Haiti: A Chance To Air Racist Views on Black Management?

"...It's an issue of management. Look at the United States and England, now look at Africa and Haiti..."  - Anonymous

The other day I was in the barbershop and I heard these words from two chairs over. I used to go to black barbers, but as you move up in corporate management, the "smooth fade on-a-white dude" look doesn't go over well in the boardroom.

Regardless of where tragedy strikes, there needs to be an humanitarian outcry of support. And although many are making miracles for the citizens of Haiti, an element of skepticism, negativity, and racism still lingers; whether it's the earthquake in Haiti, the hurricane in New Orleans, or the tsunami in Indonesia/Malaysia/India back in 2004.

Now, I'm not here to really defend Haiti. I too think there has been decades of poor economic management and an absence of leadership too. And I have a Haitian wife who would agree, well, for the most part.

Before Mother Nature recently punished Haiti, what did you really know about that conuntry? Let me give you the benefit of the doubt; perhaps you were able to rattle off something about their local rate of AIDS occurences or the median income for the island.

But, on the other hand, be honest, you really knew very little. I bet you couldn't find Haiti on a world map for a million dollars. Or the Dominican Republic. And I bet you wouldn't expect such dire poverty such a short distance from the sandy beaches of Miami, would you?

The girl cutting my hair went up to the front to speak briefly with her next appointment. That left me an opportunity to hone in on what the guy was saying a couple chairs down from me: "...You know what ol' Obama is going to do; he's going to open America's doors for all those poor, desolate creatures over there in Haiti. It'll be one big welfare state here. They'll learn the "Real American Way" from the African Americans who already are sitting on their asses now getting every handout the government can dish out..." - Anonymous 

When you think of Haiti

When you think of Haiti, you probably think of deplorable conditions: hunger, poor health care, lack of education, right? Well, could the same not be said for the United States? Think about it.

Imagine if the media consistently showed America's homeless population? (What homeless population? Are you serious?) Recent estimates have shown there are on or around a million homeless people in this country. (Not to mention our own poverty level.)

Do you think those homeless people would look good on a video prepared for foreign countries who are contemplating buying into our currency auctions? Of course it wouldn't.

Don't believe the hype

I know, I know it's not fair to compare the two countries. And you'd probably be inclined to say that if the media showed the middle and upper class in Haiti, then that would deter foreign donation. I'll give you that.

I just ask you do not be so quick to judge until you have looked deeper and learned about the country. Maybe then you can appreciate a country whose natural resources were stolen and was left abandoned and ignored for centuries.

The guy in the other chair had a few choice words for Wyclef Jean and his Yele Foundation before he paid and left. 

Haiti is a proud country - perhaps to a fault.

But, you, you racist moron in the barbershop, give Haiti and their citizens the dignity they deserve.

It might be time to go back 'round the way to the old barbershop. What do you think?

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