By Daniel Smith, Special to LE FLORIDIEN
The year 2020, from its beginning to its oncoming closure, is surely a pothole in the progress of history. The whole world was pulled into a common tide, the corona virus pandemic, and other issues surging behind the scenes of the outbreak. Thus, as the year 2020 is gradually winding down, many people are anxious to see what the incoming year 2021 is going to be like. Certainly, almost everyone had a tough bite to chew in 2020, and Haitian-Americans in South Florida were not left out of the pack. A call for serious concern is the case of a home-country that continues to plunge down the steep of dilapidation-a residential country that does not assure them of a honey-filled future, the call to choose between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the November 2020 polls among many other events that enveloped the year 2020 have resulted in several twists for Haitian-Americans in South Florida. with these phenomena developments, one can easily assume that the New Year 2021 for Haitians especially those in the Diaspora is definitely going to be accepted with mixed feelings.
Living with the New Normal as Covid -19 Exceeds 1 year
It is no longer news that the coronavirus pandemic has changed many aspects of the lives of Americans in the last year. The situation isn’t different in South Florida as the pandemic dealt a heavy blow on the Haitian-Americans there. There have been reports of some sort of stigma attached to contracting COVID-19 due to cultural reasons. The Trump administration’s decision to deport Haitian migrants who have tested positive for the virus didn’t also sit well with Haitian-Americans in South Florida who are so far, among the worst hit in the community.
The fate of this community going forward relies heavily as usual on government policies and of course, the will to live. Come 2021, Haitian-Americans are going to need to learn to stay safe from the virus regardless of how hard it may seem. Masks have become a necessity in recent times and that isn’t going to change soon. Moving on for this community means going about their daily activities with enough consciousness to remind them of the reality of COVID-19.
The protocols which may appear so simple may not be very easy to adhere to for many people, little wonder the numbers keep rising. While vaccines are in the works for the incoming year, Haitian-Americans in South Florida must be careful not to record more casualties than they already have if they intend to make their remarkably growing community a force to reckon with in coming years.
A celebration away from home
As a part of the many reasons why New Year 2021 might be a glum one is the fact that Haitians in the Diaspora cannot return home due to insecurities. Apart from being a season of celebration and sharing of love, one of the beautiful characteristics of Yuletide is that people return home to their families for the holiday. But this beautiful tradition is being impeded for Haitians in the Diaspora as home does not seem to be a safe place anymore. Amidst the turbulence of gang violence and other criminal acts, Haitian-Americans are walled away from home as the thought of a glorious homecoming to Haiti is struck out. It was observed by the executive director of the Haitian National Human Rights Defense Network (RNDDH) that there was an ongoing and growing gang act of terrorism. This blemish observed by Pierre Esperance in early 2020 continues down the timeline of the year as the La Saline massacre in Port-au-Prince, kidnappings that include the abduction of Maritza Herard and Dr. Hans Thelemaque amongst 162 others recorded by civil society groups, homicides like the assassination of Monferrier Dorval and the recent murder of 22 years old student Evelyne Sincere amongst others have led to a directive by the Bureau of consular affairs of United States department and the United States embassy in Port-au-Prince that the country is under security alert and advised citizens not to travel to the country – quoting the following: violent crimes such as robbery, carjacking at gun point, civil unrest such as demonstrations that end in violence, abductions and the pandemic which is again at the high increase. It was clearly specified that travelers are sometimes followed from the international airport in Port-au-Prince and robbed or violently attacked. For these reasons, Haitians in the Diaspora have turned their backs on the plea by President Jovenel Moise to return home for the holiday. In light of these ugly happenings, many Haitians both at home and abroad would greatly be missing some of their loved ones as a result of the impenetrable security threats in the country.
A Paralyzed Yuletide by the Second Waves of Covid-19 Pandemic
Worthy of concern is a case of the civil unrest in Haiti caused by the covid-19 pandemic which is now making a second return globally. In the strike of its first wave, migrations had to be halted and inter-country curfews were imposed. Later on, the control measures were relaxed but International Air Transport Association still indicated a heavy drop in air travel, around 66%. Meanwhile, reviews by medical practitioners have exacted that the virus is quietly taking tolls on the Haitian community in South Florida. But due to incompetent statistics, experts claimed that the exact range of the wreckage caused by the virus could not be established – especially on Haitian ethnics. But the fact still remains that, the impact of the pandemic on the Haitian community is dire than it seems. In a report, the president of the Haitian-American Nurses Association of Florida in person of Pauline Louis-Magiste languished on how deep the root of the virus runs. In December 2020, a report by Florida health officials has established that above 10,000 new cases of the virus infection were reported. Some news outlets also reported that Florida recorded around 300 cases of non-resident deaths and 121 resident deaths. Amidst this, a surge in holiday travels (into Florida) has become a thing of concern, and this has led to the employment or imposition of a curfew which would range till 4th of January – as reported on Sun Sentinel. Meanwhile, another article by Cindy Krishcher Goodman and David Fleshler, published December 24 on the same channel, fears that the toll of the virus on Florida would be drastic by the end of the Yuletide holiday.
Dividends of a New America for Haitian-Americans in South Florida
What does Joe Biden as the projected winner of the November 2020 polls mean for Haitian-Americans in South Florida? This question seems to be heavy on the minds of everyone who cares about the welfare of this black community. Recall that Haitian-Americans showed out strong for Biden and Kamala Haris just as they did for Clinton during the 2016 election.
As a new political era begins in America, Haitian-Americans are waiting eagerly to see how events unravel. Recall that these people have seen presidents reneging on their campaign promises to them. Shortly after Trump assumed office, Haitian-Americans gathered to protest at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach following reports that the president wouldn’t hesitate to name their native land – Haiti, “a Shithole country” if needs be. The decision to deport Haitians was also one of the reasons why they were so pained. These are, however, parts of the reasons why some of Trump’s former Haitian-American supporters openly regret backing him at the 2016 polls. Haitian-Americans, therefore, hope that a Biden presidency will undo the many hurts that came to them from Trump’s presidency come 2021.
A loud Political voice for Haitian-Americans in South Florida
The November 2020 polls pricked a new wave of political consciousness amongst the community of Haitian-Americans in South Florida. While they have been a force to reckon with at the polls in recent times, the 2020 elections gave this black community a new voice. The National Haitian-American Elected Officials Network (NHAEON) championed the campaign for, and endorsement of many aspirants during the elections. As Biden rightly predicted, the Haitian-American community in South Florida did well to decide who won the elections in Florida. This precedence will count on many fronts going forward and just as we have seen in the past; Haitian-Americans will not hesitate to hold any government accountable.
Biden, during his campaign, had promised to give Haitian-Americans “an even shot” to ensure that they get back on their feet. The policies of the past administration and their effects on the community also contributed to the political character of this community. While the elections may be over, governance is far from being over. Hence, Haitian-Americans seem to be ready, more than ever, to raise their voices where it needs to be heard, to get things done when they need to be done.
Conclusion
While the year 2020 may have dampened the spirits of many, Haitian-Americans are more dauntless than they have been in the past. The events of the past will contribute a whole lot to set the tone for the incoming year and for this reason, there’s an anticipation for a remarkable change for the better. From the Coronavirus pandemic to the hope for an effective vaccine. In the incoming year, these people are trusting, just like many other Americans that governance in the country will take a favorable turn. There are lots to look forward to in the year 2021, but first, there is the need to stay safe and survive in the heat of the coronavirus pandemic.
