EDF 2085 Reflection #18

Jackie Lawrence
EDF 2085
Reflection Paper #18

In less than four years, beginning in 1959, over 215,000 Cubans fled their country to America seeking refuge. As Cuba’s socialist revolutionary government continued to deteriorate, the numbers grew, and have now reached well over a million. America welcomed the refugees with open arms, mainly because they were middle to upper class whites. In 1962, the US government and the Roman Catholic Church even arranged for Pam Am Airlines to fly Cuban children to Miami, Florida, until thwarted by Fidel Castro. Fourteen thousand children made it and became known as the “Peter Pans.” During the Camarioca Boat Lift in 1965, many Cuban exiles gave up their homes and property to the dictatorship in return for their relative’s safety. They were allowed back to America and treated as political refugees. They faced no immigration quota and were provided with automatic residence status.
Haiti’s government underwent similar corruption under the dictatorial leadership of “Papa Doc” Duvalier, but the US government reacted quite differently. The US not only ignored Haiti’s growing corruption and brutality, but even supported it by giving $40 million to Duvalier as aid. Under his regime, US firms prospered and our economic interests were served, so justification was easy. Meanwhile, Haiti was in shambles, and the working-class fled the island by the thousands for America. Almost 23,000 people arrived on the coast between 1981 and 1990, but only 11 were allowed to apply for asylum. Within the next two years, 34,000 were detained at Guantanamo Bay by the US Coast Guard. Those who were “allowed” to apply for asylum were given HIV tests, and if positive, denied entry to America. Because they were largely of color and underprivileged, stereotyped and prejudices ensued. The main consensus was that Haitian immigrants were undesirable; they would hurt America’s economy because they lacked education and job skills. Even under the Clinton administration, Haitians attempting to migrate were immediately placed in detention and sent back.
It doesn’t take much research or observation to see that the radical differences in treatment of Cuban and Haitian immigrants by the United States absolutely qualifies as numerous institutional acts of racism. Both countries were under severe political oppression and in need of help. There is no justifiable reason the two cultures should have been treated so differently. And unfortunately, because it was our government that instigated negative feelings, prejudice against the Haitian population is still widespread today.