Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Haitian Tragedy - Opportunity for Black Independence Once Again

The world witnessed the devastation that occurred in Haiti after the island was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake centered in Haitian’s capital city, Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

This event, as tragic as it is, is an opportunity for the people of African descent to pool resources and reach out to Haitians. Whether African-Americans know it or not, we have access to billions of dollars when our monetary resources are combined. In doing a brief two-second Google search, numerous organizations and businesses appeared which had the capacity to help rebuild country (Black Contractors Association), provide medical aid to its victims (Black Nurses Association), and help black businesses win contracts to do the work (National Black Chamber of Commerce).

Starting with these three organizations, African-Americans have the opportunity to mobilize our power towards the re-development of our sister-nation, Haiti.

Yet, many of us do not know Haiti’s powerful history and why this tragedy is particularly meaningful.

In 1801, Haitian black slaves fought for and won their independence from French colonialists. Haiti became the second oldest independent republic in the Western Hemisphere next to the United States. The United States had just declared their independence from England 25 years earlier in 1776. All other countries and islands were still colonies under European rule. The people changed the country’s name from Saint-Domingue to the indigenous name, Haiti - Land of Mountains.

Only a decade after black Haitians secured their own independence, the Haitian government generously helped Venezuela. Haiti’s assistance led to the independence of Venezuela from Spain in 1815 by providing the emerging republic with significant military and monetary support. It continued to be a major exporter of sugar, rum, and coffee. It operated under its own self-created constitution that prohibited slavery and barred foreign ownership of land.

Haiti experienced growing pains as it worked to emerge as an independent Black republic amongst a world ran by slavery-minded white nations.

By 1867, the republic of Haiti achieved economic and political stability.

However, it was the United States that ended Haitian sovereignty when it invaded the country in 1915. The United States military occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934 under the Woodrow Wilson presidency. The U.S. invasion was instigated by U.S. banks, particularly the National City Bank of New York (now known as Citibank, N.A.). During this nearly 20-year occupation, the U.S. stripped Haiti of its sovereignty and independence. The United States destroyed Haiti’s constitution and rewrote a new one, reinstituting foreign ownership of land and forced labor.

The U.S. speaks about public service projects undertaken in Haiti, but their purposes were always to make Haitian access easier for foreign investors.

Although U.S. withdrew its troops in 1934, it never withdrew its presence. The Haitian presidents who served during U.S. occupation were all U.S.-friendly elite mulattoes, who historically were supportive of white colonialism and profited from forced Black labor. Foreign peacekeeping troops from several countries called MINUSTAH still occupy Haiti to this day and has had a devastating effect on the economical and political stability of the country.

We cannot trust the U.S. to do right by Haiti because they never have. We cannot trust any white-run country to do right by Black people. And we cannot trust mulattoes (Obama) to do right by black African people. All we have are ourselves and we are a powerful group when we unite together.

Although for nearly 100 years, the U.S. and other foreign countries have tried to subdue Haiti, the Haitian people have never forgotten the sovereignty they once had. In 1990 and in 2004, Haiti democratically elected Jean-Bertrand Aristide. After each election, it is suspected that the U.S. instigated a rebel uprising which always led to Aristide’s exile. After each exile, Aristide was replaced by rulers who backed U.S. policy in Haiti.

However, now Haiti can do no one any good. The earthquake has devastated Haiti completely. Yet, we as African-Americans have the money, resources, and power to help this nation rebuild. Haiti was once a fierce and strong country run by the descendant of African slaves. It has taken the military forces of the strong nations in the world to subdue Haiti, only a third of a small island. All other countries tried and failed. Now an act of God has crumbled Haiti into the ground.

But the spirit of God continues to live inside the Haitian people and the power of God beats within our African souls. We cannot let our one symbol of victory and independence die from apathy during Haitian’s greatest hour of need.

African-Americans cannot let their ignorance of history steer us away from another great opportunity. We must show our power by taking care of our own.

Jennifer M Thompson
http://BlackIntuitive.blogspot.com

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