Haiti’s motto, “L’union fait la force” – “unity makes strength,” represents the courage of the people when they are together and is tied to their cultural identity of liberation. Known as Saint Domingue while a colony of France, Haiti became independent in 1804 after numerous slave revolts eliminated minority French rule over the island. After becoming the second country in the West to gain independence and the first Black-run republic, Haiti sought to establish its country properly by implementing new government officials and drafting a constitution. However, international powers — such as their former colonial rulers France and the United States — worried about the precedent the country would set for their own slaves. Instead of establishing trade relations with Haiti, France demanded reparations for their lost colony totaling a large sum of 150 million francs, which was later reduced to about 20–30 billion in today’s U.S. dollars. During this time, the U.S. refused to acknowledge the independence of Haiti and imposed various sanctions while also mass exporting to the country, causing mass economic decline. Trying to get rid of the debt imposed by France, Haiti overextended the country’s budget and started to rely on loans with heavy interest rates from the two countries. Economic stress caused political unrest among the people, and after an assassination attempt on Haiti’s president on July 28, 1915, American troops were stationed in the country and Haiti’s financial reserves were moved to the U.S.
Gang takeovers of the cities, especially the capital Port-au-Prince, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes have frequently rocked the country. The financial instability has caused over 59 percent of the population to live in poverty. To escape this, Haitian people seek refuge all over the world, with a large majority moving to the U.S. hoping for success but facing exclusion and discriminatory rumors based on their heritage. One relevant example of this happened during the Sept. 10 presidential debate.
“In Springfield, they are eating the dogs,” former President Donald Trump claimed. “The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating — they are eating the pets of the people that live there.”
This rumor became the focal point of the debate, with people outraged at possible animal cruelty or, more prevalently, angry at the perpetuation of false claims against a marginalized community for political gain. Even after residents of Springfield spoke up in defense of Haitian immigrants and refuted the claims, the damage was done.
According to ABC, after the debate, Springfield residents expressed fear about leaving their homes in light of multiple threats of bombs and gun violence against the small town and city buildings. Community events such as the Downtown Culturefest, a festival created to highlight diversity and appreciate cultural differences, were canceled out of an interest in public safety.
Instead of residents believing these rumors and isolating the victims of this claim, they banded together and expressed support for the Haitian immigrants living in the town and their businesses. On Sept. 13, one restaurant, Rose Goute Creole Restaurant, hosted dozens of Springfield residents all wanting to show their love and unity.
With a growing movement and a focus on immigration in the most recent elections, tensions have risen, and many have been vocal in their support of mass deportation policies, allocating more funding for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a strengthened border. This movement ignores both the reasons people are immigrating and the benefits they bring to the U.S. One prominent reason for immigration to the U.S. is refuge, mainly because of political instability in countries like Haiti. The reason for instability can be attributed to lingering effects of colonialism and imperialism, which the U.S. supports. In the case of Haiti, the U.S. supported France in their fight for reparations, gave high interest loans, and placed troops in the country. This not only perpetuated economic instability, but directly caused tragedy among those in opposition of the occupation. In 1929, Marines opened fire on peaceful protesters, killing an estimated 12 to 22 people and injuring 21 to 51 others in what became known as the Les Cayes massacre.
The benefits of immigration include the arrival of qualified professionals, as many immigrants were trained in their home country in careers like medicine and engineering and contribute to the economic growth of the U.S. In the case of Springfield, where factories were closing down and blue collar workers were looking for jobs elsewhere, Haitian immigrants provided an economic upswing and opportunities for growth in the small town.
False claims about immigrants contribute to creating a divided society, one where people view it as “us versus them” instead of focusing on common interests. Politicians, especially Trump, use these statements as a “shock factor” and a way to garner support from those who believe in anti-immigrant rhetoric. At the same time, they easily exploit impressionable people like children, teenagers, and the elderly. This not only affects immigrants, but also other people of color born in the U.S. Politicians need to be held accountable for their words and actions when they perpetuate false claims for their benefit, especially when it affects communities like immigrants and refugees.
