TAMPA, Fla. — Each year, the City of Tampa Black History Committee honors the unsung heroes of the diaspora for Black History Month.

The theme for their 37th Annual Ceremony is "Tampa Bay Trailblazers: Leading Change." Jean-René Rinvil is one of this year’s honorees who uses various mediums to celebrate Haiti’s contributions to Black history.

When he was 12 years old, Rinvil moved from Grand-Goave, Haiti, to America. He honed his painting skills while studying at the University of South Florida.

“I was taking all those classes way before I even knew I was interested in, I guess, this medium,” said Rinvil.

He considers himself a storyteller who uses various mediums, including dance, film, and painting, to honor his roots.

For Black History Month, his artwork is showcased in several galleries across Florida, including the City of Tampa’s Hanna Avenue Building. This year, he will be featured for the third time at Miami’s Art Basel, a premier platform for renowned artists and galleries.

Haitian art is characterised by its clever use of humor, satire, and irony to reflect on social and political issues. Rinvil’s art documents historical events, including the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse.

“I remember July 7, 2023,” he said. “And after seeing those videos, seeing the news, it was really heartbreaking to see the destruction of the country.”

Another painting honors the victims of the Haiti earthquake and sheds light on the mental impact. His award-winning film, "Healing a Nation," brings awareness to mental health.

“What happened when I went to Haiti to work on this project, I realized that more and more people started talking about mental illness,” said Rinvil.

Rinvil says each brush stroke reflects the richness of Haitian culture.

“Everything that I do pays tribute to Haiti,” he said. “I think for someone who has been here for as long as I've been in, some of the connections to Haiti, to my homeland, never left.”

He’s proud to celebrate the nation’s achievements.

“Haiti was the first Black republic,” said Rinvil.

Haitians are acknowledged during Black History Month for the Haitian Revolution, which established Haiti as the first Black republic. This event was crucial in the fight for freedom and equality within the African diaspora, highlighting the importance of Haitian history to Black history.

“Black history is also Haitian history,” said Rinvil.

The United States’ territory tripled in size after the Louisiana Purchase, driven by Haiti’s slave revolt and France’s need to sell its western territory. Monuments in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, honor Haitians who fought in the American Revolution and the Civil War. Chicago was founded in the 1780s by Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a trader of Haitian descent.

“Our existence is not new,” he said. “So the idea, Haitians, we are like the new migrant again, they only have to really go back to the 1800s and see our existence has always been here.”

 Rinvil is celebrating his greatest achievement as an honoree of the City of Tampa Black History Committee.

“It’s great to be included, but is also as great to have leaders in our community who go beyond just their own community to see who's really doing stuff out there,” he said.

He’s living the American dream in Tampa, all while honoring the legacy his Haitian ancestors established here and beyond.

The City of Tampa Black History Celebration is happening on Monday at the Tampa Theatre.  

Spectrum Bay News 9 reporter Fadia Patterson will be the emcee of the event.