Standing with Haitians

My wife and I have gone to Haiti many times. No one can deny that that country’s government has problems. Most historians though clearly point that the denizens’ race has nothing to do with their plight. The nation was birthed in the great upheavals of the early Enlightenment period. It is the only successful slave rebellion in history. As such, the leaders had to face building a nation without the benefits that event their South American neighbors had. They also dealt with European racism that would warily trade with Anglos and Latinos, but only grudgingly acquiesced to acknowledging the fledgling Caribbean nation. And while Americans had debts from their Revolution, the Haitians were told to pay not just their debts but for their manumission as well! If such were the situation of their Anglo compatriots, we would have kept fighting. But the system was rigged. This led Haitians to overwork the soil so as to pay off their debts to their former masters. The once idyllic nation was turned into a national fire sale. Everything had to go.

Then, during World War I, the United States threw its weight around the country. It removed $500,000 from Haiti and transferred it to the U.S. for “safe-keeping.” There is no information that states it was ever given back. That amount would be worth about $11 million in today’s money. However since it was bank money moved from one bank to another, the interest rate ends up making it at least worth $73.3 million … if you didn’t invest anymore … and if you only invested in low-yielding bonds. 

Though this was the least of the travails visited upon Haiti. The United States effectively occupied the country from 1915 - 1934. While the U.S. did introduce improved infrastructure, thousands were left dead as a result of the incursion. When the U.S. did finally leave, it still demanded its “debts” be paid off by Haitians.

That is just one of many stories. Most of the debt that was accrued by Haiti did not emerge from poor management though. The Duvalier dynasty emerged. Though Kennedy initially removed aid from Haiti because of the regime, America tolerated them because of their proximity to Cuba. This, despite the fact that the Haitian secret police, The Tonton Macoute, killed some 30,000 opponents. 

It is hard to say what would have happened to Haiti had they simply carried out a successful revolution and been treated like their North American counterparts. Yet, from the start Haiti has had to work exponentially harder just to exist at all. The country has been so destabilized from the inception onwards that it is a miracle it still exists at all. Haiti would consider itself lucky to have been ahead at any point. It has never been given the chance.

Still, there is a glimmer of hope. The Haitian people are resilient. They have fought for their existence so far and have never given up on it. Unlike many Americans who have inherited their wealth and prestige, parading around like self-made men, the Haitians have consistently adapted to new obstacles that the world has consistently thrown against them.

In our own small part (and this is mostly because of my wife), we support a school there. We also made sure that we support a child. Each one of those children wants to make their country a better place, but if they don’t accomplish that they want to make the world a better place at least. As I consider what real leadership is, I believe in the strength of the citizens of a country that despite the shocks and vicissitudes of a hostile world is still there. Mwen sipòte Ayiti!