Haiti knows the sting of oppression, having been the first country to abolish enslavement following the Haitian Revolution in 1804. This reality was met with hostility rather than support from other nations.

In fact, the United States attempted to economically strangle Haiti, fearing the spread of its revolutionary ideas to their own lands or colonies.

Here, slavery was not abolished until 1865, with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.

However, the end of legal enslavement was followed by the implementation of racist Black Codes during the Reconstruction era, which sought to perpetuate slavery under a different guise—continuing the oppression of Black Americans.

Even France kept its distance from Haiti, forcing the nation to pay reparations for its freedom, a sum that equates to $20-30 billion in today’s value.

Furthermore,  in 1915, the United States invaded Haiti, seizing control of its financial institutions and commandeering 40 percent of the country’s income to pay off Haitian debts to American and French banks. This occupation, motivated by strategic and economic interests, lasted until 1934, deeply affecting Haiti’s political and economic independence.

Today, Haiti is battered by political instability and negative media representation, with the U.S. Embassy advising Americans to stay away.

The situation demands urgent national and international action to address underlying issues of poverty, inequality, and weak governance, lest Haiti’s descent into chaos worsens.

As a student in her class, I understand that aid needs to be distributed effectively, strengthening the community it assists. Haiti is a very interesting case, as it has been excluded from major trading partners for over 200 years.

This situation has occurred with several foreign powers, such as the United States, France, and England. If it persists, Haiti will likely accumulate more debt, and other countries may refrain from sending troops to Haiti out of fear of exacerbating the situation further.

To break this pattern, an international force needs to be dispatched to Haiti, preventing any single nation from assuming complete control. Furthermore, the United Nations must oversee the operation, enabling all member countries to vote on the actions of the military leaders. However, this involvement of the UN could potentially backfire in a significant manner.