WHEREAS, the United Federation of Teachers will affirm that the Haitian Revolution was the largest and most successful slave revolt in the world, thus inspiring the dismantling of slavery in the United States, and

WHEREAS, many nations are reluctant to acknowledge the Republic of Haiti for being an exemplar for abolitionist leaders such as Frederick Douglass, Marcus Garvey and others in the liberation of the African slave, and

WHEREAS New York City has approximately more than 130,000 residents of Haitian nationality not including their American born descendants; and

RESOLVED, that the UFT will urge its members to encourage students and educators to join in the acknowledgement of Haitian Independence Day on Jan. 1, Haitian Ancestry Day on Jan. 2 and Haitian Flag Day on May 18, be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will call for members to use tools such as: "1804: The Hidden History of Haiti" documentary; reading resources such as Frederick Douglass’ “Lecture on Haiti” speech at the dedication of the Haitian Pavilion in the World's Fair Grounds in 1893 and “The Contagious Revolution” written by David A. Bell; and by the use the tools of Teaching for Change: Building Social Justice starting in the Classroom, and be it further

RESOLVED, that the UFT will call for members to: participate in the planning of community forums and the creation and implementation of age-appropriate Pre-K-12 curricular resources that enlighten students and educators about the leaders of the Haitian Revolution that include, but not limited to: Touissaint L'Overture, Jean-Jacque Dessalines, Suzanne Belair, Marie-Jeanne Lamartiniére, Victoria Montou and a host of other influential men and women.