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Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection
Interview with Yolande Thomas
Miami, FL, August 28, 2013
Interview ASM0085000040
Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis
Recorded by Javier Carrion
Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris
Length: 00:45:26
Interview with Yolande Thomas, a singer, actress, community leader, and activist in New York and Miami. Thomas enjoyed singing and performing in school productions as a child in Haiti before moving to New York in 1954. There, she studied office management at City College and social work at Adelphi University while raising four children. Along with Reverend Father Guy Sansaricq, and other concerned citizens, Thomas helped found the Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) in the late 1970s. She served as the executive secretary and bookkeeper for HAUP and also worked with migrant workers in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. During this time, she was also very active in the Haitian choir at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Queens, and in 1982, she joined Sosyete Koukouy in New York. In 1985, Thomas moved to Miami and was involved in founding the Miami branch of Sosyete Koukouy. She served as an Administrator at the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center at the Notre Dame d’Haiti Catholic Church from 1985 to 2004. Thomas was named the 2013 Mother of the Year for her devoted work within the archdiocese of Miami and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Queens, and she continues to work to disseminate Haitian culture.
This interview forms part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections.
This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor.
Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu. Yolande Thomas 2
August 28, 2013
INTERVIEW OUTLINE
− 00:00:13: Introduction.
− 00:00:49: Tell us a little about your childhood, where we you born, who were your parents, where did you go to school, this type of early life.
− 00:02:07: So in those days, you grew up with your grandmother, and your uncle. Were there other cousins there?
− 00:02:30: So as a child, who would you say was the most influential person in your life?
− 00:03:39: From reading, I learned much about you. You started your artistic career very early. So tell us about those early experiences.
− 00:05:20: So you grew up in Haiti until what age?
− 00:05:41: Tell us about your first few years in New York. How did you manage to adjust to that new environment, this new country?
− 00:07:26: So you were telling me about the courses – I know you attended City College and Adelphi University. What subjects did you study and how did that impact your life to it could make things better?
− 00:09:39: Let’s talk about the choir, the famous Haitian choir at Sacred Heart Church… Tell us who started the choir and why?
− 00:12:40: Being Mother of the Church, wow… It also translates into a lot of hard work. I think it’s important that people know these things don’t happen without personal sacrifices. Give them something else about that. What are the personal sacrifices you had to make in order to be available to be Mother of the Church?
− 00:13:40: So that was the momentum for HAUP [Haitian Americans United for Progress]?
− 00:13:51: Let’s start from the beginning of HAUP – how did it start, who started it, and the reason and mission of it.
− 00:17:59: Tell us about your work with the migrant workers. Because I know you also work with the migrant workers.
− 00:27:14: Your artistic career started at an early age. However, you’ve worked with some famous Haitian playwrights. Tell us, who are these giants in the theater of Haiti, and what roles did you play with them?
Yolande Thomas 3
August 28, 2013
− 00:34:33: So out of all these plays – how many plays have you performed?
− 00:37:39: Is there [a play] that’s your favorite?
− 00:39:15: So among all of these accomplishments – as an activist, community organizer, playwright, singer – which one is where your heart has been most?
− 00:41:49: And your family – I know that’s also very close – children, grandchildren, and any great-grandchildren?
− 00:44:08: You’re a singer, you’re a poet – so how about ending this with something for Haiti?
− 00:45:26: END OF INTERVIEW
Object Description
Description
| Title | Interview Outline |
| Object ID | asm0085000040 |
| Digital ID | asm0085000040 |
| Full Text | Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection Interview with Yolande Thomas Miami, FL, August 28, 2013 Interview ASM0085000040 Interviewed by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis Recorded by Javier Carrion Outline by Lucrèce Louisdhon-Louinis and Ben Morris Length: 00:45:26 Interview with Yolande Thomas, a singer, actress, community leader, and activist in New York and Miami. Thomas enjoyed singing and performing in school productions as a child in Haiti before moving to New York in 1954. There, she studied office management at City College and social work at Adelphi University while raising four children. Along with Reverend Father Guy Sansaricq, and other concerned citizens, Thomas helped found the Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP) in the late 1970s. She served as the executive secretary and bookkeeper for HAUP and also worked with migrant workers in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. During this time, she was also very active in the Haitian choir at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Queens, and in 1982, she joined Sosyete Koukouy in New York. In 1985, Thomas moved to Miami and was involved in founding the Miami branch of Sosyete Koukouy. She served as an Administrator at the Pierre Toussaint Haitian Catholic Center at the Notre Dame d’Haiti Catholic Church from 1985 to 2004. Thomas was named the 2013 Mother of the Year for her devoted work within the archdiocese of Miami and the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Queens, and she continues to work to disseminate Haitian culture. This interview forms part of the Haitian Diaspora Oral History Collection of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. This oral history expresses the views, memories and opinions of the interviewee. It does not represent the viewpoints of the University of Miami, its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The University of Miami makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interview and expressly disclaims any liability therefor. Copyright to this interview lies with the University of Miami. It may not be reproduced, retransmitted, published, distributed, or broadcast without the permission of the University of Miami Libraries Special Collections. For information about obtaining copies or to request permission to publish any part of this interview, please contact Special Collections at asc@miami.edu. Yolande Thomas 2 August 28, 2013 INTERVIEW OUTLINE − 00:00:13: Introduction. − 00:00:49: Tell us a little about your childhood, where we you born, who were your parents, where did you go to school, this type of early life. − 00:02:07: So in those days, you grew up with your grandmother, and your uncle. Were there other cousins there? − 00:02:30: So as a child, who would you say was the most influential person in your life? − 00:03:39: From reading, I learned much about you. You started your artistic career very early. So tell us about those early experiences. − 00:05:20: So you grew up in Haiti until what age? − 00:05:41: Tell us about your first few years in New York. How did you manage to adjust to that new environment, this new country? − 00:07:26: So you were telling me about the courses – I know you attended City College and Adelphi University. What subjects did you study and how did that impact your life to it could make things better? − 00:09:39: Let’s talk about the choir, the famous Haitian choir at Sacred Heart Church… Tell us who started the choir and why? − 00:12:40: Being Mother of the Church, wow… It also translates into a lot of hard work. I think it’s important that people know these things don’t happen without personal sacrifices. Give them something else about that. What are the personal sacrifices you had to make in order to be available to be Mother of the Church? − 00:13:40: So that was the momentum for HAUP [Haitian Americans United for Progress]? − 00:13:51: Let’s start from the beginning of HAUP – how did it start, who started it, and the reason and mission of it. − 00:17:59: Tell us about your work with the migrant workers. Because I know you also work with the migrant workers. − 00:27:14: Your artistic career started at an early age. However, you’ve worked with some famous Haitian playwrights. Tell us, who are these giants in the theater of Haiti, and what roles did you play with them? Yolande Thomas 3 August 28, 2013 − 00:34:33: So out of all these plays – how many plays have you performed? − 00:37:39: Is there [a play] that’s your favorite? − 00:39:15: So among all of these accomplishments – as an activist, community organizer, playwright, singer – which one is where your heart has been most? − 00:41:49: And your family – I know that’s also very close – children, grandchildren, and any great-grandchildren? − 00:44:08: You’re a singer, you’re a poet – so how about ending this with something for Haiti? − 00:45:26: END OF INTERVIEW |
| Type | Text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Archive | asm0085000040.pdf |
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