'Bonjour, Jean'

By Edwidge Danticat

This article appeared in the February 19, 2001 edition of The Nation.

February 1, 2001

Michèle Montas is having lunch at a restaurant in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. While commenting on the schedule being presented to her by National Coalition for Haitian Rights executive director Jocelyn McCalla for her weeklong visit to the United States, Montas barely manages to sip her water.

When the waiter comes to refill her half-full glass, he stops to ask about a button pinned to her jacket.

On the button is a picture of a curly-haired man with piercing eyes. Above his high forehead and raised eyebrows are the words Jean Dominique Vivan ("Jean Dominique Lives").

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About Edwidge Danticat

Edwidge Danticat is the author, most recently, of The Dew Breaker (Vintage). more...
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