Taught me to appreciate opportunities and to learn how to deal with discrimination.She was the strongest human being I have ever known and use to laugh at the complaints she would hear from black Americans about America.I finally understood why she laughed when I visited Haiti and saw the poverty and resilience of the people to rise up from their economic and social conditions.Her favorite saying was “giving up is not an option “.My maternal grandfather was a bodyguard for Duvalier,a Ton Ton Macoute.She told me growing up in Haiti was hard for families who had daughters due to the violence that could occur.My grandfather looked out for his family and being a bodyguard for Duvalier was enough to put the fear of God in anyone who thought of messing with my Mom and aunts