In episode 1 of A Boat A Voyage: A Haitian Refugee Story, created by award-winning journalist Wilkine Brutus, is a 5-episode podcast that delves into his Haitian mother’s refugee story from the1980s, spanning Haiti, Miami, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. While living as an expat in South Korea, Brutus uncovers her journey and reflects on his own experience as a first-generation Haitian-American. This intimate podcast reveals the emotional weight of leaving her homeland and captures the complexities of human migration, family, and identity, offering a nuanced—and even humorous—perspective on the refugee experience.

Originally published May 3, 2018

Maps and Diaries, LLC (copyright)

In episode 5, the final episode, Wilkine Brutus and Paulette Francois explore fragmented Black and African history, African DNA, Haiti's landmarks, and the influence of the Arawak/Taino indigenous people.

Haitian Saying: Bye kou bliye, pote mak sonje (He who strikes the blow forgets; he who bears the scars remembers)

Maps and Diaries, LLC

In episode 4, Paulette Francois was determined to spend Christmas with her son Wilkine Brutus, in Busan, South Korea. During her stay, she explored Buddhist temples, tried different foods, and made new friends, including a Russian and a Honduran immigrant.

Haitian Saying: Pitit tig se tig: A tiger's cub is still a tiger

Maps and Diaries, LLC