Don't Hate Haiti Because It's Black
Reginald James
Issue date: 2/4/10 Last update: 2/4/10 at 3:05 AM PST
Section: OpEd
Introducing "Back to Black" a column on current events and issues affecting African people throughout Laney, Peralta, Oakland and the world.
An estimated 200,000 people have died after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti on Jan. 12. One million people are homeless, according to the U.N. and untold numbers of children are now orphaned.
This natural disaster is rooted in the economic and military intervention by those who hate to see Black people free.
As abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a U.S. Minister to Haiti said once, the "revolutionary spirit of Haiti is her curse, her crime, her greatest calamity and the explanation of the limited condition of her civilization."
Although the U.S. was in the infancy of its own freedom, slaveholders feared the revolutionary spirit would infect the slaves of its own shores. In fact, uprisings led by enslaved Africans increased following 1791, the beginning of the Haitian Revolution. Evidence shows that freedom fighter Denmark Vessey even expected forces from Haiti to back his slave revolt.
When Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, it became first Black Republic in the world and second republic in the western hemisphere, after the U.S.
France refused to recognize the Republic governed by its former slaves, and forced it into debt by making Haiti pay reparations. Freedom really isn't free.
Britain, France and the United States imposed an economic embargo until Haiti paid the same country that it previously provided free labor for. Instead of thanking Haiti for opening the doors for the Louisiana Purchase, the U.S. sided with its former colonial British masters to economically enslave Haiti. Still, Haiti survived.
And after nearly a century of stability, the U.S. intervened in Haitian affairs both economically and militarily. Soon after the taking control of Haiti's central bank, the U.S. began its first military occupation of Haiti under President Woodrow Wilson.
An estimated 200,000 people have died after the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the island nation of Haiti on Jan. 12. One million people are homeless, according to the U.N. and untold numbers of children are now orphaned.
This natural disaster is rooted in the economic and military intervention by those who hate to see Black people free.
As abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a U.S. Minister to Haiti said once, the "revolutionary spirit of Haiti is her curse, her crime, her greatest calamity and the explanation of the limited condition of her civilization."
Although the U.S. was in the infancy of its own freedom, slaveholders feared the revolutionary spirit would infect the slaves of its own shores. In fact, uprisings led by enslaved Africans increased following 1791, the beginning of the Haitian Revolution. Evidence shows that freedom fighter Denmark Vessey even expected forces from Haiti to back his slave revolt.
When Haiti won its independence from France in 1804, it became first Black Republic in the world and second republic in the western hemisphere, after the U.S.
France refused to recognize the Republic governed by its former slaves, and forced it into debt by making Haiti pay reparations. Freedom really isn't free.
Britain, France and the United States imposed an economic embargo until Haiti paid the same country that it previously provided free labor for. Instead of thanking Haiti for opening the doors for the Louisiana Purchase, the U.S. sided with its former colonial British masters to economically enslave Haiti. Still, Haiti survived.
And after nearly a century of stability, the U.S. intervened in Haitian affairs both economically and militarily. Soon after the taking control of Haiti's central bank, the U.S. began its first military occupation of Haiti under President Woodrow Wilson.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jean Womack
posted 2/04/10 @ 8:53 AM PST
Haiti deserves our compassion and our help. What divides us is probably a matter of religion more than color, just as our religious differences divide us from the people in the middle east. (Continued…)
Alessandro Tinonga
posted 2/04/10 @ 10:03 AM PST
Thank you brother James for your hard hitting analysis. While I think it is inspiring to see so many people digging into their own pockets to help brothers and sisters in Haiti the overall relief situation is inexcusable. (Continued…)
Tony
posted 2/04/10 @ 1:19 PM PST
hmmm, Hate is such a strong word.
I think that the problems in Haiti extend beyond being "black."
There is no "black" or "white" here. Just people like you and me, in need of their fellow man. (Continued…)
Reginald James
posted 2/09/10 @ 1:06 AM PST
Jean, I think that is an excellent suggestion. There have been a few Hip Hop songs for Haiti, I've seen some visual art also. But the power of art to communicate a message is insurpassable. (Continued…)
Ariel
Ryan A. Simon
posted 2/17/10 @ 5:01 PM PST
I understand the anger behind past treatment of Haiti, and actually support formal reparations from France and the United States. However it is important to have context when implying that US troops in Haiti set the ground for another occupation. (Continued…)
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