January 12, 2010, Haiti, was hit with a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, its most severe in 200 years. The epicenter of the quake was approximately 10 miles south of Port-au-Prince; the devastated city is the country’s capital and home to over 2 million people.
January 13, 2010, Pat Robertson, a White evangelical preacher and host of the "700 Club" said the quake was God’s wrath for Haiti because they freed themselves from French colonial rule. Robertson suggested the earthquake was because of what happened in 1791 when Haiti was a colony of France. There was a slave uprising in 1791 that eventually beat the French. Of this Robertson said: "And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘We will serve you if you’ll get us free from the French’".
Robertson’s comments go the root of America’s history and problem with Haiti. Relations between the United States and Haiti have been closely intertwined since they were born centuries ago in separate blood revolutions against European colonizers. For two centuries, it has been a thorny relationship involving questions of race, invasion, race and economics. Race has been the persistent historical factor between the U.S. and Haiti. The history "the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere" is one of unrest, obstacles and repression. America and a long line of colonial powers cursed Haiti and conspired in its decline. When Haiti declared independence in 1801, White countries decapitated Haiti with economic blockades and demands it pay France reparations.
As American President Barack Obama pledged $100 million to support Haiti, the malevolence of Western countries’ imperialism was masked with pledges from entities such as the World Bank ($100 million), Britain ($10 million), and $5 million from the Canadian government with an offer to match Canadians’ charitable donations up to $50 million. But, the countries in the Caribbean and South America less antagonistic to Haiti were there first. Cuba sent 30 doctors to add to medical staff already in Haiti. Brazil immediately sent $10 million dollars. The TransAfrica advocacy group said: "We commend President Obama for his commitment of support for Haiti during this time of crisis. We urge the administration to continue its efforts, in full coordination with multilateral agencies. We also commend governments around the world, from Cuba to Canada, and Venezuela to China for their support, as well".
Because of the curse colonial powers put on it for its fight to freedom, much in the way of a "do-over" needs to be done in Haiti. Before nature’s earthquake, imperialists damned Haiti to a fate of underdevelopment. Two-thirds of inhabitants of what was "The Pearl of the Antilles" under the French are now dependant on small-scale subsistence farming. "Dumping" of cheap products destabilized Haiti’s economy and underscored need to overhaul agriculture policies in tandem with international trade policy. With limited arable land and commerce, half Haiti’s population survives on less than $1 a day. Since 2007, prices of products needed to fulfill basic needs have risen by over 50 percent, forcing most families to choose between buying food and sending their children to school.
Haiti’s people need to thrive to survive; to do this the people of Port-au-Prince may have to pick up and move. Now may be the best time for the capital city’s residents to relocate and build new lives and economy from the ground up. What’s needed now is less crass and discriminatory conversation about Haiti’s governance and more talk about development of its economy and infrastructure. Haitian labor must be the first used in its reconstruction.
Despite the televangelist’s views on Manifest Destiny and White peoples’ divine right to rule the world; Robertson’s "those-incompetent-Black-Haitians-can’t-rule-themselves" line is passé. External aid donors are essential to Haiti’s future. Currently, Haitians living in the U.S. provide the only real aid Haiti gets. Americans must demand legislators give Haiti support along the lines of a Marshall Plan. Contributions of cash are needed from African-Americans. To ensure its recovery and/or rebuilding we must assure Haiti’s sovereignty through vigilant scrutiny of international actions in its relief, recovery, relocating or rebuilding.
