Last week’s tragic earthquake that shook the island nation of Haiti does not mark the first time the country has captured the attention of Americans. It is, however, the most graphic. With news now available on a 24/7 basis, not a moment has gone by in the past eight days when Americans have been more than a mouse click away from images of devastation as well as countless articles attempting to explain Haiti, its people, and its complex history.
In order to gain some perspective, Diverse has interviewed three scholars who study Haiti and teach about it on the college level. The first question posed was do you think this crisis could lead to a reinvigoration of the relationship between the U.S. and Haiti?
“It already has,” said Dr. Chantalle F. Verna, assistant professor of history and international relations at Florida International University. “Obviously, it’s reinvigorating the U.S./Haiti connection. It also comes with some reservations.”
Verna, whose parents both come from Haiti, noted the influx of Haitians to U.S. shores, which has already begun, and that people will be housed in home detention centers or in housing at Guantanamo Bay.
