget the worth of their female counterparts thus to hear you openly acknowledge that you are a feminist immediately drew me in as I am sure it did others. It can only be assumed that you know the value of your female counterparts. How is it did you come to believe and acknowledge yourself as feminist? How did you come to realize the worth of the woman and classify yourself as a feminist?

CG: Well there is a history behind every action and behavior. Slavery left a big scars in the psyche of black people and you watch the roots series you will see where i am coming from.  I became a feminist by nature and nurture, i mean it's a combination of intelligence and social environment. My mother is the first person in my life who made me believe in the feminist spirit and second is my sense of observation. History have been written by man and they explain it from the male angle, so i always knew something was wrong with my world and now i am convinced that women all over the world are humanity's best hope with a few exceptional men.

UHSF: On Facebook you talk of the Haitian women being the leaders of tomorrow’s Haiti and how it is within our reach to become the first matriarchal nation in the world? How is it are you carrying out this movement and leaving the imprints behind for the upcoming Haitian female generation throughout the course of the movement to help better Haiti’s future?

CG: Haiti is a matriarchal society already, but the difference is women have no economic or political power. it's men who dominate that arena. I have been involved in Haiti since Feb 1 to rally the women and to give them hope, i have tried to get them food, where most of them are going to bed hungry every night and they said to me" i can go days without food, but it's food for my kids i am worried about" so words like that keep me moving. I went also in March 8th which was women international day to continue the woman liberation movement and my last trip for this year is May 13th to organize another rally on Haiti's flag day( May 18th) . As far as leaving imprints, i am more concerned with young women of this generation to join me, i founded the Millennials project.org last year to empower women  and my vision is for women from all different race and economic background to stand up to tell men how they want to be treated and for this generation to eliminate or fight against physical and verbal violence on women and also for women to respect themselves. Check us out on facebook  Millennials project.org. the website is under construction.

UHSF: A lot of people through FB and elsewhere Im sure, know that you’re not just talking but actually putting your words and plans in actions in Haiti. You’ve been on trips in Haiti since the earthquake and are mobilizing the women. Describe a typical work day/ week with the women there and how it is the women are taking an active role in the movement.

CG: A typical day in Haiti is non stop. i wake up at 4 am to visit the tents and meet and greet the people. i  introduce myself ,so they can feel comfortable with me and sometimes it's 11pm at night and i am still talking and recruiting people. The women are very active because they are better listeners and they believe in my vision. they know the politicians have been lying to them and they can see that i am fueled by passion and vision. Since i left Haiti they have their own meeting to empower themselves, so my biggest challenge is to raise money to get them foods and tents, because most of them are still in the street.

UHSF: What advice do you have for women throughout the Haitian Diaspora who are not located in Haiti? How is it can they become a part of the movement? Is there an organization in the US or abroad which you are part of which they can become active with?

CG: My advice to women: count your blessings or be thankful because Women living in the US are the  luckiest in the world and second empower your self with great books and ideas from great woman like Betty Friedan or Simone De Beauvoir  and Alice Walker Maya Angelou, Tony Morrison etc my favorite is the autobiography of Assata Shakur. study the women liberation struggle and last but not least join the Millennials Project.org on facebook and soon on our website.

UHSF: Any last remarks to the Haitian Community in Haiti and abroad? 

CG: My last remark is for the men: we have to change the way we treat each other and specially our black women.  We have to grow up to a new man or gentle men. we have a lot of work to do, play time is over. 

"How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! "
Maya Angelou