Meet Charlie Pierre-Louis | Motivational Speaker and Owner of Self Hate Survivor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charlie Pierre-Louis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charlie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in St. Marc Haiti. During this time most Haitians were living off a few dollars a day. My parents struggled to survive. What many people don’t know is that Haiti was once the wealthiest place in the Western Hemisphere, they were punished for becoming the first black freed nation. With that in my blood I have always grabbed life by the horns through good and bad times. To get back to my story, my family migrated to Palm Beach County Florida, Lake Worth City to be exact. While living in Lake Worth I was bullied early on for being Haitian and not being able to speak proper English due to speaking my native tongue of Creole. I still remember one of my lowest days as an immigrant. Due to my parents not having a job and money at the time I was sent to school in the only pair of shoes that I had at the time, Soccer cleats. I was laughed and bullied the whole day, by students and even heard some chuckles from teachers as I walked by making the clickily clack sound which happens when soccer cleats hit the concrete pavement. It got so bad that the principal called home to have me picked up and stated that I could not return to school until my parents could afford the proper shoes. Although I had many more days of being bullied that particular day made me who I am, because that day led to thoughts of suicide and how I would no longer feel the pain If I was no longer alive. Things would soon change for the better, on a random day the school janitor asked me a simple question, did I know how to play basketball if not would I be willing to learn. A janitor changed my life, that is the reason i believe that you should be kind to everyone and that everyone has a purpose. I quickly found something I loved and that loved me. Sports became the way I coped with life, I realized that with sports you often get out what you put in. Like the Tupac poem the rose that grew through concrete I struggled to get to where I am but I now understand that God made my path different, that my struggles make me who I am. The difficulties that were placed in my life would become the light in a dark tunnel for others. I am now fulfilling my purpose in life. I am blessed to have the opportunity to go around the world and speak to people. I never understood how powerful words were until the day I spoke life into someone who wanted to take their life. So I vowed that when I became an adult I would fight for those who did not have a voice as well as let everyone know that I too am a SELF HATE SURVIVOR. That you should not let others dictate the way you feel about yourself and that you should not look for someone to love you but instead find love within yourself for yourself.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a motivational speaker and owner of Self Hate Survivor clothing. What sets me apart as a motivational speaker is that I have actually lived through my words. Also, being an immigrant has set me apart from many, having to come to a foreign country and struggle to find success in hopes of achieving the American dream. A quote that I created is “greatness through failure” we need to understand that failure comes before greatness. Going back to living my words, after decided to pursue my dream as a motivational speaker I found myself in the midst of failure wondering should i give up. I failed in 2016,2017,2018 and most of 2019, I failed four years in a row. My father in law passed away on December 11th 2019 the final month of the year. My mother in law asked that I give a speech not only for that day but one that would help everyone get through the next few weeks. While writing the speech It was as if my father in law decided to come down and write the speech with me. As i was writing i would often hear him say no change this around and fix this statement because I wouldn’t say it that way. The day of the funeral was one of the hardest days for me but I knew I had to be strong for the family. As I walked up to the podium I heard him say this is your big break. That day i spoke in front of over a thousand people who left the funeral believing that life would be alright and that we all should make everyday a great day on purpose(A quote that my father in law often said). He also said to me on that day, there will be a lot of hard days on this journey of becoming a motivational speaker but everything that is worth having is worth fighting for From that day on I decided to write and record my motivational album that you can find on all streaming services which was release on my daughters birthday 7/15/21 called FAITH OVER FEAR. I had to have FAITH that God wouldn’t allow me to fail which released the fear of failure. No it was not easy, although I am finding success, I have not reached the heights that God has plan for me so I am still on my journey.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing that I would do is give them a history lesson. Being that most of my family members that often visit me weren’t around during the civil rights era I would first take them to the Civil Rights museum & Martin Luther King National Park to allow them to see the people who came before us that built the bridge that we are currently crossing and state the reasons why we have to extend that bridge for others behind us. Day 2: we would take a stroll through the Atlanta Botanical Garden while talking about future goals and plans. I have found that I often get the best ideas when I am at peace in nature. Day 3: I would take them to experience a show at the Fox Theatre. Day 4 I would take them to the Atlanta History Center which is a large complex that is comprise of the Atlanta History Museum, Centennial Olympic Games Museum, Swan House, Smith Family Farm and the Kenan Research Center. Day 5 we would take a ride on the beltline and stop for lunch at the Ponce Market Place. Day 6 We would attend one of the many day parties that often happen throughout the city to relax and have some fun as well as network that evening we would also go out to a night club either Compound or Lucky Lounge because I know that’s truly why my family came. Day 7 I would take them to my church Elizabeth Baptist Church, I know that most of them came for the night life but I need to make sure that they hear the word before they leave. Atlanta is filled with a lot of exciting things to do. Often we have concerts in the park, we have walks for different causes, a lot of different speakers from all different walks of life. To be honest there is so much to do that we would play it by ear and depending on the person who comes to visit.

Some other places we would go to eat would be
* Slutty Vegan
*Polaris (Restaurant that spins so you can get different views of the city)
*Canoe

Day 1: Civil Rights museum & Martin Luther King National Park- Eat Lunch at Busy Bee Café
Day 2: we would take a stroll through the Atlanta Botanical Garden
Day 3; Show at Fox Theatre.
Day 4: Atlanta History Center
Day 5: Take a ride on the beltline
Day 6: Day party & night club
Day 7: Elizabeth Baptist Church & Piedmont Park

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, I would like to give a shoutout to my wife Alexis who has been by my side for 12 years during good and bad times, she continued to push me to grow towards my purpose of helping others in their journey. I also would like to give a shout to my birth parents Marie & Yno Pierre-Louis who left everything behind to give me an opportunity to be successful in life as well as to my parents through marriage, my late father in law Al Baity who taught me to find the good in everything as well as my Mother Linda Baity who taught me how to have patience and that if you talk to God he’ll listen and give you a response. I also would like to give a shoutout to my friends that became family. An inner circle of business men and women. Winston a game designer. Riana & Zimier the owners of Hookah Hoggers, Tre the owner of 3rd world creations where you can buy custom canvas, Robyn the owner of Be Strown Fitness. I have so many people that I would love to thank but do not want to miss any names.

Website: CharliePierrelouis.com

Instagram: CPLinspires

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-pierre-louis-92713aaa

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Youtube: Cplinspires

Other: linktr.ee/CPLinspires

Image Credits
George Edward Photography