In September 1990, Marjorie Judith Vincent beat out 50 other hopefuls for the title of Miss America 1991. Vincent had come to the USA at age 3 with her Haitian parents (Lucien and Florence Vincent immigrating from Cap Haitian, Haiti in the early 1960s (although some newspaper reports would also say that she was the first of their kids born in the USA). Fluent in French, and Kreyol, and studying Japanese at the time, Vincent knocked out the judges with her piano-playing skills, expertly playing Chopin’s Fantasy Impromptu 66 to the delight and amazement of onlookers.

At 25, she was already a third-year law student at Duke University School of Law in North Carolina, and at 5’6, she was a gorgeous beauty. Things didn’t start out easy. She had participated in the Miss North Carolina and Miss Illinois pageants and had not won. She tried for the latter one more time, and won, leading to her being part of the Miss America contest. In winning the contest, she won $42,500 in scholarship money, and was able to command $100,000 in speaking fees.

Marjorie Judith Vincent’s crowning was a triumph-filled moment for Haitians everywhere, who were among the estimated 60 million television viewers who witnessed her being crowned. Haitian identity wasn’t in the best state at this point. In March of 1990, a few months before Vincent becoming Miss America, the U.S Federal Drug Administration had placed Haitians on its list of ethnic groups most likely to be carriers of AIDS, and banned blood donations from them. Haitians responded by rallying a group of about 50,000 to march on the Brooklyn Bridge in protest. Floods of refugees were also arriving in South Florida and being repatriated as economic refugees, adding to problems in the community.

According the newspaper The Daily Gazette at her first official press conference as Miss America, Vincent emphasized her Haitian heritage and expressed her desire to lend to the economic development of Haiti. Vincent made the cover of Jet magazine, as she had the distinguishing honor of being the fourth Miss America.

The weekend that Vincent won the Dallas Morning News wrote: “Miss America 1991 Marjorie Judith Vincent said Sunday that she’s a romantic who wants it all and plans to use her reign to help battered women. Ms. Vincent said she wants to celebrate her win with cheesecake her pageant director denied her.”

Naturally, the Haitian community was more than happy to claim her as their own! Ou konnen Ayisyen p’ap lage’w! According to a brief article that appeared in the December 1990 issue of the Miami Herald under the headline MISS AMERICA HOPEFUL FOR STABILITY IN HAITI, the newspaper wrote: “Marjorie Judith Vincent, Miss America 1991 — a particular source of pride and symbol of hope for Miami’s Haitian community — arrived in Miami on Thursday night with a special message: “It’s the hard work and determination that really counts,” she said. Marjorie Judith Vincent, 25, is visiting at the invitation of the Haitian American Women’s Coalition. The third-year law student, who is of Haitian descent, will speak to students at Toussaint Louverture Elementary.”

Vincent was tireless and showed a great deal of stamina as she had to travel all over for speaking engagements, and appearances. As opposed to becoming an attorney, Vincent became a television anchor in Mississippi, then Illinois, then in Ohio. There were some reports that indicated that she suffered from depression in later years for a time, but clearly being the trooper that she was she has successfully fought it. She also used her platform to bring attention to depression.

Today, Ms Vincent has a son Cameron and lives in Jacksonville with her husband Wesley Tripp. She had dropped out of Duke’s law program, short of the 4 credits needed to graduate with her law degree to pursue television journalism. In 2008, she finally completed her degree at Florida Coastal Law School, fulfilling her dream of becoming an attorney. She is part of history, having been the first Haitian Miss America (some say Suzette Charles, Miss America 1984 was of Haitian descent, but Ms Charles never indicated this) and the fourth black woman Miss America.

You can see the piano performance that help her win the Miss America title below.

And ah, the crowning moment. You can view it below:

Cassandre Brissot is the newly-crowned Miss Black America USA New York! The Brooklyn-born, Brooklyn College-graduate first heard about the pageant while working at Purdy Girl in the plush West Village. A customer who walked into the store turned out to be none other than Selena Watkins, the then-reigning Miss Black New York USA. Brissot was the store’s leading stylist and was charged with putting together outfits for Watkins’ participation at the next edition of the pageant. The two begun talking and Watkins suggested that Brissot apply for to participate the following year.

And the rest, is…well, a chronicle in beauty pageant history.

Kreyolicious: It takes a lot of courage and initiative, not to mention determination to enter a pageant. Throughout it all, who were your biggest motivators?

My biggest motivator—always—is God. This title is different from other systems because it is not solely a beauty competition at its forefront it is a system about service, built on faith.Knowing that inspired me even more to be part of this legacy of strong, beautiful, young, resilient, women who put The Lord first.

Kreyolicious: What were you like in high school?

High school was not my favorite moment in life, but it definitely helped mold me. I graduated high school in three years and took a lot of honors and advance placement classes but socially I encountered much adversity. I wasn’t the “loner” or the “geek” or any of the usual subjects of ridicule. To the contrary, I dated one of the most popular boy-athletes in school. However, in spite of or because of [that]—I was met with harassment and intimidation on a daily basis. However, I made it through safely, but I’m glad it’s over.

Kreyolicious: What are some of the things you learned while there that have really helped you as an adult?

I learned a few really important lessons in high school—the first being it’s okay to be your own person and not follow the crowd. However, the most important lesson I learned was a lesson in dealing with adversity. As cliché as this may sound, whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. High school was a trying time for me and I didn’t see how I would survive it unscathed, but I’m stronger for it.

Kreyolicious: A writer—Helen Keller—was once asked if she could just have one of the five senses and only one for the rest of her life, which would she choose. She chose hearing. How about you?

Ughhh. I really hate this question, but I would chose sight. Every sunrise brings the hope of a new day and I would need that to make it through.

Kreyolicious: What does beauty mean to you personally?

Today’s society has jaded our view of beauty, it took a certain spiritual maturity that came with internal struggle to understand beauty. To say we don’t care about outward appearance would be false however it’s about being comfortable with the way you look the way you are. I strongly believe you won’t be able to do so until you learn to love who you are. When you love yourself, you walk with confidence and beauty can’t help but to be used to describe you.

Kreyolicious: Been to Haiti lately?

I actually have yet to travel to Haiti. My mom has only been back twice since immigrating to The United States and my siblings and I were not able to accompany her. I do plan on visiting soon though.

Kreyolicious: How do you stay in shape?

With my crazy schedule, my workout routine—which used to consist of 2.5 hrs a day 5 days a week in the gym doing cardio and strength-training—has severely suffered. I’ve just recommitted to staying healthy and have found a gym near me offering cross fit. I’m super-excited about being a beast in the gym again.

Kreyolicious: What’s the next avenue you’re planning to cross?

As of right now I’m not sure what’s next but I do have big dreams and I’m just as excited as you to see what’s next for me. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

[All photos provided by subject; Miss Black America USA New York pageant event pics: Marcus Bennett]

On this day of March 29th 1818, Anne Alexandre Sabès, also known as Alexandre Pétion died. Pétion named the general Boyer as his successor; he took control in 1818 following the death of Pétion from yellow fever. After Henry I and his son died in 1820, Boyer reunited the country under his rule. Bolivar is celebrated in the Latin american countries for the help he provided to Simon Bolivar in freeing many latin american countries.(Source:Wikipedia / Picture credit: John Carter Brown Library, circa 1807-1818 / Bust by: Christian Oviedo)
–
Se te yon jou 29 Màs 1818 Anne Alexandre Sabès, dit Alexandre Pétion te mouri. Pétion te nonmen Boyer jeneral la kòm siksesè li; li te pran kontwòl nan lane 1818 apre lafyèv jòn te kòz lanmò li. Apre Wà Henry I te vinn mouri ak pitit gason li kèk jou apwe nan lane 1820, Boyer reyini peyi a anba rèy li. Yo sélébre Pétion nan anpil peyi panyol pou èd li te bay Simon Bolivar lè li tap chèche libére peyi panyol amedik di sid yo! (Soùs: Wikipedia / Kredi foto: John Carter Brown Library, circa 1807 / Stati: Christian Oviedo)
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#haiti #hayti #ayiti #istwa1804 #istwa #1804 #alexandrepetion #alexandrepétion #petionville #petion #bolivar #simonbolivar #colombia #latinamerica #america #panamerica #sud #haitians #bogota #venezuela #yellowfever #hispaniola #haitianamerican #haitiancanadian #caribbean #african

Henry Christophe who was born Oct. 6, 1767 in Grenada went from being a 14 year old drummer boy at the 1779 battle of Savannah in the American Revolution to being a leader in the war of Haitian independence (1791–1804) and becoming president of Haiti (1807–11). On March 28 1811, he is the self-proclaimed King Henry I, king of northern Haiti.
–
Henri Christophe te fèt nan peyi Grenada (6 Oktòb, 1767) li te yon timoùn 14 lane lè li tap jwe tanbou pou group yo nan lane 1779 nan batay Savanah, Georgia nan Revolisyon Ameriken a. Li te lido nan batay Endépandans Ayisyènn la, e li vinn prezidan Ayiti (1807-11). 28 Màs 1811, li déklaré tèt li wà, Wà Henri Christophe, wà di nò dayiti.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#haiti #hayti #ayiti #istwa1804 #istwa #1804 #kingdom #kingdomofhayti #kingdomofhaiti #kinghenry1 #kinghenri #henrychristophe #henrichristophe #citadelle #sanssouci #roi #king #wa #monarchie #haitians #nord #grenada #grenade #battleofsavannah #georgia #america #unitedstates #usa #american