Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Haiti: We Must Answer the Cry of our Own.

October 21, 2016 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Politics, Weekly Columns

Like
Like Love Haha Wow Sad Angry
1

(ThyBlackMan.com) History is important because it can help us understand events from the past that may affect the current state of a people. Victors are not use to losing, and they don’t understand losing to someone they never viewed as an opponent as the people were deemed less than them. It is imp to takes this into consideration when looking at the treatment of Haiti during the earthquake is 2010, and now in the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. As black people there is some truth about Haiti, and its origin, we need to understand.

There is a very logical reason Haiti is not responded to in an urgent fashion especially from certain nations. Some will say the past is the past and excuse the history of this nation when looking at its current state. Those of us that know must realize Haiti is worth rebuilding, and it is worth our care. They are our people; it is up to us not the haiti-neworleans-2016likes of the Red Cross to ensure they get help in this time of devastation.

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, LA, and a lot of the gulf coast. There were people that felt New Orleans received what it deserved because we were sinful, demonic and it would be a waste of time to rebuild. Yes, it was hateful and harsh to see the treatment of blacks all over the news as if we didn’t matter much at all. This took place in a major city in the United States of America. If you visit New Orleans today in 2016 the mark of Katrina is still present unlike some other places that were devastated by the same storm. There is a history that connects New Orleans, and Haiti.

The same rhetoric would be heard in January 2010 when Haiti would be struck by an earthquake, magnitude 7.0. Demonic, evil they got what they deserved… this was whispered by some and shouted by others. It’s important to acknowledge that in both of these disasters there were people that came with aid, and humanitarian efforts. The people had to answer the call. Haiti is a nation that gained its independence in 1804, and they did so by revolting against their slaved state and defeating powerful nations. They fought and defeated France, and managed to fight to keep Spain and Britain at bay. This was no small victory, and it showed that the enslaved could rise up against their oppressor…and WIN.

Many that fled Haiti would end up in New Orleans further establishing their free black population, and greatly impacting their culture. Please don’t think Europe nations, and their descendants forgot that history. No, they didn’t forget at all. Yes, Haiti has had serious complications, challenges and hardships in the area of government and economic development. However, one must remember where they started from, and it’s a testament that they still exist in an independent state.

October 4, 2016 Hurricane Matthew made landfall, and it was the worst hurricane to hit Haiti since 1964. Many of us were appalled that it took so long for us to see what would be considered adequate news coverage. No, there were no filters on Facebook, we had to find the pictures and post ourselves saying “Pray for Haiti“. Yes, we must pray for them as they are us in so many ways. We must answer the call of our own. Last time we thought The Red Cross was going to help, but they need to explain how they collected nearly half a billion dollars in relief money for Haiti… but there is not enough adequate housing that represents that kind of money. That was enough funds to help so many, and really build up the infrastructure there. They lack of progress made the hurricane devastation more profound.

We must come together as a community, and stand with our Haitian brothers and sisters. They have a history of fighting, and winning when it seemed impossible. They aren’t evil nor demonic… they are family.

Staff Writer; Christian Starr

May connect with this sister over at Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitterhttp://twitter.com/MrzZeta.


Speak Your Mind

Tell us what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!