The Haitian Steven Spielberg's and Oprah Winfrey's Revealed

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You would spend all day and all night talking about them, reading about them, and one day your kids would want to be just like them when they grow up.

Unfortunately, talent in Haiti is not linked to million dollar mansions, limousines, paparazzi, and an army of reporters who will do anything for a photo. This is not how it happens in our Haiti.

I wish it did because I've met many 'Elvis Presleys', many 'Oprah Winfreys', and many 'Steven Spielbergs' in my lifetime and I've met them right here amongst us Haitians.

But unlike the Steven Spielberg who now has a net worth at US$3.1 billion, unlike the Steven Spielberg Time Magazine listed as one of the 100 Greatest People of the Century, I know the Steven Spielberg who is still in Cincinnati, Ohio, still the son of a restaurant owner, still making amateur movies, still Steven Spielberg.

Unlike the Oprah Winfrey who now has a net worth at US$2.7 billion, unlike the Oprah Winfrey who is the highest-rated talk show host in the history of television. I know the Oprah Winfrey who is still in rural Mississippi, still the daughter of a maid, still Oprah Winfrey.

Unlike the Elvis Presley who earned a whopping $52 million in 2007 without even lifting a finger, how can he? He's been dead for 30 years, unlike the Elvis Presley who is still The King of Rock 'n' Roll, I know the Elvis Presley who is still in Tupelo, Mississippi, still working as a truck driver, still recording his songs for $4.00 a piece.

My fellow Haitians, our stars live among us, maybe a block away, a town away, or a state away. They eat where we eat, they shop where we shop, they live where we live, and because of that, we regard them as equals.

There is no problem with that except the fact that we have no respect for them, their talents, or their potential, just as we have no respect for ourselves.

Let me ask you this question:

• How much do you know about your Haitian actors, singers, and filmmakers?
• How much do you know about Kaymar B Compas?
• How much do you know about Herold Israel?
• How much do you know about Jean Gardy Bien Aime, Samuel Vincent, Tutu, and all the thousands of talented people out there who live amongst us, and because of that, get absolutely no respect from us.
• Jean-Robert Herisse just died, do you even know who is is?

There is a Haitian actress in Hollywood who once told me Haitians have no respect for talent. You know, we may never recognize the true potential of all the talents we have because we spend more time proving that there just another 'nobody' instead of recognizing their talent and encouraging them to do better.

You now what?

Li lè pou sa chanje.

I am woodring Saint Preux and I said it.

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