The American View
Are the people of Haiti who we think they are?
By Kiersten Flodman
December 20, 1920
Over six years ago, on December 17, 1914, the United States Marines began to land in Haiti, controlling money and gaining power over the government and the people. Many people believe they know the stories of Haiti and its people, but it is time that Americans learn the truth. Most Americans view Haitians as uneducated, barbaric people, but this stereotype is far from the truth. You can change the American perception of Haitians, but first, you must know about the stereotypes and American treatment of Haitians.
The United States Marines in Haiti believe that Haitians are uncivilized people who would live in disorder without American involvement. The Marines publicize that Haitian people would not be able to form a stable government without Americans. This is not true, because the crime rate in Haiti was low before American involvement, and Haitians lived in advanced buildings even before the United States became involved. Americans in Haiti also believe that Haitians are lazy. Haitians are extremely hardworking people. Though they may not have advanced technology to complete their work, they endure strenuous labor with commendable morality. Another false prejudice that the Marines hold is that Haitians are unintelligent. Most Haitians speak Creole, which cannot be written down, but this does not make them uneducated or unintelligent. Many Haitians are scholarly people with incredible mental capabilities. Despite what the United States Marines would like Americans to believe, Haitians are not primitive people.
Even more disturbing than the American stereotypes of Haitian people is the way Americans in Haiti treat Haitians. The Marines claim that their goal is to stabilize the country of Haiti, but they have only caused its people pain and suffering. The Americans avoid socializing with the Haitians, only to interact with them by unnecessarily killing many and harming innocent women. In addition to killing and assaulting innocent Haitians, Americans unfairly imprison and torture Haitians for minor offenses. In one legal case, a Haitian man was arrested for refusing to lend a Marine a horse. While in prison, he was hung by his wrists from an iron bar and fed only one piece of bread every day. Another woman was arrested for attempting to take back a mule that had been stolen from her yard by a Marine. She was only kept in prison one day, but on the following day, Americans hung her husband from a beam in her house and burned the house to the ground. Clearly, Americans in Haiti have been mistreating the Haitian people. Now it is your turn to decide: are the people in Haiti the people the Marines would like us to believe they are? What can you do to save the innocent Haitians?
The United States Marines in Haiti believe that Haitians are uncivilized people who would live in disorder without American involvement. The Marines publicize that Haitian people would not be able to form a stable government without Americans. This is not true, because the crime rate in Haiti was low before American involvement, and Haitians lived in advanced buildings even before the United States became involved. Americans in Haiti also believe that Haitians are lazy. Haitians are extremely hardworking people. Though they may not have advanced technology to complete their work, they endure strenuous labor with commendable morality. Another false prejudice that the Marines hold is that Haitians are unintelligent. Most Haitians speak Creole, which cannot be written down, but this does not make them uneducated or unintelligent. Many Haitians are scholarly people with incredible mental capabilities. Despite what the United States Marines would like Americans to believe, Haitians are not primitive people.
Even more disturbing than the American stereotypes of Haitian people is the way Americans in Haiti treat Haitians. The Marines claim that their goal is to stabilize the country of Haiti, but they have only caused its people pain and suffering. The Americans avoid socializing with the Haitians, only to interact with them by unnecessarily killing many and harming innocent women. In addition to killing and assaulting innocent Haitians, Americans unfairly imprison and torture Haitians for minor offenses. In one legal case, a Haitian man was arrested for refusing to lend a Marine a horse. While in prison, he was hung by his wrists from an iron bar and fed only one piece of bread every day. Another woman was arrested for attempting to take back a mule that had been stolen from her yard by a Marine. She was only kept in prison one day, but on the following day, Americans hung her husband from a beam in her house and burned the house to the ground. Clearly, Americans in Haiti have been mistreating the Haitian people. Now it is your turn to decide: are the people in Haiti the people the Marines would like us to believe they are? What can you do to save the innocent Haitians?
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