A Reflection on the Re-emergence of Anti-Haitian Rhetoric
One of the more important aspects of a meaningful Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (“DEI”) infrastructure within an organization or professional network is the ability to respond to issues that arise in the world in real time. That willingness to engage in conversations for the betterment of us all is a hallmark of what it means to champion DEI. For this reason, it is important for COE®️ members, advisors, and associates to take time to reflect on the recent comments made at the Presidential Debate on September 10, 2024.
At this debate, a then former President and major party nominee shared an unfortunate allegation about the Haitian population in Springfield, Ohio. Although there were none then and to-date has been no credible evidence of Haitian immigrants “eating dogs and cats” this baseless allegation was blurted out on the debate stage and was then widely shared and defended. Although its preposterousness is easy to dismiss, its various impacts and undertones warrant a deeper conversation about the demonization of the immigrant community, specifically our Haitian brothers and sisters.
There is a palpable component of racism that exists in these claims and they do nothing but harm a community that has already been victimized by xenophobia and misinformation for centuries. The Haitian people in many ways have helped revitalize the small rust belt city of Springfield. Many of them working for industrial companies that have long been in decline. While this unfortunate accusation made quality fodder for memes and viral videos, it is incumbent upon all of us to consider the real-life implications that may arise from suggesting that a group of people whom have long been the target of racial stereotypes and cultural assumptions are literally eating their neighbors pets. It’s a dangerous path to walk down that encourages more than just words, it prompts violence. We must engage in conversations rooted in not just dispelling these abhorrent notions but in understanding where they originate from.
Bias and bigotry lead people to assume the absolute worst about those they know so little about. It is often easier to demonize than embrace. That is what happened on the debate stage. When backed into a corner by his own hubris, the then former President threw out the most ridiculously inaccurate assertion he could find in the darkest corners of the web and hoped it would stick. Sadly, for some, it will and has. It’s up to the rest of us to stand up and reject xenophobic rhetoric that seeks to degrade those who may look or speak differently than us.
Haiti was the first Independent Black republic in the world. Often, it seems like they’ve been paying the price for that victory over white supremacy ever since. Throughout the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and well into the twenty-first, U.S. foreign policy has played a dominant role in harming Haiti, brutally occupying the country from 1915 to 1934, bankrolling dictators, and helping overthrow governments that did go along with their plans for the Island nation. This dog and cat eating charge being the latest in a long and troublesome history of anti-Haitian rhetoric from the 45th President. I won’t even delve into antebellum southern fears of Haitian contagion that existed in the south in which it was believed that Haitians could come to America and spark unrest and rebellion among Black people enslaved in America.
Hatred against Haitians is most certainly on the track list of “greatest hits” when it comes to the classics of American racism. We must all come together to empower and protect our most vulnerable migrant neighbors (be they Haitian or otherwise) and raise the tone of our civic discourse. We can and must be better.
© Blog post was written in 2024. The views and opinions in this article are that of the author and is not a representative of any associated organizations other than that of COE®. Graphic created by and article edited by BGT, Esq.
