By Ninaj Raoul
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. September 25, 2024: Resistance runs in the blood of the Haitian people, passed down from the revolutionaries who, from 1791-1804, fought and won the first successful slave revolt in history, forming the first black-led republic in the Americas. The Haitian Revolution not only freed the Haitian people from French colonial rule, but also reshaped global history, and the spirit of that revolution lives on. Yet despite this legacy of triumph, the centuries of anti-Haitianism that followed continue to manifest today, seeping into US immigration policies and fueling the systemic discrimination we face.
After all this time, I, like the indomitable Fannie Lou Hamer, am literally “Sick and tired of being sick and tired.” The violence of anti-Haitianism is not only psychological; it physically affects our health, as our bodies carry the burden of generational trauma.
In the 2024 US presidential race, JD Vance has admitted his intention to continue “making fake stories,” perpetuating anti-Haitian rhetoric for political soundbites that have real and dangerous consequences. In Springfield, OH, for example, bomb threats have been made against government offices, schools, hospitals and even grocery stores. Schools have seen an increase in bullying of Haitian students, creating a double burden of external threats and peer harassment. These incidents are by no means isolated. Anti-immigrant rhetoric stokes fear, deepens divisions in our communities and puts lives at risk. It’s not just an attack on our bodies; it is a deliberate, insidious attempt to kill the Haitian psyche, to break our spirit by dehumanizing our history, our culture and our fundamental right to exist in peace.
This dehumanization of the Haitian people is not unique to the U.S. In both the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic, Haitians are scapegoated for social and economic issues. In the Dominican Republic, discriminatory policies such as mass deportations and denationalization laws disproportionately target Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent, depriving them of basic rights and protections. In the Bahamas, Haitians are blamed for economic problems and subjected to raids and deportations, often in violent and inhumane conditions. These countries, like the US, have long histories of marginalizing the Haitian population.
Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, (HWHR), has long fought to dismantle these harmful narratives and defend the Haitian community’s right to dignity and protection. Founded in 1992 in response to the refugee crisis facing Haitian immigrants in the US and Guantanamo Bay, HWHR has supported thousands of families who sought asylum after persecution in Haiti. Through education, community organizing and leadership development, our members empower themselves to fight for social, economic and racial justice, working collectively to fight exclusion and institutionalized racism.
For more than three decades, we have been an integral part of tireless efforts to challenge discriminatory US immigration policies that disproportionately affect Haitians. I strongly believe that Haitian refugees have the right to live without the constant fear of deportation or detention. The United States has a long, troubling history of weaponizing anti-Black and anti-Haitianism through mass detentions and denials of asylum claims. These policies unfairly target Haitians and the broader black immigrant community, labeling them as unworthy of protection and spreading fear. In Cleveland, Mauritanian immigrants also report feeling unsafe. At the same time, Haitian migrant labor supports industries across states like Indiana, Alabama, Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, and New York, benefiting sectors that rely on their hard work while simultaneously denying them full rights and protections.
Almost all refugees seeking support from HWHR carry trauma, compounded by intergenerational wounds within the community. To address this, HWHR has created trauma-informed spaces designed to help individuals heal from the impacts of hate and harm experienced by the Haitian community. These spaces provide essential emotional support through a healing justice approach, addressing historical and current sources of trauma while promoting collective healing.
The work we do at HWHR counters the racist rhetoric we hear today. We reject the narrative that Haitians are a threat and instead focus on our humanity, rich culture and powerful spirituality. Our advocacy is rooted in a deep understanding of the historical forces driving Haitian migration—US imperialism, political destabilization, and economic exploitation. Our staff and members are committed to addressing these root causes while seeking justice for our people.
As American politicians continue to attack Haitian refugees for political gain, we must remember who we are: descendants of enslaved Africans, brought from West and Central Africa, who fought and defeated slavery and colonialism to gain freedom for everyone. This war continues today. In August 2024, when a Haitian refugee who had been detained by ICE for weeks arrived at our office, I was alarmed to discover that Customs and Border Patrol had placed an “electronic ankle monitoring bracelet” on him when they were released on Humanitarian Parole. . What is humanitarian about an electronic handcuff? This echoes the legacy of slavery and serves as a source of trauma.
Haitians are not only survivors of systemic injustice, but also powerful organizers who have been at the forefront of the fight for immigrant rights, worker protections, and racial justice. Now more than ever, the US must reckon with its role in creating the conditions that drive Haitians to seek refuge here. Anti-Haitianism does not occur in a vacuum, but rather reflects a broader pattern of systematic oppression and exploitation. And though we are sick and tired, we are not defeated. It means that, like our ancestors who fought for the liberation of Haiti, we will not give up.
Instead of perpetuating anti-immigrant rhetoric, leaders should work toward policies that honor the rights and contributions of Haitians to this country. Instead of vilifying Haitians, it’s time for meaningful accountability. This includes streamlining the process for securing employment authorization documents, creating clear pathways to permanent residency, and taking further action to address the deeply intertwined issues of migration, systemic racism, and economic injustice.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Ninaj Raoul is executive director of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees.
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