Racial Justice Teachouts Collaboration: Haiti and the US: Political Pasts, Presents, and Futures.
This panel will focus on the current crises in Haiti and its impacts on Haitians and Haitian Americans, how we got to this current moment, and where we might go from here. We will bring together historians, scholars of immigration law, and Haitian American community leaders for an informative, provocative, and mobilizing discussion.
I had a wonderful opportunity to attend this conversation. I wish my comments were actually addressed.
“ I’m reminded that it’s relatively easy to get stuck in the cycle of hearing whatever we believe as being the truth.”
I added some comments during the zoom (Please feel free to comment)
Migration is normal. But the forced migration that we’ve seen in Haiti, is also playing a large role in the stagnation we are experiencing. We can’t just keep pointing the finger at the outside forces.
The brain drain is a large factor affecting what is happening
I think the solution is rooted in a bottom-up approach. we have to invest in the intellectual infrastructure of the young folks and we have to work to clear pathways for them to build the future they want and desire. You can read more about this in one of my colleague’s books, The underdog Revolution
Seeking immigration status in another country only adds to the problem that is affecting us at the moment.
We have to rebuild the compromised infrastructure.
I found diamonds
“ I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me” - ralph ellison
There was a comment about the lack of response from NGOs after the 2010 Eearthquake. Although there are some truths. We tend to not do enough when it comes to highlighting the work that is being done. So I will plug my organization. The organization I founded in 2010 has been focused on development.
Kay Tita is a community resource organization dedicated to empowering Haitian entrepreneurs through skill training, cultivating critical partnerships, raising capital, and facilitating impact investing opportunities. Kay Tita is led by and rooted in work between Seattle and Haiti. Through connecting both people of the Haitian diaspora, and non-Haitian people with Haitian culture, art, entrepreneurship, and traditions, we build the power, capacity, and cultural vibrancy of our region."
Here are some initiatives we are fostering
https://portauprince.impacthub.net/
There were some additional links shared during the talk
https://baji.org/resources/
https://cepr.net/staff-member/jake-johnston/
https://muse.jhu.edu/article/636808
I think it was a great talk. Both panelists spoke very well about their perspectives. There’s a missing louder dialogue that needs to take place around the work that is being done and how we need to amplify the work of the creators and leaders in those spaces. I’m curious to hear your thoughts? Please chime in.