In the late 18th century, a small Caribbean island shattered the chains of slavery and defied the brutal forces of colonization. Haiti, the first Black republic, became a beacon of freedom when it overthrew French rule in 1804. In a world still deeply entrenched in racism and oppression, this bold declaration of liberty was more than a victory for Haiti—it was a shift of liberation that rippled across the globe.
The Haitian Revolution, led by enslaved Africans, didn’t just break the shackles of their own bondage—it inspired and aided others fighting for independence. Haiti stood in solidarity with nations across the Americas, offering vital support to Simón Bolívar, the liberator of much of South America. Haiti’s bold stance against colonialism indirectly aided the birth of free nations, including the United States, which benefited from the weakening of European imperial powers.
But the price of this defiance was steep. The global powers of the day, unsettled by Haiti’s success, sought to punish the new nation. Economic blockades, crippling reparations, and political isolation became Haiti’s inheritance for daring to break free. Today, the scars of this long punishment remain. And, in many ways, Haiti still wears a target on its chest for having the audacity to cast off its chains.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and Haiti remains resilient, yet still under attack. Now, it’s not foreign armies or colonial powers, but a different breed of tyranny: racist political rhetoric. Donald Trump and his allies, driven by racist ideologies, have once again dragged Haiti’s name through the mud. With baseless accusations, they claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are reduced to eating cats and other animals. Local Klu Klux Klan in the area have been circulating posters encouraging the deportation of Haitians. Others have been harassed and threatened since the onslaught of lies. This is not just a smear on Haiti; it’s a cruel and calculated attempt to dehumanize an entire people and to win votes at the expense of truth. Their words, though hollow, echo with real and deadly consequences.
For Haitian students in American schools, these harmful stereotypes don’t exist in a vacuum—they permeate their lives. When politicians use their platforms to spread racist rhetoric to remain relevant, the words echo in the hallways of schools, in the whispers of classmates, and in the laughter of bullies. It’s a reality that too many Haitian children have faced, including myself, who migrated from Haiti to Miami in the mid-1980s at the age of ten. My introduction to America was harsh and unforgiving. Instead of being welcomed, I was met with racial slurs and cruel accusations that Haitians were to blame for the AIDS virus. The lie that Haitians eat cats was also a common taunt. The ignorance that shaped these lies didn’t just stay in the realm of words—it manifested in violence, exclusion, and trauma. I found myself in the midst of gang violence against other black kids that looked like me. We were divided by fear and mistrust caused as a result of lies planted by white folks. The consequences were fatal for many, as lives were lost to senseless violence born from lies and bigotry.
For immigrant children in American schools, the damaging rhetoric used by politicians like Donald Trump has far-reaching effects. As a result, a number of children are experiencing a heightened sense of alienation. They begin to feel as though they don’t belong—neither in the country they left behind nor in the country they now live in. This emotional isolation can lead to mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and a deep-seated fear of being rejected simply for who they are. It also impacts their academic performance, as the stress and trauma they carry make it harder to focus in school. Many children withdraw, internalizing the negative stereotypes, while others lash out, caught in a cycle of anger and pain. The consequences fall heavily on the shoulders of children who are already struggling to navigate a new world. Without the proper support, many of them will mislabeled and misdiagnosed in America's educational world.
To help immigrant children in American schools deal with the negative effects of political rhetoric and emotional isolation, parents and community leaders can take the following actionable and sustainable steps:
1. Create Safe Spaces for Dialogue
Action: Organize community events or school meetings that encourage open dialogue for children and parents to express their concerns and share experiences.
Purpose: Safe spaces provide emotional relief, helping children feel understood and supported by their peers and adults, reducing feelings of alienation.
2. Promote Cultural Pride
Action: Celebrate cultural diversity through school events, cultural days, or community festivals where children can showcase their heritage.
Purpose: Encouraging pride in their background helps immigrant children feel valued, increasing their sense of belonging and combating internalized stereotypes.
3. Advocate for Culturally Responsive Education
Action: Work with schools to integrate culturally relevant materials into the curriculum, ensuring students see themselves reflected in what they learn.
Purpose: This helps foster a learning environment where immigrant children feel included, improving their academic engagement and reducing the impact of trauma on their education.
4. Encourage Mental Health Support
Action: Partner with mental health professionals to offer counseling services, especially focused on trauma and anxiety that immigrant children may experience.
Purpose: Providing access to culturally competent mental health care can help children process stress and avoid long-term mental health struggles like depression.
5. Mentorship Programs
Action: Establish mentorship programs connecting immigrant children with older students or adults from similar backgrounds.
Purpose: Mentorship provides guidance and emotional support, helping children navigate their new environment and building resilience against discrimination.
6. Educate Teachers and Staff
Action: Advocate for training programs in schools to educate teachers and staff on the specific challenges immigrant children face.
Purpose: Awareness among educators can reduce misdiagnoses and ensure children get the academic and emotional support they need, avoiding labels or punitive measures for behavior tied to trauma.
7. Combat Negative Stereotypes
Action: Launch campaigns in schools and communities that counter harmful rhetoric with positive stories about immigrant families and their contributions.
Purpose: Reducing the prevalence of negative stereotypes helps shift the narrative, allowing children to see themselves in a positive light, reducing anger and frustration.
8. Engage in Local Policy Advocacy
Action: Advocate for inclusive policies within the school district or local government that protect immigrant students from discrimination and ensure equitable access to resources.
Purpose: Policy changes at the local level can directly impact the educational experience of immigrant children, reducing barriers and fostering a more supportive environment.
But let’s be clear: Haiti has stood the test of time. Its people are not defined by the ignorance of others. They are resilient, proud, and strong, despite the world’s repeated attempts to diminish them. And just as Haiti has survived centuries of adversity, so too will its people, no matter where they are in the world.
To the Haitian community and the broader Black diaspora: now is the time to stand together. We must educate our youth about the truth of their heritage, a history of strength and triumph in the face of adversity. It’s time to build our communities, brick by brick, so when lies and slander appear, they fall flat against the walls of unity and pride we’ve constructed.
In order to make this happen, the community needs to do the following on a consistent basis:
1. Form a United Front
Action: Establish coalitions between Haitian community leaders, advocacy groups, and allies to create a unified voice against racism and misinformation.
Purpose: A collective effort amplifies the community’s response and ensures their concerns are taken seriously by policymakers, media, and the public.
2. Launch Public Awareness Campaigns
Action: Create campaigns that showcase Haiti's rich history, culture, and contributions to the world, emphasizing the country's role in global liberation movements.
Purpose: These campaigns will help combat negative stereotypes, highlight the resilience of the Haitian people, and educate the wider public about the community’s true legacy.
3. Engage Local and National Media
Action: Reach out to local and national news outlets to share positive stories about Haitian immigrants, their contributions, and the community’s response to the current crisis.
Purpose: Media engagement is essential for shaping public perception and countering damaging rhetoric spread by political figures.
4. Organize Peaceful Protests and Rallies
Action: Hold rallies, marches, or peaceful demonstrations in areas where hate speech and racist attacks have occurred, calling for accountability and justice.
Purpose: Public demonstrations bring visibility to the issue, demand action, and show solidarity within the Haitian community and with other marginalized groups.
5. Advocate for Legal and Policy Reforms
Action: Work with local officials to introduce or strengthen anti-discrimination policies, hate crime legislation, and immigrant protection laws.
Purpose: Legal reforms can help protect the Haitian community from targeted harassment and create a safer environment for Haitian immigrants and their descendants.
6. Support Victims of Harassment
Action: Set up community support systems that provide legal aid, counseling, and resources to individuals who have been harassed or targeted by racist actions or speech.
Purpose: Offering immediate support ensures that victims feel heard, protected, and empowered to seek justice.
7. Promote Haitian Contributions in Education
Action: Collaborate with schools to introduce lessons about Haiti’s history, including the Haitian Revolution and its global impact, as well as the contributions of Haitian immigrants to American society.
Purpose: Educating students about Haiti’s legacy of freedom combats ignorance and fosters a more inclusive environment for Haitian children in schools.
8. Empower Haitian Youth
Action: Establish youth programs that teach Haitian history, leadership skills, and advocacy, encouraging the next generation to take pride in their heritage and stand against discrimination.
Purpose: Empowered youth become future leaders who will continue to advocate for justice and equality for the Haitian community and beyond.
9. Strengthen Political Engagement
Action: Encourage Haitian Americans to register to vote and participate in local and national elections to influence policies that affect their community.
Purpose: Political engagement ensures that the community’s concerns are represented and that leaders who support immigrant rights are elected.
We cannot allow ignorance to persist unchecked. We must dispel these myths swiftly and firmly. And as we fight these battles on foreign soil, let us also remember our roots and the island that birthed our strength. Haiti, rich with culture, history, and pride, awaits its renaissance. As we face injustice and lies, let us remember that our hope is not in political leaders or their rhetoric, but in Christ, whose truth and love surpass all earthly powers. Christ calls us to love our neighbors, to fight for justice, and to lift up the oppressed. Haiti’s story of resilience reflects the hope we have in Him—a hope that no political leader can diminish. Through Christ, we find the strength to rise above hatred, to build unity, and to live with compassion and purpose. His love empowers us to transform our lives, restore our communities, and work for the betterment of humanity. In Christ, we have a hope that TRUMPS all worldly power, and it is through Him that we will overcome, rebuild, and thrive.
Berwick Augustin is the founder of Evoke180, a leading publishing company that also specializes in Haitian-Creole translations. He is an educational consultant and keynote speaker who embodies two decades of experience as a writer, teacher, and assistant principal. Berwick is the author, most recently, of The Education Formula, Days, Months, and Seasons in Haitian-Creole, The Haitian-Creole Alphabet-and 1803 The Haitian Flag.
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