It’s always very refreshing to hear about Haitian-Americans making an impact and being recognized for their accomplishments in their respective fields. Dolphins players Louis Delmas and Terrence Fede are not just great athletes but role models for other young Haitian boys around the country and particularly in a large Haitian community like that of the Miami area.
Sunsentinel reports,
South Florida’s tight-knit Haitian community, word travels fast. After last sunday’s breakthrough performances, Miami Dolphins’ safety Louis Delmas and rookie defensive tackle Terrence Fede are capturing the spotlight. Hollywood radio show host Taylor LaFeille, 55, learned about the Haiti-born Dolphins duo at a Chez-Nous, a Haitian restaurant in Miramar. “It’s nice to have Haitian involvement,” he said
Delmas, who attended Western Michigan University and spent his first five NFL seasons with Detroit, and Fede, a seventh-round pick from tiny Marist College in upstate New York, are two of at least 20 known NFL players with Haitian roots. The NFL consists of nearly 1,700 players. Other NFL players with Haitian roots include Cincinnatti Bengals running back Gio Bernard, who attended St. Thomas Aquinas, and New York Giants guard Davin Joseph, who attended Hallendale High School.
“We take pride in the colors; we take pride in the history that we have going on there,” Delmas said. “It’s not a lot of Haitian-Americans that have the opportunity that we have to succeed in something we love to do. I’m proud to say I’m a Haitian, and I’m proud to represent my colors, as well as the other players in the NFL.”
The article continues,
Fede grew up in the tiny town of Nyak, NY (population 7,000). His mother moved to the United States as a child; his father moved here in his 20s. “My whole family is Haitian,” Fede said. “It’s what I’ve grown up around. It’s what I am. I’m not that good at speaking Creole, but I understand it more than I can speak it.”
“When I got down here, I realized the Haitian community down here is very big,” said Fede, who arrived here in May, soon after being drafted by the Dolphins. “Coming from New York, we have a lot of Haitian people, but it’s not as big as down here.
“Me and Louis see ourselves as role models down here. Whatever we do on the field and off the field, little Haitian kids are looking at us and maybe dreaming of becoming NFL players.” – Read full article here
All pictures courtesy of Sunsentinel
