Fernandes: “Haitians have fought for their liberation”

Jane Fernandes, President of Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, penned an op-ed about the true history between Haitian people and the United States, which is a much read in full. Excerpts below.

Haitians are people who have fought for their liberation, dating back to the Haitian Revolution — one of the most remarkable examples of resilience in human history. In 1804, the enslaved people of Haiti rose up against their oppressors, throwing off the yoke of colonialism. Remarkably, Haiti became the first Black republic in the world.

Their struggle was a revolutionary act that resonated globally, inspiring movements for justice and liberation.

As a consequence of Haiti’s victory, it became a target for economic and political punishment.

Western nations imposed harsh sanctions and refused to recognize Haiti as a sovereign state. This punishment was designed to make an example of Haiti for daring to liberate itself and stunted its economic growth creating ongoing instability.

Haitian immigrants are not strangers. They are survivors.

The people who seek refuge in the U.S. today are fleeing the aftermath of the enduring consequences of economic colonization and political destabilization.

I ask you to consider: These are not just strangers arriving on our shores; they are people shaped by a history in which our own country plays a role. These individuals are not invaders or burdens, but survivors of a system that has actively worked against their success for generations, much like the working-class community here in the United States.