Immigrant Identity

DAPHNEY ETIENNE ’12
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. (via Haiti)
Major: Writing and Rhetoric
Beyond HWS: This summer, Etienne will visit Haiti with her family.
- Koshare Dance Collective
- Intern at Self and Lucky Magazines
- Senior Civic Leader for the Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning
- Graduated with Honors in Writing and Rhetoric
Daphney Etienne ’12 is many things - a dancer, a writing and rhetoric major, an avid follower of fashion and a civic leader on campus. She is also Haitian.
As the earthquake ravaged her family’s homeland two years ago, Etienne remembers the ever-present glow of the television while she and her parents watched the continuous news coverage of Haiti from their home in Brooklyn. “There were just dead bodies,” recalls Etienne. “And I remember there was so much pity; there was this perception that the Haitian people were already damaged, that they were weak.”
This revelation was in contradiction with her Haitian upbringing, an identity characterized by indefatigable spirit. In search of images that would positively reflect the Haitian people, Etienne discovered the work of renowned Haitian photographer Daniel Morel. Morel's photos spoke to Etienne – evocative images of a people coping with tragedy in dignity and unparalleled determination.
“These people are resilient; they are fierce,” says Etienne. “Haitian people are strong because they have survived coups, political instability, natural disasters – they were the first black nation to achieve independence.”
With the help of her Honors Adviser, Assistant Professor Writing and Rhetoric Neeta Bhasin, Etienne used the photos as the basis for her Honors project. “Haiti Through the Lens" investigates the construction of Haitian identity.
"I feel like there is a great deal of responsibility on me, as a Haitian immigrant, to disrupt the stereotype of helplessness that plagues Haiti,” says Etienne. “The history, the Creole language, the culture – it is all so rich. I want to put into people’s heads what was put into mine at a young age: Haitians are strong – and it is something to celebrate.”
Current Issue
- Lakeviews
- Faculty Honored for Scholarship, Teaching and Service
- Celebrating Campaign for the Colleges
- Maureen Collins Zupan '72, P'09 Named HWS Board Chair
- David H. Deming '75 Honored
- Ufomata Named Provost and Dean of Faculty
- Off to Asia, Africa and South America
- Athletics
THE CLASSES OF 2012
- An Awareness of the World
- New Alums Called Upon to Dream Big
- Touching The Future Awards
- Honorary Degrees Conferred
- Philosophy of Reform
- The Great Debate
- Creating Candidates
- Wall Street Bound
- Muck on Stuff
- The X Factor
- More Than a Medical History
- Sitting Pretty
- Law of Human Behavior
- Home Made
- Poetic Justice
- Four Join the Peace Corps
- Steps Into My Future
- A Call to Ministry
- Investing in Energy
- What's Old Is New Again
- Gionet Awarded Prestigious Fulbright
- Ductus Exemplo: Leadership by Example
- A Rain Cloud's Silver Lining
- Seven Accepted to Teach for America
- Giving a Year to Change the World
- Immigrant Identity
- From HWS, With Love
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