Haiti: The New Orleans of the Western Hemisphere
As information and images of the devastation in Haiti continue to filter in, one may find it particularly difficult to separate them from another devastating event in our not-so-distance past: Hurricane Katrina.
Body-lined streets amid rubble, debris, and makeshift tents expose poor, grief-stricken brown faces – young and old - long condemned and dismissed as the world’s derelicts, refugees, looters, and insurgents, now soon to become pawns in a capitalistic and opportunistic mélange that will be conveniently packaged and sold as a compassionate humanitarian effort.
That is not to say – by any means - that the heartfelt outpouring of benevolence and support are in vain; quite the contrary. However, it does recognize and acknowledge that there are organizations – particularly those that have large access to media - that will opportunistically take advantage of such a heart-tugging moment.
It also raises the question that if an organization were really concerned and dedicated to the welfare and well-being of a people, particularly an organization that can easily obtain and/or access hundreds of millions of dollars, then why would such an organization wait until a country or a community reached utter devastation before extending such a lucrative helping hand, particularly, when the victims happen to have been amongst the poorest of the poor for many years.
Of course – and conveniently – the reason of bureaucratic red-tape will serve to be this organizations justification for remaining hands-off. But it seems that at this juncture, this red-tape has also succumbed to the throws of the devastation; or, and more likely, the red-tape merely has transformed into a red scale that has now tipped in favor of the organization, finding the organization “investing” – in the guise of contributions - millions of dollars in a community that it historically has shown little concern or regard.
So the question now becomes ‘what does this organization stand to gain now that it couldn’t have before?’ Gentrification on a larger scale is not beyond reason or reality, leaving Haiti to be the new future hotspot for Spring Breaks, weddings, and vacation getaways in posh resorts, while the natives will serve as its employees and ambient decorative reminders of what Haiti used to be.
If there is one thing – of the many – that Hurricane Katrina has taught us, it is that the powers-that-be do not care about its poor and under-privileged; particularly, its Brown poor and under-privileged.
Two poor, predominantly Black lands of French and African heritage now wracked and ravaged by presumed natural disasters, only to await the approach of the even more sinister quake of intolerance and abandonment, who, as it relates to Haiti, was the first nation who gained its independence by way of a successful slave rebellion; and who, as it relates to New Orleans, is the home of the largest slave rebellion on U.S. territory (1811 Louisiana Slave Rebellion), altogether finds very little in the way of coincidence……if such a thing exists.
However, such a history merely establishes the fact that this situation is far from hopeless, particularly when you have true humanitarians like Wyclef Jean - an American musical artist and Haitian immigrant with an extensive history of providing aid to the impoverished country even before his non-governmental organization, Yele Haiti, was established – taking the initiative and doing the groundwork of actually working and communicating directly with those most effected (http://www.yele.org/)
Body-lined streets amid rubble, debris, and makeshift tents expose poor, grief-stricken brown faces – young and old - long condemned and dismissed as the world’s derelicts, refugees, looters, and insurgents, now soon to become pawns in a capitalistic and opportunistic mélange that will be conveniently packaged and sold as a compassionate humanitarian effort.
That is not to say – by any means - that the heartfelt outpouring of benevolence and support are in vain; quite the contrary. However, it does recognize and acknowledge that there are organizations – particularly those that have large access to media - that will opportunistically take advantage of such a heart-tugging moment.
It also raises the question that if an organization were really concerned and dedicated to the welfare and well-being of a people, particularly an organization that can easily obtain and/or access hundreds of millions of dollars, then why would such an organization wait until a country or a community reached utter devastation before extending such a lucrative helping hand, particularly, when the victims happen to have been amongst the poorest of the poor for many years.
Of course – and conveniently – the reason of bureaucratic red-tape will serve to be this organizations justification for remaining hands-off. But it seems that at this juncture, this red-tape has also succumbed to the throws of the devastation; or, and more likely, the red-tape merely has transformed into a red scale that has now tipped in favor of the organization, finding the organization “investing” – in the guise of contributions - millions of dollars in a community that it historically has shown little concern or regard.
So the question now becomes ‘what does this organization stand to gain now that it couldn’t have before?’ Gentrification on a larger scale is not beyond reason or reality, leaving Haiti to be the new future hotspot for Spring Breaks, weddings, and vacation getaways in posh resorts, while the natives will serve as its employees and ambient decorative reminders of what Haiti used to be.
If there is one thing – of the many – that Hurricane Katrina has taught us, it is that the powers-that-be do not care about its poor and under-privileged; particularly, its Brown poor and under-privileged.
Two poor, predominantly Black lands of French and African heritage now wracked and ravaged by presumed natural disasters, only to await the approach of the even more sinister quake of intolerance and abandonment, who, as it relates to Haiti, was the first nation who gained its independence by way of a successful slave rebellion; and who, as it relates to New Orleans, is the home of the largest slave rebellion on U.S. territory (1811 Louisiana Slave Rebellion), altogether finds very little in the way of coincidence……if such a thing exists.
However, such a history merely establishes the fact that this situation is far from hopeless, particularly when you have true humanitarians like Wyclef Jean - an American musical artist and Haitian immigrant with an extensive history of providing aid to the impoverished country even before his non-governmental organization, Yele Haiti, was established – taking the initiative and doing the groundwork of actually working and communicating directly with those most effected (http://www.yele.org/)
There are those who walk the walk, then, there are those who appoint questionable government figureheads and agencies that request cash only in lieu of bottled-water, blankets, and clothing. However, if it walks like a politician and talks like a politician, then it probably is a politician.
Therefore, in acting out of the benevolence of ones heart, it becomes even more imperative to not let it cloud the capacity of reason of ones mind. Maya Angelou said it best: “If someone shows you who they are, believe them.” Therefore, if you see an organization that has a history of exploiting people for profit; that fails to live up to the ideals that it boasts in its mantras and anthems; that can’t address the issues within its own borders much less the issues in others; you can surmise within reason that it’s agencies don’t fall far from the tree.
Remember Katrina. Bless Haiti.
Tungz
Therefore, in acting out of the benevolence of ones heart, it becomes even more imperative to not let it cloud the capacity of reason of ones mind. Maya Angelou said it best: “If someone shows you who they are, believe them.” Therefore, if you see an organization that has a history of exploiting people for profit; that fails to live up to the ideals that it boasts in its mantras and anthems; that can’t address the issues within its own borders much less the issues in others; you can surmise within reason that it’s agencies don’t fall far from the tree.
Remember Katrina. Bless Haiti.
Tungz
No comments:
Post a Comment