Written By: Regine Romain
Photos by: Michaëlle Chapoteau
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~ Anaïs Nin
And when a woman decides to become a mother, her life expands and shrinks in ways that she could never imagine. As I get ready to move forward on my Brooklyn to Benin adventure, I would like to take a moment and acknowledge three beautiful, talented and courageous mothers that I have had a chance to get to know since my move to Brooklyn, NY in 1999 from Washington, DC.
I enlisted the support of Michaëlle Chapoteau, a talented Haitian-American photographer based in Bedford Stuyvesant to offer these three wonderful women, gifts of early Mother’s Day portraits. Michaëlle beautifully photographed each woman and her family in her studio and outdoors in Bedford Stuyvesant community. Michaëlle’s photos are included in this post.
FYI: Michaëlle Chapoteau is offering a Mother’s Day portrait special during the month of May at her Bedford Stuyvesant studio. Please contact her at michachapot@aol.com or 347.752.0134 for more information and to book your appointment today.
Darnell Benoit
Mother of Anayi, Kayenne & Syèl
Founder and Director, Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project www.Flanbwayan.org
Darnell and I met many moons ago in 2002, when she was beautifully blooming in her pregnancy with her first daughter Anayi. We found that we had a lot in common: both of us of Haitian heritage, close in age, educators, activists and artists in our own fashion. I remember the excitement, the fear, the hopes and the dreams she shared as we spoke about the many changes that were going to happen in her life with the arrival of her firstborn. I tried my best to share my own experiences as a mother with her.
Darnell is now a mother of three beautiful children and is the Director of Flanbwayan, the non-profit organization she started in 2005. Flanbwayan just celebrated its 8th year servicing Haitian newcomer youth and connecting them to educational, supportive and leadership opportunities. Darnell remains active in her Bedford Stuyvesant community and generously offers her time and talents when others are in need.
From our first encounter, we have remained good friends and have supported each other and each other’s families in a myriad of ways. Nou pale Kreyòl ansam (we speak Kreyòl together), share family recipes, exchange information on grants, cultural events and affordable children activities, as well as support each other’s development as women and as mothers. In the 11 years of our friendship, it has been wonderful to stand witness to the phenomenal woman who is Darnell Benoit.
Robyn Bryant
Mother of Lola
NYC DOE Teacher of Special Needs and English Language Learners at Clara Barton High School
During the months March, April and May, I offered my Urban PhotoPoets – Visual Storytelling workshops as an Artist-in-Residence through Flanbwayan’s English Language Learners (ELLs) programs at Clara Barton High School and Tet Ansam, a Haitian girls leadership group. It was through the Artist-in-Residence at Clara Barton that I met Robyn Bryant.
Personally, I have worked as a full time teacher, facilitator, substitute teacher and teaching artist in New York City schools for 14 years and I know that the theory of being a good teacher and the reality of being a great teacher are two very different things. Meeting Robyn in her classroom with all of her students of various learning abilities and disabilities, reminded me of what it takes to be a great teacher and she definitely has what it takes.
She is a petite soft-spoken young woman who gives clear directives and guides her class with a sincere openness that allows for true engagement – if the students are tuned in and willing. She welcomed me into her classroom with open arms and we worked fabulously well together in crafting an interactive curriculum for her students. A couple of sessions into the program, I shared a short trailer of an upcoming documentary on black photographers entitled, “Through A Lens Darkly” produced by Deborah Willis and directed by Thomas Allen Harris. I worked on this great film as a set photographer and teaching artist.
The trailer highlights Sojourner Truth, who was the first African American woman to use photography as a self-determining tool in how she would be portrayed and seen. She sold her carte de visite with the text "I sell the shadow to support the substance." Her revolutionary photographic portraits shifted the gaze from the standard slavery images of blacks of the 1800’s to a vision of black feminine power. Sojourner was masterful and creatively branded herself as a beautiful educated cultured courageous free black woman.
At the end of my workshop, as students were exiting the class, Robyn shared with me that she was a mother to a lovely daughter named Lola. Earlier in March for Women’s History Month, Robyn had shared one of Lola’s books with the class entitled, When Harriet Met Sojourner by Catherine Clinton and illustrated by Shane W. Evans. Somewhere between sharing photos of our daughters, our favorite children’s books and the balancing act of parenting, teaching and keeping grounded in our womanhood ~ a sincere friendship began to blossom.
Caron Wheeler
Mother of Asha Star
Grammy winning Singer and Songwriter
Most folks know Caron Wheeler, from her early days as the lead singer of Soul II Soul. She is of proud Jamaican heritage and grew up in South London. Her vocals and lyrics kept all of her fans moving to a funky fresh groove coming strong out of England. When we met a few years ago through mutual friends, Caron and I quickly became bosom buddies and we get together for delicious Ethiopian food whenever possible.
As our friendship developed, we were amazed to find out that my daughter Ngozi attended Kingsdale, which was Caron’s old secondary school in London. My daughter and I moved to England in 2006 so that I could attend graduate school. I received my Masters degree in Photography and Urban Culture from Goldsmiths, University of London.
One of the amazing things about Caron, that many people do not know is that she was actually a foster child in England. Her foster parents provided her with stability; nurturing and safety, eventually adopted her. She has been through her share of hardships and continues to emerge with tremendous strength, humour and hope.
Unfortunately, the day after our fabulous photo-shoot with Michaëlle Chapoteau, Caron’s adopted mother passed away. Though she is in mourning, she is thankful for the lessons of motherhood she gained from her Mum and continues to offer her best to her daughter Asha Star.
One of Caron’s most well known songs is “Living in the Light,” and she wrote these powerful lyrics:
“Children of nature from another culture
Had to survive living in the light
Stolen form the centre of the world
untimely departure
Somehow survived living in the light...
Through it all your spirit never shattered
Glad to stay alive,
living in the light.”
In sharing just a bit about these three phenomenal women, my intention is to highlight what courage it truly takes to be a mother, whether to birth our own children or to adopt. I am filled with gratitude for Ngozika, my daughter, who is no longer a child but is still my baby. She has taught me so much, that I know I am the woman I am today because of her. I am thankful for my supreme blessing.
I admire Darnell, Robyn and Caron for their commitment to their families and their personal and professional development. Though we no longer use the carte de visite as in Sojourner Truth’s time, the significance of empowering portraits of black women is still relevant and necessary in 2013.
Yes we are here: beautiful, educated, cultured, successful and committed to our collective growth and mobility.
Let’s celebrate our mothers and give thanks for their courage and willingness to adapt to the vicissitudes of motherhood, for without them, we could not be here - alive and living in the light.”
About the Author:
Regine Romain is a photo-anthro-journalist, educator and performer of Haitian descent. She is the director of the Urban PhotoPoets, Brooklyn Photo Salon and Brooklyn to Benin projects. She has 20 years practice of creating, researching, teaching, and supporting diverse communities in engaging and co-creating projects that promote positive representations of their individual and collective identities. Through an extensive global network, Regine produce culturally transformative courses, workshops, salons, exhibits and festivals.
More Info: www.RegineRomain.com
