Never be a Flower Without Scent: A Letter for Black History Month

Written by UNICEF Canada Youth Advocate Harantxa Jean.

This is a story about a girl.  

She was born beneath a sky of frost, the cold Canadian wind biting at her mother’s skin. As the first daughter of immigrants, her mother often reminded her “Pa janm vin yon flè san odè” – to never be a flower without scent.  

Because to grow even after being stepped on, and rise through the tribulations of existence, is what makes life and flowers allegories of one another in Haitian culture. “Resilience and ingenuity are perfumes that we wear with pride,” her mother continued, “and to come around us and not smell their aroma is akin to picking a scentless rose : wasted potential.”  

With this proverb in mind, the daughter grew up acutely aware that her life was a testament to the sacrifices of those who came before her. Her parents, cognizant of the challenges posed by residing in a predominantly white area, instilled in her the seeds of possibility, emphasizing that no underestimations from others should hinder her from fulfilling her potential; that the fragrance of her capabilities would emanate greatness. 

And she believed them.  

But nothing braced her for that first bus ride to school, as she would face discrimination by her classmates before even attempting to sit on the bench.  

At only five, she was oblivious to the fact that her race, and its history of oppression, preceded her into every room.  

Helpless, she gazed into the rearview mirror, seeking intervention from the compassionate-looking driver. Anticipation filled the air as he parted his lips, only to deceive her by remaining silent.  

In this moment, she realized that silence resulted in choosing the oppressor’s side. Beneath its purported protective nature, the system was flawed, and even complicit in perpetuating injustice. 

Awakened, she vowed to surpass her mother’s saying by not settling for a rose when she could strive for the entire bouquet. Her purpose wouldn’t be to advocate for herself, but on the behalf of those whose struggles mirrored her own. 

The marginalized. 
The overpoliced. 
The overlooked. 
And to choose to overcome. 

The little girl in the story is me, Harantxa Jean, a youth advocate based in Montreal. 

As I grew up, I regained control of the pen of oppression that attempted to tell my story, and began to write my own. 

Through UNICEF Canada’s Youth Advocacy program, I have spent the past year turning my convictions into action. I have worked to dismantle systemic racism through policy recommendations addressing discrimination that continue to hinder Black professionals.  

To mark Black History Month, I urge Black youth across Canada to take action of their own. The world may try to write you out of its pages, but you hold the ink.  

We need decision-makers to rectify the barriers we face by recognizing that Black youth are not just recipients of policy but are active contributors who have the gifts and knowledge to reimagine a more just society. 

So, to all Black boys and girls, whether you were born under the rain of snowflakes or the warmth of the sun, choose to become the flower who blooms out of the concrete. Let the fragrance of your ambition be undeniable. Let it linger in classrooms, boardrooms, industries and institutions where your presence has long been neglected. Take up space and wield your pen like a shield.  

Black history is not confined to a month. In the words of Octavia Butler, write yourself in.  

"Discrimination [and racism] limits our future as workers and leaders – but still, we rise and advocate to move beyond them.” — Harantxa Jean, UNICEF Canada Youth Advocate in the 2024 Reimagine Playbook.