By: Jaury Mendela Jean-Enard
Out of sight but never out of mind is the motto for Ruth Jean-Marie, social entrepreneur out of Brooklyn who just designed and sold out a limited-edition Nike sneaker inspired by the Haitian revolution. The design was one of 37 submitted by other creatives and Jean-Marie’s was retained.
“I was at home in my living room when I submitted my pitch to Nike,” recalls Jean-Marie. “We just had to submit a bio to say what makes us unique, and I talked about the cultural influence Haitians have in Brooklyn.”
She highlighted to Nike how may streets in New York were named after Haitian independence heroes, how Haitians have colored the boroughs with culture and joy through the Labor Day parade, Haitian flag day parade, the uniqueness of Haitian communities. Despite Haiti being currently in what can be considered its worst chapter with gas shortage, schools unable to open and businesses closed, Nike still found the diamond in the rough. Jean-Marie’s bio pitch did not focus on her accomplishments but rather the struggles, fights and resistance of a people who are still struggling, fighting and resisting.
Hence the name Uprising.
This limited-edition sneaker named “Uprising” symbolizes the story of a people who refuse to give into corruption and impunity. It was inspired and modeled after the uprising felt around the world and specifically Haiti. It captures what Jean-Marie believes is the essence of a revolution that started as far back as August 1791 and culminated into a successful battle in November 1803.
“On the tongue of the sneaker it reads August,” Jean-Marie points out. “I put that there because it was over a decade long fight before we achieved our independence,” she clarifies. “August was the beginning of the revolution and the word also means honorable and having great importance, she adds.
The sneakers are black in the sole; blue in the middle body; mainly red near the shoelace; a neon green at the very top; and with a golden Nike swoosh on the side. The combination of colors was drawn from colors she saw on the uniform worn by Haitian revolutionary leaders like Catherine Flon, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Toussaint Louverture. Though she thought about countless designs such as a 95% black sneaker to reflect Haiti’s 95% black population, the red, blue, black, gold and green just felt right, she affirms.
“Once I got that color combination, a voice told me… don’t touch it anymore!” she laughs reminiscently.
And although Jean-Marie was not born in Haiti, her awareness and appreciation of her mother’s land is second to none. She recalls being in the back seat when her father first told her about the Haitian revolution and how it was the first black republic. At the time, she didn’t think much of it. But her interest and amazement for Haiti grew enormously.
At the age of six, she visited Haiti for the first time with her family. During another trip several years later, she went to her mother’s hometown, Leogane, where she fondly remembers seeing what she calls “a natural darkness.” It was dark outside but she vividly remembers seeing a beautiful blue sky unalike what you see in the states at night due to tall buildings and pollution. Subsequently, she recalls visiting with her older sister and dancing in rara bands during Carnival.
“My auntie, Madonne, let us go dance in the crowds, but as soon as my mom found out she came running after us,” she says nostalgically.
From that time forward, Haiti remained engraved in Jean-Marie’s memory.
“My soul awakens whenever I think about Haiti,” she utters.
As an undergrad, she majored in philosophy. For grad school she majored in Global Affairs concentration in International Law & Human Rights during which she wrote all her papers on Haiti, proposing research and solutions. In 2014, she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Global Affairs and wrote her final’s paper on “The Rights to Dignity,” with a focus on Haiti. At NYC’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene she works as the acting strategic partnership manager where she proposed and held a mental health program for Haitians early this January 2019. Back in 2017, she started the August project to “ignite imagination” in Leogane – her mother’s commune. The name “August,” which is also printed on the tongue of her Nike Uprising, is to remind people of the beginning of the battle.
“I want people to believe in Haiti. The fact that people are still fighting for their rights is a good thing… The violence and corruption aren’t good, but I think a change is happening right now in Haiti,” affirms Jean-Marie.
The Uprising was to be available for 10 days, from Nov 1 to 10. Jean-Marie held a pop-up on November 8 to help sales of the limited-edition sneakers, but they sold out in a matter of four days. As a result, she’ll hold a shoe signing event next month. Next year 2020, she plans to visit Haiti and donate half of the profits to the August Project. Jean-Marie is also working on a Haitian narrative project to capture the Haitian identity and existence throughout Haiti and the US.
Follow Ruth Jean-Marie on IG
at @lesocialnomad