Causes of the Haitian Crisis
Format
Oral Presentation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Cosana Eram
Faculty Mentor Department
Department of Modern Language and Literature
Abstract/Artist Statement
Haiti was the richest colony in the world during the 18th century, and at the turn of the 19th century, Haiti became the first independent black nation. Today, Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, teeters on the brink of disaster and anarchy amongst a seemingly irresolvable humanitarian crisis. It is ill-considered, distorted and simplistic to blame Haiti’s current state of crisis on any single incident, disaster, country, or leader. This paper examines the impacts of foreign intervention, racism, natural disasters, and political instability on Haiti’s development. I argue that all of these factors worked together to stunt Haiti’s growth and continue to play a role in Haiti’s specious inability to solve her crisis. Since the crisis in Haiti began, numerous attempts to create stability, settle riots, instate leaders, address violence, and establish peace have failed. I argue that the Haitian crisis cannot be solved until the world allows Haitians to solve their own crisis with Haitian-led solutions by Haitian democratically elected leaders.
Location
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
Start Date
29-4-2023 10:00 AM
End Date
29-4-2023 1:00 PM
Causes of the Haitian Crisis
Information Commons, William Knox Holt Memorial Library and Learning Center
Haiti was the richest colony in the world during the 18th century, and at the turn of the 19th century, Haiti became the first independent black nation. Today, Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, teeters on the brink of disaster and anarchy amongst a seemingly irresolvable humanitarian crisis. It is ill-considered, distorted and simplistic to blame Haiti’s current state of crisis on any single incident, disaster, country, or leader. This paper examines the impacts of foreign intervention, racism, natural disasters, and political instability on Haiti’s development. I argue that all of these factors worked together to stunt Haiti’s growth and continue to play a role in Haiti’s specious inability to solve her crisis. Since the crisis in Haiti began, numerous attempts to create stability, settle riots, instate leaders, address violence, and establish peace have failed. I argue that the Haitian crisis cannot be solved until the world allows Haitians to solve their own crisis with Haitian-led solutions by Haitian democratically elected leaders.