Creating Stability And Peace In Haiti - Africans In America Must Lend A Helping Hand

It is not surprising then that throughout the long history of the use, abuse and neglect of Haiti by the U.S., Africans in America have been Haiti's ally. From Frederick Douglass' refusal to be used as a pawn to facilitate the exploitation of Haiti by unscrupulous U.S. business interests, the NAACP's strident opposition to the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915-1934 to the consistent support of Haiti by the Congressional Black Caucus, Africans in America have been Haiti's most faithful ally. In the current crisis, once again, the Congressional Black Caucus along with Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Bill Fletcher of TransAfrica and representatives of the Haiti Support Project have been in the forefront of the effort to prevent the Bush Administration from undermining democracy in Haiti. Our collective effort was insufficient to thwart the concerted machinations of the Bush Administration to oust President Jean-Bertrand Aristide as the democratically elected President of Haiti. However, this blatant undermining of Haiti's democracy clearly demonstrates the urgent need for Africans in America to become the constituency and watchdog for Haiti, monitoring the formulation and conduct of the U.S. government at every turn. In this regard, it is important to continue to demand national and international investigations into the manner that President Aristide was forced to relinquish his office and leave the country.

Moreover, the crisis is not over, therefore, Africans in America must play a leading role in creating peace and stability in Haiti. Working with our Haitian American brothers and sisters, African American leadership must wage an unrelenting struggle to prevent criminals and murderers like Jodel Chamblain and other known human rights abusers from seizing power or being a part of a transitional government. The same forces that participated in the first coup against Aristide and brutalized so many Lavalas supporters and sympathizers must not be allowed to shoot their way into legitimacy with the acquiescence of the U.S. – the thugs cannot be allowed to rule Haiti. Secondly, we must insist that Aristide's supporters be incorporated into the process of building a government of national unity in a fair and equitable manner if the CARICOM plan is to have a chance to succeed in all of its dimensions. Constituencies, parties and interest groups from all walks of life in Haiti must come together and work to govern together in the interest of the masses of Haitian people.

Black America must also raise its collective voice in urgently demanding that economic assistance to Haiti from the U.S. and the international community be increased and released immediately to ameliorate the suffering of the Haitian people. Beyond U.S. and international assistance, African Americans must launch a major campaign to mobilize humanitarian assistance for our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We must lend a helping hand by creating a loving/compassionate people to people connection with the Haitian people as they strive to heal the wounds of this most recent conflict. We must be our brother's and sister's keepers.

It is in this spirit that the Haiti Support Project, in conjunction with the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the Artist Empowerment Coalition, Oklahoma Health Care Project and The Black World Today, an online publication (http://www.tbwt.org ) are preparing to launch a nationwide appeal for funds to make a modest contribution to the rebuilding process in Haiti. We are hopeful that the Bev Smith Show via The American Urban Radio Networks, Rolling Out Urban Style Weekly, the National Congress of Black Women, National Association of Black Radio Talk Show Hosts and the Georgia State Baptist Convention will be among the first to join with us in this crucial endeavor. Tax exempt contributions will be raised to provide help to those Haitian families, particularly poor people who have lost loved ones or whose homes have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict. It is our fervent hope that Black America will respond generously with a massive "love offering" as we strive to "reach out and touch somebody's hand" in our beloved Haiti.

Over the long haul, the goal of the Haiti Support Project and the Cruising Into History/Haiti 2004 Initiative is to transform this hour of pain into an opportunity to create permanent people to people and institutional relationships between African Americans and our brothers and sisters in Haiti to provide support/assistance for schools, health care clinics, hospitals, civic engagement projects and economic development/business projects. Our outpouring of concern must not just be for this moment of crisis. We must make a long term commitment. Into the 21st century, Africans in America must be constructively engaged in lending a helping hand to create lasting stability, peace and prosperity in Haiti!

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