Reflection on Haitians
Learning about Haiti has made us feel sad and sympathetic for them, but also hopeful. I think the people of Haiti will try very hard, with support from many people and countries, to rebuild their country better than before. Many people were killed in the earthquake, but many people from other places have volunteered time and money to help. The Haitians are people who have suffered lots Even today, Haitian workers in the Dominican Republic are treated inhumanely. As brutal dictators, corrupt governments and horrific social conditions have rocked their home nation, there is still some hope of development. Many countries are working together to make Haiti a better place. Before doing this project we saw the Haitian people as victims. Whenever, a person thinks about Haiti or hears about it, they only think about the sad parts of it. They just know that Haiti as a country struck by poverty, where people are dying from hunger, poverty and cruelty. The single story has a lot of dangers, it can lead you in a positive way or a negative way of thinking. The stories are important and powerful. They can open our eyes, or act as blindfolds. The single story of Haiti has mostly leaded us to the bad part of it. We found that the Haiti is not only a horrible place but it is also a place where people are strong. They are fighting for their rights and they are succeeding. We need to put an end to Haiti’s single story and allow people to make their own opinions about Haiti.
This video was made right after the earthquake and was shown right at the start of the winter Olympics. This video was used to raise money to help send aid to Haiti.
Although Haiti is mainly poor it is also a very great place for tourists to visit and vacate. The scenery is beautiful and many people come on vacations each year.
This poem is about the hard life in Haiti and how different it is there from here. It is still evident in this poem that it is rough in Haiti, and it will take a long time for things to get better for the Haitians. The only way to understand this poem is to realize that Haiti is a prominently poor country and crops do not grow easily in the soil there. That is one reason for the country taking so long to recover from the devastations that have happened there. “They say human blood enriches soil…” (first two stanzas) the reason the poet mentions that, is to emphasize the fact that, yes there are an unreasonable amount to deaths in Haiti. Then it goes on to say that, “if that were true my friends how rice millet and corn would thrive…” (lines 6-10) This shows that the saying is clearly inaccurate.
To read the Poem visit: http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/01/poems-from-haiti-translated-byy-merete-mueller-with-dominique-herard/
Annika, Hira, Ryan, Miles
Honors English 2
11 March 2013
Single Story of Haiti
When people think about Haiti people usually think of poverty, disease, and tragedy. The earthquake that struck Haiti not only affected them, but the entire world. The earthquake was 7.0 magnitude earthquake and completely devastated Haiti. The Earthquake occurred on January 12, 2010 and about 220,000 people died. Helping Haiti recover was a worldwide effort, even the biggest celebrities around the world came together and made a music video to gain support for helping Haiti. This Earthquake occurred three years ago but that is still all people think of when they see or hear the word Haiti. They are just considered the island that was poor and a sad place before the earthquake and are thought of the same after the earthquake.
Media is the biggest cause of having only one story. The only things we hear on the radio or see on television are the bad things. In some cases, the only things you hear are stereotypes, or how the earthquake destroyed everything. In the case of Haitians, it’s the story of the earthquake and the poverty that it caused. The only things we saw on television were scenes and images of wrecked buildings and hungry people with no homes. We didn’t see any prosperity or happiness, only despair. The earthquake may have caused tons of damage, but it should not be the only thing we know.
The Haiti earthquake disturbed the whole world. Everyone can still recall the earthquake but no one knows the steps that were taken to better Haiti after the earthquake. Everyone has only one story or one point of view. The dangers of a single story about Haiti earthquake are very common.
After getting the true information about what really happened, we will find out the dangers of a single point of view about Haiti residents. Stories are important and powerful. They can open our eyes, or act as blindfolds. Throughout this project we will learn how, when, why, and by whom stories are told shapes our world view.
There are many cultures and races that were looked down on by whites, one of these was dark skin. When Britains and Americans went to Haiti the locals were not treated as equals.