Feature: Introducing Ama Makeda, Haitian Visual Artist and Yogi
Drawing her inspiration from the visual intensity of Haiti, Christina Clodomir-Makeda instills within her paintings the abstractness of Georgia O’Keeffe. Her work captures the vibrancy of life, as well as the feelings and emotions of the brilliant wonder that nature is.
By Debbie Jonas, Afropunk Contributor.
The first question we asked her was about her artist name “Ama Makeda” and the profoundness of her words was mesmerizing: “Everything I am has a special meaning. In the Akan tradition of Ghana, West Africa, Ama is a name given to all girls born on Saturday, the day of the Goddess Ama. I was born on Saturn-Day, which is why I placed this name upon me during the time I was searching and reclaiming my African Identity. Makeda was the name of the very well-known queen of Sheba, a beautiful and beyond intelligent and wise woman, the last of a long dynasty of Ethiopian queens, and the mother of King Menelik 1st, which is also one of my son’s name. After adopting these names, I was very conscientious of the highly energy I had called upon me. But in front of my Art I only sign Makeda.
She mainly paints flowers and the reason is quite interesting: “Before I painted flowers, I tried many styles. After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, as I was deep into etheric explorations, and had a beautiful meditation in a garden of Wynn Farm Ecological Reserve, Kenscoff, Haiti. The experience was a great way to accept healing from this big hit. When I opened my eyes, the flowers around me, seemed much bigger, they were speaking… revealing their etheric bodies to me, and speaking of divine energy. That was it. Letting go of the small brush, and small surfaces, letting go of symbolism, was letting go of all mundane fears and absorbing this cosmic mission to the fullest. As a growing artist, my capacities to make effective this divine energy, this serenity, this supreme peace, also grows and attains all that come across my Artistry.”
Makeda has always been an observer of energy and has been dancing since age 14. She just got certified as a Yoga instructor in Varkala, India and plans to be an international yoga teacher, spreading divine energy all over, through all the channels she was gifted to express and share it. As a Yoga teacher, she wants her classes to be a fusion of her artistry as they will be going beyond paintings. To the Afropunk community, she says: “I enjoyed sharing part of me with you all, and these will not be my last words to you. I will keep talking to you through social media and will also be announcing all upcoming exhibits, Yoga classes, workshops, retreats, dance performances, and all the other beautiful fusions. INFINITE LOVE PEOPLE!”
Plea to Trump to extend Haitian Temporary Protected Status
Q: I am here lawfully with Haitian Temporary Protected Status. I read that the Department of Homeland Security will end the program Jan. 18. If that happens, will they try to deport us Haitians all at once?
John Eugene, Florida
A: I remain optimistic that DHS will extend TPS for Haitians beyond Jan. 19. If I’m wrong, I doubt that Immigration and Customs Enforcement will make deporting Haitians a priority. ICE and the immigration courts are already overwhelmed. Many Haitians will have defenses to deportation. When they assert their claims, the courts will be clogged further.
DHS granted about 60,000 Haitians TPS after a devastating earthquake hit Haiti on Jan. 12, 2010. As I wrote in May when I called on President Trump to extend Haitian TPS, Haiti has yet to recover from the Earthquake. And, it has suffered from a disastrous hurricane and cholera outbreak.
Political factors favor another Haitian TPS extension. Florida Gov. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, both Republicans, support an extension. The Congressional Black Caucus has pushed hard for an extension as well. Though the caucus is almost entirely Democratic, TPS is one of the few programs that benefit primarily black immigrants. President Trump may be reluctant to end it. Why look racist, mean and heartless by deporting such a small group of immigrants?
As for mass deportations, many Haitians with TPS have been here 10 years or more and have U.S. citizen children, allowing them to apply to an immigration judge for a Cancellation of Removal green card. Those cases are hard to win. The applicant must prove exceptional and extremely unusual hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, parent, child or spouse should the person be deported.
Still, Haitians with the qualifying relatives will certainly apply, stretching out their deportation for years. Others will apply for asylum, another time-consuming process. Haiti remains politically unstable, and many Haitians have legitimate asylum claims.
Trump claims he wants to focus deportation efforts on criminals. Ending Haitian TPS would be further evidence that it is all immigrants that are his target.
Allan Wernick is an attorney and director of the City University of New York’s Citizenship Now! project. Send questions and comments to Allan Wernick, New York Daily News, 7th Fl., 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004, or email to
Briefing Security Council, Special Representative Calls upon Haiti Leadership to Restore, Strengthen Independence of Judiciary
With the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) making way for a new peacekeeping operation focusing on justice support, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative to the country said today.
On the heels of the Secretary-General’s latest report on MINUSTAH (document S/2017/604), Sandra Honoré, Special Representative and Head of United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, briefed the Security Council on the latest developments in the country. She said that, less than three months before MINUSTAH gave way to the new United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH), the country remained on the path to stabilization and democratic consolidation. She added, however, more needed to be done to consolidate the security and stabilization gains of recent years, create greater social and political cohesion and truly reinforce State institutions.
In that vein, she called on Haiti’s executive branch and legislature to restore, without delay, the country’s judiciary and to bolster its independence. It was troubling that a third branch of power was not yet fully functioning, she said, emphasizing that a lack of tangible progress on the rule of law was impacting on people’s lives, their human rights, investment and economic growth.
She said that, without a properly functioning justice system, the Haitian National Police could not ensure security for all citizens. “As the National Police grows in strength and performance, all efforts must aim to create the necessary framework for the effective delivery of justice and the rule of law,” she told the Council, adding that resolute implementation of reforms and plans for inclusive dialogue were all the more important to sustainably consolidate the gains made so far and to pave the way for the transition to MINUJUSTH.
“Ultimately, Haiti’s security, political, social and development agenda can only be shaped by the national authorities and the Haitian people themselves,” she said, adding that much-needed donor support could help national-led efforts where needed and desired. Emphasizing that MINUSTAH’s drawdown and transition to the new Mission had been designed to ensure an orderly transfer of security tasks to State institutions, she said the international community’s partnership with Haiti and support for its reform agenda would be critical going forward.
Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report as objective and balanced, Haiti’s representative said his country was making process to build the rule of law and to anchor democracy. His Government had taken note of the report’s criticisms regarding limited progress in the administration of justice, shortcomings in the correctional system and human rights concerns, he said.
Emphasizing that Haiti’s cholera epidemic was far from being eradicated, he appealed for a prompt and sustained resumption of development assistance that would help lead to sustained growth. On MINUSTAH, he welcomed the orderly withdrawal of its military component, adding that lessons drawn over the past 13 years would be harnessed wisely for the benefit of the incoming Mission.
During an open debate, Council members and other delegations welcomed recent developments in Haiti, encouraged the Government to do more to strengthen human rights and the rule of law and called for the international community to extend more support for the United Nations Haiti Cholera Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund.
The representative of Uruguay expressed concern over the island nation’s socioeconomic situation, emphasizing that many Haitians were living amid severe food insecurity and acute malnutrition. That the Haitian authorities were even thinking about reconstituting the armed forces was a serious concern, he added, emphasizing that such an effort would divert resources away from areas that needed urgent attention.
The representative of Bolivia expressed support for the President of Haiti’s proposal that the new Mission would be classified under Chapter VI of the Charter, as there was no threat to peace and security in Haiti. Recalling the Council’s June visit to Haiti, he said MINUJUSTH faced a raft of strategic goals to be completed within two years, and he raised concern that it might be unable to fulfil those objectives in such a short time. Commending MINUSTAH for its self‑assessment, he said it must now tackle outstanding issues related to cholera and sexual exploitation and abuse. He advocated support for the Secretary-General’s new approach to cholera, noting that, without attention to health, education and sanitation, Haiti’s path to sustainable development would be long and rocky.
The representative of Japan was among several speakers who underscored their countries’ troop and police contribution to MINUSTAH over the years. He expressed hope that MINUJUSTH would strengthen police and justice institutions, citing the challenges of the Haitian National Police’s ability to respond to large-scale violence, border controls, the need for police stations and rule of law issues. He also highlighted Japan’s $9 million contribution to combat cholera, through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other organizations.
The representative of the United States noted that the core of the new Mission would focus on the rule of law, police development and human rights. She also urged that more attention be given to Haiti’s economic situation and challenges related to humanitarian and disaster preparedness. The United States had been among Haiti’s strongest international partners for more than 30 years, she said, and it would continue to support the country.
Peru’s representative, speaking on behalf of the Group of Friends of Haiti, said strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions, and embedding a culture to improve socioeconomic conditions, were all essential to security and prosperity in the country. He underscored the principle of national ownership and inclusion, and reiterated the importance of the Government’s commitment to the rule of law, justice and security. He also welcomed the reform of the Haitian National Police and adoption of the strategic development plan. He noted, however, limited progress in improving judicial institutions and the administration of justice, and urged the Government to take actions related to justice and human rights.
The Vice-Minister for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of Mexico said the strengthening of rule of law and national institutions were signs of a new era for Haiti in shouldering its responsibilities for the future. “The United Nations is not leaving Haiti. Rather, our presence is evolving,” he said, emphasizing that the Organization must support Haiti in shaping its development path and ensuring its people enjoyed the fruits of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Also speaking were representatives of the Kazakhstan, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Sweden, Senegal, Italy, China, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and Chile, as well as the European Union.
The meeting began at 10:07 a.m., was suspended from 11:03 a.m. to 11:49 a.m., and ended at 1:20 p.m.