From “Becoming Brave: Finding The Courage To Pursue Racial Justice Now” by Brenda Salter McNeil
I learned from the books that I read during my visit that Haiti was founded because of the only successful slave revolt in the history of the world! After the Haitians won their freedom, the French tried repeatedly to reenslave them. In addition, no other countries – including the United States – would do business with them. Although these countries had purchased crops produced by Haiti’s slave labor, they refused to help the economy of the free Haitian people. So with no international support or protection, the Haitians built a citadel to protect themselves from being reenslaved rather than investing in their infrastructure. This story is of a proud and resilient people who choose freedom over slavery, even if it meant living in poverty. I learned that the people of Haiti have been through more, withstood more, and fought back against more injustice than most people can even imagine. Those are the people I met: people of dignity and respect, of warmth and hospitality. I met people who – in their poverty – poured out great generosity on those of us visiting from the United States. That was my experience, and that is the story I will tell!
As a result of that experience, I’ve learned to be more careful to recognize who’s telling the story and what narrative they’re trying to spin. I am more leery, watchful, and suspicious because I know that often the story told is tied to some agenda or purpose that’s not being overtly stated. That’s why it’s important to learn what’s really happening and to hear the story from trusted people who are living close to and being personally affected by the situations we seek to address.