During my time living abroad I have come across two different types of Haitians. Those who left home and never look back or only go when they absolutely have to and those who can’t let a year go by without going back home at least once, no matter how bad things seem to be. I would have loved to be able to place myself in the category that makes sure I revisit my birth home at least once a couple of years but unfortunately, I am getting closer and closer to the group that physically stays away. So much so that I have gotten to the point where I don’t even recognize this new Haiti that they speak of in the news and on social media. My brain is incapable of accepting that this is the state of our country and there doesn’t seem to be any improvements in sight. Social media has made it increasingly scarier to visit back home, not to say that the outrageous, gut-wrenching news are all false, but we all know it’s easy to run false narratives or exaggerate. Between constant political issues, major insecurity, deep corruption, natural disasters the situation in Haiti is looking more and more dire.
With that being said, Haiti may have not been completely safe and secure when I was growing up, but I still remember all of the amazing childhood memories that I got to experience. I vividly recall what it is like to wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a delicious mixture of sweet and bitter. I still remember the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood waking up with different vendors singing out loud their fresh product of the day to attract customers.
A Saturday morning isn’t complete without fresh boiled eggs accompanied with the sweetest bananas. I still remember snacking on all sorts of fruits right from the trees on our property. Right about now with mango season in full effect, we would have so many different varieties to choose from and we would eat until our stomach aches. I still reminisce about the numerous parties they used to throw during the Holiday season and feeling safe being out all night long until the sun would come up.
My children may never know that playing soccer under the warm tropical rainfall is absolutely epic. They may never know what it is like to sing and dance under the moonlight or tell stories at night under Haiti’s bright stars with all the kids in the neighborhood. I truly wonder if kids in Haiti these days feel safe to go hang out at “Champ de Mars” afterschool like I used to or go catch a movie on the weekend just for fun. My biggest fear is that one day those memories will fade and the Haiti that I experienced will become more of a blur. Hence why I will never stop talking about all of the goodness my country and my culture has blessed me with. I know that with time things change, technology I have taken a lot from us, nonetheless it’s hard to ignore that Haiti has been changing for the worst.
Despite everything going on, there are still plenty of people in Haiti who are trying to live life as normal as possible. This little mountainous Island with stunning beaches should be a paradise, regardless of everything it’s been through it still remains a paradise. We just need to catch up and start to appreciate and value our homeland. Haitians are one of the most resilient and determined people I know, and we have proven this 200 plus years ago by overturning our colonizers. I know foreign countries have made it difficult for us to develop as a country but it’s time we start applying our own motto ‘’L’union fait la force". We are also very prideful people, but pride should be more than showing off our flags on Haitian flag day and attending music festivals. We need to keep using our voices, organize events where we can sit down and brainstorm ideas, have conversations on live and sponsor organizations that are already in place to help different areas in Haiti. I am not sure how much power Haitians who are living abroad hold when it comes to politics, but I do know that we do participate heavily in the economy of Haiti. Every Haitian that I have met living abroad even if they never go back to Haiti has sent money back home whether it’s on a regular basis or on occasion. Sending money to relatives is great but at this point, it is simply putting a bandage over a wound that’s never truly healed.
Many Haitians living in Haiti may feel like the diaspora is not fit to speak on issues going on in Haiti since we don’t live there but I disagree. All Haitians should have the right to speak in Haiti issues no matter where in the World they reside. For one thing many of us are living abroad not by choice but because we have to. A lot of us would love to go back home to invest in our country, open businesses, share the knowledge and education we have acquired elsewhere. Unfortunately, it has become nearly impossible to do so. Our “crab in a barrel” mentality is keeping us from moving forward but that does not mean as the diaspora we should stop trying all together.
Thinking about the mountain of problems that Haiti faces can be overwhelming and quite frankly feel hopeless. It’s so much easier to plant roots in a different country and forget about Haiti’s problems. However, we have come together before and made history and I believe that we can do it again. If we want Haiti to be better, we need to stop relying on the government to fix it because it’s not going to. The future of Haiti starts with the youth, we have to offer something better to the next generation. We have to create individuals with better values, who won’t grow up wanting to destroy one another but instead will want to build a country that is safe for everyone.
