Statement on the xenophobic comments directed at Haitian migrants

Over the last few weeks, a rise in anti-Black rhetoric against Haitian migrants has created dangerous conditions for Black migrants generally and the Haitian community specifically. As a pan-african, Black, and immigrant led organization, we whole-heartedly condemn the dangerous and vitriolic anti-Black racism that is commonplace in our political discourse. Further, we recognize that anti-Haitian sentiment is a long standing, bi-partisan issue with deep roots in American history. 

 In 1804, after a long and bloody revolution, enslaved Africans on the island of Saint Domingue, modern day Haiti, freed themselves and established the first Black independent nation in the Western Hemisphere. Since this revolutionary war, Haiti has been a critical site in the struggle against Western imperialism. Across the Black diaspora, Haiti has signified liberation. For western powers, Haiti has long signified the fear of Black freedom and self-determination.

In the 220 years since their independence, Haiti has faced every form of colonial domination including historical erasure, forced indebtedness, a 19-year US military occupation and a litany of western backed coups and environmental destruction. The recent wave of sentiment must be understood as the latest effort in a two centuries long attempt to punish and denigrate Haiti and Haitian people. 

We at The Black Response reject this anti-Black rhetoric and this history of anti-Haitian violence. In our own community, we have organized to support recent migrants in gaining access to resources locally and, as a member organization of the Black Alliance for Peace, joining the call for #HandsOffHaiti.