I’ve heard a lot of hands-tossed-in-the-air kind of language. A kind of exasperation to the tragedy and cruelty of the universe when it comes to discussing Haiti. It feels like a good time to mention—Yes, Haiti is geographically in a place that makes it prone to earthquakes and storms, which may make you feel like “Damn, how unlucky.” But America’s actions play a large part in why Haiti’s infrastructure often struggles to help her people and why the country is the poorest in the western hemisphere.
The USA, Haiti’s biggest and most powerful neighbor, even helped with the actual battles, but then turned a blind eye when Haiti achieved freedom from French colonizers. Haiti became the first Black republic and rebelled less than 10 years after America achieved her own freedom from Britain. You’d think the two new free states would unite. Instead, the United States refused to trade with Haiti, concerned the success of Haiti’s enslaved and now free people might inspire Americans to demand the same equal freedom. The USA helped create an INTERNATIONAL boycott, so Haiti could not trade. This was a purposeful and hateful blow to Haiti’s future. This was not an accident. This was a calculated measure, to grow and prosper as a nation and globally, and PURPOSELY leave Haiti out of it. This lasted until the mid 1800s before the international conspiracy was dropped, and it was only after Haiti agreed to pay 150 million francs, eventually reduced to 90 million, to France to compensate their former slave owners for the loss of the slave owners’ property, some of this debt accounting for the Haitians’ unenslaved lives. Today, this would be equivalent to $21 billion. This debt clung to Haiti until 1947. A mere 74 years ago.
We, as American’s like to pride ourselves for our freedom, earned in blood. Haiti earned their freedom 3 times over. First, rising up out of slavery. Then on the battlefield with France. And then, in perhaps the cruelest most demeaning sense, paid for their own lives like they were stolen goods, bankrupting their new, hopeful nation so they could finally be recognized as an international player capable of growth and prosperity. Only then, did we as American’s treat them as the basest humans.
When it comes to Americans, for Haiti to have the neighbors that partially inspired them to take up arms, a neighbor with far more land and resources, cut ties was devastating. Then we helped France enforce their “Independence Debt.” It created a vacuum for lost resources and artificial poverty that could’ve otherwise been avoided with continued trade. (We were glad to trade with them while they were enslaved.) This was less than 300 years ago that Haiti was inspired by, then abandoned by the USA. A mere 74 years since the repercussions of that began to fade. Haiti is still trying to dig itself out of this pitfall that we so cruelly helped devise for them. Our 5th great grandparents, and everyone after, could’ve done something more for Haiti but didn’t. So let’s do something now. Please donate. Humanity cannot persevere if we continue to turn a blind eye to our neighbors.
P.S. Please look up all the ways we’ve failed and actively suppressed Haiti. It is one terrible thing to ignore a neighbor in need, it is another to sic your dogs on them, and we did both. There’s a long history of powerful nations creating a harsh environment engineered to fail Haiti. If you don’t have time to look up timelines, or want the short version, message me and I’ll provide you with easy reads.
I also implore you to donate to Haitian voices/charities or extremely active and transparent foundations like Hope for Haiti, a Florida-based charity that keeps it’s Charity Navigator and Guidestar profile up to date and publishes in-depth short & long term goals regularly. American aid can play a significant role in increasing corruption in Haiti, so do your research and make sure the care you’re providing is creating more help than harm. Big names can be misleading, as they can use your money for inflated administration costs or simply use it for another cause like in the case with the American Red Cross.
Big foundations with multiple or generic missions often have a large pool of funding that is not always used for the good YOU so desperately want to do. (ex. Maybe you donated thinking you’d help Haiti, but they ultimately use your donation for their American swimming training campaign.) Don’t be discouraged! With a tiny bit of internet browsing, you can make ethical donations and make a difference. American dollars spread far in Haiti, so that 15 dollars you didn’t spend eating out could provide multiple families with the dinners that get them to tomorrow.
Find more charities here.
A book: The Uses of Haiti
Books about Haitian experiences by Haitians or Haitian-Americans here.
Please feel free to drop more resources, voices, and information for Haiti below. I’m glad to edit, add, and revise to make this a more helpful and accurate post. You should be able to comment freely below.