Ayiti

Angela Gregoire
Ayiti nou led, Nou la

Haiti is the first post colonial independent Black led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful rebellion. The Caribbean country located about 681 miles from the U.S. has encountered many challenges, but its people continue to persevere and have a strong will to live on. Nou led nou la. Because of the many hardships and setbacks, the Haitians have suffered immensely. It’s hard to believe that this impoverished state was once known as “La Pearl of the Antilles”, the Pearl of the Antilles due to its economic prosperity and importance. Today Haiti the first country to abolish slavery in the Western Hemisphere remains a poor state and is struggling to get out of its economic hardship.
This black republic has a long history of oppression by dictators, including Francois Duvalier and Papa Doc. Ranking consistently among the most corrupt countries in the world on the corruption perceptions index, Haiti’s economic growth remained negative for many years. Haiti, a country with such interesting history suffered presidential coups and disasters. The majority of the people in Haiti lives in poverty, but because they are so resilient continues to be there despite all odds. Ayiti nou led nou la.
In Haiti, environmental issues and soil erosion have caused periodic flooding. In addition, tropical storms and earthquakes have claimed many lives. The most recent was a 7.1 earthquake which devastated the town of Port- au- Prince and took the lives of more than two hundred thousand inhabitants. About eighty percent of the population remained homeless and in dire need of basic needs. The Countries all over the world came together to assist the Haitian people and to attend to the injured and destitute people.
The Haitians continue in the struggle to fight poverty and overcome challenges, but remain hopeful that Haiti will once more become the pearl it was many years ago. We are ugly, but we are here.