The fight for the recognition of the Haitian Kreyol language in many ways is as important to the Haitian community as the abolishment of slavery, and colonialism in 1804, and the continuous fight for the recognition of the sovereign Independence of the first black nation of Ayiti.
In tech we use computer languages to communicate instructions between machines more effectively and efficiently. In human terms language is technology that has allowed us to transmit both hard knowledge and cultural knowledge.
Just like computer languages, human languages have transformed over time with each generation giving the language an update in order to communicate thoughts more accurately, and thereby spread great ideas, and philosophies more widely.
Much thanks must be given to Haitian scholars like Michel Degraff Professor of Linguistics at MIT, and Professor Nick “Tiko” André, professor of Haitian Creole at Florida International University who are founding members of Akademi Kreyòl Ayisyen, who have been instrumental in the celebration and academic recognition of the Haitian kreyol language.
Thank you to Duolingo, and Mayor Francis Suarez for donating $30,000 to Haitians in Tech, and supporting our efforts to deliver STEM resources to the Haitian diaspora community.