Boston Haitian community joyfully stomped, danced and marched their way down Blue Hill Ave. for the 23rd annual Haitian-American Unity Parade on Sunday.
“We turn out as loud and proud as ever,” said Rachelle, a first-generation Haitian American, wearing a “Haitian Queen” shirt and watching a massive crowd dance around a DJ as they marched past. “No one scares us off. It’s a great community here.”
The annual Haitian-American Unity Parade, which marks the anniversary of the creation of the flag during the country’s revolution, kicked off at 1 p.m. at Mattapan Square on Sunday. The parade moved down Blue Hill Avenue and finished off at Harambee Park in Mattapan.
The atmosphere was warm and joyful Sunday, despite cloudy skies and a brisk breeze. Loud music came from drummers, bands and DJs marching through as well as speakers posted up at businesses along the route. Baton twirlers and brightly-dressed dancers were joined by parade goers quick to join the rhythm and decked out in the country’s signature red, blue and white colors.
Marchers included all facets of the community from sports teams to Mattahunt school children to local non-profits like the IFSI-USA Immigrant Family Services.
“I grew up here — I went to church just right here,” said Remy Saintil, pointing at a church down Blue Hill Ave. then further down. “I went to middle school right there. And the majority of my friends were first generation Americans, whether it be Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidad; we were all first generation. So you’re just part of the culture of Mattapan and having the West Indian culture within this community.”
Saintil, who moved to Atlanta but was visiting for a graduation, said the immigrant community here is “very unique,” noting that where he now sees Caribbean communities “scattered” in the South, the people are more “centralized and condensed” in Boston.
Haiti-native and Rockland-resident Larissa, standing with her Haitian flag-wrapped friend, echoed the cross-cultural appreciation, calling it an “honor so many different people from different countries come to watch us.”
“I walk down the street, I can hear people talking Creole and speaking Patois or whatever,” Saintil said. “Just coming home, it really feels good for me to go home and get back to my roots.”
