When I was a little girl, I wore my hair in three braids: two thick ones in the back and a third one on the side of my face. That was my style. That was the way my grandma combed my hair.
Some of the imported nuns insisted that I remove that braid from my face. Their comments made me feel bad.
Even though I attended one of the most the prestigious religious schools, the educators liked to control some of the Haitian girls. They did not like our physical appearance. They attacked the way some of the children spoke French.
If I could go back and talk to little Jany Tomba, I would tell her: You are unique and don’t mind what the nuns say to you about having your third braid hanging in front of your face. I would tell her she is beautiful.
Exclusive VFH InnerView (Part 1)
Exclusive VFH InnerView with Jany Tomba (Part 2)
Katia D. Ulysse