“Why are they holding my passport?” I asked the kind Haitian man to my right. I was so lucky he spoke enough English, and that I was able to have a conversation with him.

“They are saying you are not Haitian,” He told me as they returned my passport, un-stamped. The passport did not get stamped which would mean I would not legally be allowed to enter into Haiti.

I was on my 3rd trip into Haiti. My foster daughter, of whom I have complete legal guardianship of, lives with me in the Dominican Republic. We started the process in 2012 and still, to this day, are awaiting for its completion.

The fact that I could not understand what the Haitian people were saying during border check was depressing and upsetting at the same time. I AM HAITIAN but alas, was not raised in this fashion.

At birth, I was transferred to an orphanage, where I proceeded to spend the next 4 years. When I turned four years old, I was adopted by Caucasians.

A curse and a blessing at the same time is how I actually see it. Blessed to have a home, but cursed to never really be able to call myself “Haitian”. The little creole I know, I learned from the handy man who lived with my family doing odd jobs. But it is minimal.

The Caucasian family never finished the adoption so I still had a Haitian passport. This passport is one of the least desired forms of identification in the world because of its limitations. Why they chose not to complete the adoption process is beyond me. That is another story.

The story I am telling however is that of me being Haitian by passport but Caucasian in every other sense.

DON’T TURN YOUR ADOPTED CHILD INTO A CAUCASIAN HUMAN BEING.

This specific story is aimed at people who adopt Haitian kids, but it really is a global issue.

Some questions need to be asked by you and your family BEFORE you adopt. 

1. Why am I adopting?

2. Who am I adopting?

3.What do I hope will occur once I adopt?

4.What are my plans for family blending?

5. How do I keep my Haitian child’s Heritage and traditions alive?

6. Can I help them maintain their Creole (for kids 5+) or can I teach them Creole (for babies+)

To continue to hear more of my story, try to answer the questions I’ve posted in this blog as a”comment”. As I look at the comments, I will proceed to tell my story of being Caucasian in a Haitian body.