So, this whole situation with Haiti has me a extremely disturbed and saddened. It’s hard to watch the news as they dramatize what is happening in Haiti for the sake of ratings and playing with human emotions. There are people who are suffering, seriously suffering, and in my opinion, newscasters, producers and the like care more about making a ‘story’ than reporting the news. So, should I just stop watching the news? It’s like a catch 22—I despise the news for doing more ‘story’ making than news reporting but I have to watch these ‘dramatized stories’ in order to get news reports. What else is there to do?
Anyway, I digress...
In an attempt to not be the ‘angry black woman’ I am going to censor my thoughts about how race is playing an integral role in how the aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake is being reported. I am going to be very careful in what I say, as I have found that being the ‘angry black woman’ tends not to be the best way to portray myself. With that being said, I would like to know how many of you have heard any national news stations mention aid or support given to Haiti by any African countries? Have you even heard any of your favorite newscasters mention the word ‘Africa’ in relation to helping Haiti?
Of course not!
I truly appreciate and respect all of the aid that nations across the globe have given to Haiti. I think that the way that we have all come together to help a country in need is nothing short of incredible. Yet and still, I must acknowledge what no one else seems to want to recognize—Mother Africa has reached out to help her people. She cares.
Abdoulaye Wade, Senegal’s president has offered repatriation and free land to Haitian victims who wish to leave Haiti. South Africa has sent a group of doctors and many rescue teams directly to Haiti to save lives. Rwanda has donated $100,000 and Liberia has donated $50,000. Although this may not seem like much in comparison to what other nations have given, it is still significant enough to mention. In reality, Haitians are children of Africa. They are direct descendants of Africans who were kidnapped from their homeland and forced to be slaves in Hispaniola. So in essence, Haiti’s mother is offering help, but very few know about it.
Unfortunately, there is no more that I can say about African aid to Haiti. Due to a lack of reported information, I know nothing else about it. But trust me, if/when I find out more about Africa’s efforts in Haiti, I will be sure to post it right here, on re.definition.
Now on to other thoughts on my mind…
Since I first found out about this catastrophe, I have been urging people to let go of any opinions and feelings about Haiti that were not directly connected to helping the people effected by the earthquake. I turned a blind eye (and deaf ear) to those who came to me frantically declaring “The government did it! The government caused the quake because they want to kill black people!” I respectfully cursed all those who came to me insisting, “All glory be to God for helping to rid this world of those voodoo devil worshippers.” I felt like we should first extend a helping hand to Haiti before we point any fingers or blame the ‘government’ for a ‘natural’ disaster such as an earthquake.
Anyone who knows me knows that I think that EVERYTHING is a conspiracy. If I lose five dollars, I am blaming ‘the man’ for causing a cosmic disruption that made my money disappear. If it rains for too many days in a row, I begin to speculate that the government is playing with the weather again. Everything, and I do mean everything, is a possible conspiracy to me. Oddly enough, despite the sudden and shocking manner in which the earthquake hit Haiti, never once did I think “oh, there is something weird about an earthquake of this magnitude hitting Haiti.” Never once did I begin to blame the government or anyone else for what happened. All that mattered to me was that people were suffering. It was not until people on Facebook (yes, of all places, Facebook) began speculating about all kinds of random things that I began to wonder, “What really happened in Haiti?”
But then I stopped questioning. What difference does it make (at this moment) what happened in Haiti? People are dying who don’t have to die. Doctors are working under very trying conditions with a lack of supplies and assistance. This a dire situation and I am not going to spend my random thoughts trying to figure out anything other than how I can help Haiti. My brothers and sisters are dying. This is so sad….
I can say no more. Too emotional.
Please stay tuned for more information about the benefit show for Haiti presented by re.definition and Headlinerz, Ent’s Richard Raw. It will be Sunday February 7th at East End Café in Newark, DE. The cost will be $7 at the door. The best of the best in local entertainment will be there! More information to come!!!!
Picture jacked from here
Picture jacked from here
2 comments
Thank you for the information. . . I knew of no efforts of Africa coming to the aid of the Haitian victims. . . the ideas surrounding the Haitian's suffering is a delight to entertain, but not to except. The only thing that does concern me is how was the Dominican Republic affected?
Your welcome. Well, I think that the quake was felt in DR but there was not much damage. All damage seemed to be in Port-au-Prince and the immediate area...which is weird since DR and Haiti are ONE island divided by and invisible line
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