Haitian Reparations


As you know, in history Haiti wins their revolution and gains freedom from France in 1804. Yet, even over the last two centuries, Haiti has not been able to stabilize their economy and become a successful nation in the eyes of the world. 

Last year, thousands of refugees fled Haiti and arrived at the US-Mexico border after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake they were hit with. Most refugees had left Haiti in 2010 when another large earthquake caused their already dismal economy to further weaken. Now, the United States under President Biden was not able to accept these refugees and they were forced to return the disaster zone that Haiti has turned into. 

Haiti is a country that is constantly in crisis, and with its poor infrastructure that stemmed from the aftermath of the slave revolution, they have never been able to recover. Last July, Haiti's president Jovenel Moïse, was assassinated by Colombian mercenaries, and the man that took over the position -  Ariel Henry - is said to have connections with Moïse's murder. The international community is not providing help by supporting Henry's new presidency rather than listening to the pleas of Haitian authorities to remove him. 

Ever since Haiti gained independence, world powers have been outcasting them because of how they they reached that point. Haiti, then Saint-Domingue, had been the most lucrative colony for the French empire, but after the revolt the slaveholders were forced to flee back to France. As a nation of freed black slaves, Haiti threatened the world order as many countries were still profiting of slaves and feared a slave revolt in their own future. Because of this, the United States did not recognize Haiti as a free country until 1862, when their slavery was being abolished. 

Post-revolution, France interfered directly with Haiti, demanding at gunpoint that the country pay them 150 million Francs to secure their independence. The young nation did not have the means pay this money upfront, and instead spent the next 122 years paying off their slaveholders. This act severely hindered Haiti's ability to prosper, and as the country weakened over the decades, they were continually taken advantage of by different world powers, while also being attacked with devastating natural disasters. 

It is important to understand the long-term effects that the Haitian Revolution had on the island, and how even to present day, Haiti has not fully recovered the instability brought upon by the international community. A question to consider is this: How could the conclusion of the salve revolution be changed in order to make Haiti a strong independent nation? Consider overarching ideas, as well as steps your own character could take to bring about this change. Comment thoughts and ideas below! 

To read more about Haitian Reparations, check out this article! 


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