Yesterday we ate croissants for breakfast and then had an objectives/actions-to-take activity on the beautiful upstairs patio in the MCC guesthouse. After that it was lunch time and we had big plates full of spaghetti, shared with our afternoon speaker, Nixon Bumba. After lunch we heard from Bumba (he told us he'd like to be called Bumba) about Haiti's history - told through three time periods: Colonialism, Neocolonialism, and Recolonization. He gave us a comprehensive lecture, with the help of a translator, Alexis. We learned about Columbus's arrival to the island, the consequent death and destruction of the native people, and slavery fueled by abducted slaves from Africa. I think it's safe to say we all learn about the slave trade in grade school, but the implications of it and it's ever-lingering impact in Haiti is something we don't talk about (or even touch in school).
Bumba told us about how poverty has been constructed in Haiti by outside forces ever since Columbus arrived. Here we are today thinking "poor Haiti" or "dangerous Haiti!" or "lazy Haitians" without thinking about the historical context through which Haiti grew. We think about our founding fathers, just like every nation's narrative involves some emulation of the people who fought for independence or freedom or the right thing, but do we think about the founding and early growth of the country into which we are pouring billions of dollars of aid? Do we consider our lasting impact as the international community traipses about with a lot of money and little understanding of the people, the culture, the language? I digress, but these are all things we cannot help but consider once we realize the lasting impact of past international community interference. Haiti is still recovering from its revolution; its liberation from France in 1804, and the subsequent treatment it received as the country born from a successful slave revolt (people were not supportive, and that's putting it lightly). The oppression of the masses and the exploitation of Haiti's resources continues today. Will self-righteous international organizations in Haiti (I KNOW THAT NOT ALL INTERNATIONAL HELP IS SELF-RIGHTEOUS) be doing the modern-day form of colonial damage?
Nixon also talked about the strength found in Haiti - the country whose independence took shape largely thanks to slaves who fought back. They say "nou la" - "we are here" and I think this can be an expression of a larger meaning than just "here" in this space and at this time. It is a collective "we are here"; we are together and we are surviving. So, while I was thinking about the destruction that international actors have created, and continue to create in Haiti, I am also hopeful for good things and maybe someday we in the "West" will understand that we have so much to learn from the people of Ayiti.
Disclaimer: These are the thoughts that happened in one person's head, perhaps not the general thinking of the group.
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