Showing Haiti on Its Own Terms

‘Haitians are tired of seeing stories in foreign papers about how helpless we are,” said Junior St. Vil, my translator and a travel consultant who has also embarked on a law degree. “There is so much beauty here, so much power.”  

A recently published article in the National Geographic Magazine by Alexandra Fuller attempts to do just that, to show the beauty and power of Haiti and of Haitians, providing a space for them to use their own words and images. Haitian student photographers, ranging in age from 14 to mid 30s gathered together to show Haiti as it is rarely seen from outside, but rather from their perspective of the country as “a place of pride and possibility.”

While we encourage you to read the entire article, we want to highlight some of the photos and a few of the voices you will find there. Hopefully, it will show us not only the beauty and power of an often misrepresented place, but also encourage us to ask questions about how we portray other countries and people.

This article is not only about the beauty, however, but also the colonial structures that have made life difficult for Haitians and their continual resistance; many of these structures continue to be supported by the United States.

“We haven’t learned how to shut the door to the mechanics who want to come and fix us,” Nixon Boumba, a Haitian human rights activist, told me. “They change the parts, but they don’t fix the car. And of course, things got worse after the earthquake. People were so desperate for relief. They put out their hands for help.”

“The government has created a big hole, and then it does nothing to stop that hole being filled by those who come to extract every last drop of energy, initiative, and wealth from us,” Nixon Boumba told me. “We can’t keep giving  ourselves away. We must continue to stand up for ourselves, for our land, for the wealth beneath our feet.”  

The article also features the Haitian Mining Justice Collective, an MCC partner working for justice in the extractive industry.

The value of the gold and other minerals—copper, silver, iridium—under Haiti’s ground isn’t known, but exploratory drilling suggests that they may be worth $20 billion. “Recolonization comes in two forms,” Boumba warned. “Either the foreign entities use your space to invade your markets with their own products, or they simply steal what you have. But there are a group of us prepared to fight the extractive habit.”  He told me about Samuel Nesner, a young farmer and activist in the country’s remote northwest who volunteers in his spare time to help farmers better understand their rights and the language of those who would remove minerals from their land.

“He reminds me that it is all about education and empowerment,” Nesner said. “Historically mining has negatively impacted the environment, poisoning water and soil. The problem is, if you are an uneducated, illiterate peasant, how can you argue with someone with an engineering degree, someone in political power, someone from the World Bank?”

Vixamar smiled. “Please tell the U.S. government to stop bothering our country and give us a chance to take destiny in our own hands. That will contribute to peace in the world.”

Vixamar’s solution seemed unlikely and at the same time an understandable response to a history that experience would suggest is programmed to repeat itself. Nesner agreed, but he had an answer. “If ordinary Haitian people have a say on whether and how Haitian mineral wealth is extracted, that may finally change the pattern.” He appeared undisturbed by the overwhelming odds against his endeavors. “Haitians are rooted in resistance.”

Read the full article here.