Within the first couple of chapters of The Big Truck that Went By, Katz gave
three terms that conceptualized the significance of the book; Blan which means foreigner, Neg the opposite of Blan, and kleptocrat
which can be defined as a ruler who uses political power to steal his or her
country’s resources. As I continued reading, I couldn’t help but wonder why the
text fomented such a visceral reaction inside of me. It wasn’t until I finished
reading that I understood why.
The “relief” efforts in post-quake Haiti perpetuated a narrative of us vs. them, blan vs. neg, diplomat vs. kleptocrat, or any dichotomous model reflecting “good” and “bad”. Just being an American placed me on the “good” side, and if you’re negligent in interrogating what that really entails, some would say that should be enough. Why? Because as Americans we did our part to help our poor and pitiful Haitian neighbors. The neighbors who just can’t seem to catch a break with their corrupt government and all. The neighbors who always need rescuing because they are susceptible to natural disasters. The AIDS infested neighbors who can’t remember to wear condoms long enough to prevent killing each other off with sexually transmitted diseases. The neighbors who continue to populate without the resources to take care of themselves. Those discinct Haitians who continue worshiping the devil with their voodoo and witchcraft despite it being the reason the earthquake occurred in the first place, at least according to Pat Robertson. Sure, with just a simple text to the red cross, or a donation to a celebrity telethon, I as an American am now absolved from any guilt that I had watching the aftermath of the travesty in Haiti because I did my part. Besides, why should I care? The government stepped in and took care of it like they usually do. Hell, American NGOs raised over 2.5 billion dollars in aid alone, so that should be more than enough. Not to mention the U.S. government contracted over 1 billion dollars to help rebuild the impoverished country.
Unfortunately, these are the sentiments a lot of Americans shared whether they have the balls to admit it or not. As a matter of fact, once it could no longer be classified as “news”, many of us forgot, and never followed up. I’m sure we would be surprised to know that in addition to having inadequate living spaces, sanitation and food, the Haitian population suffered immensely from a cholera outbreak. A disease brought to Haiti by Nepalese UN peacekeepers. A disease no one wanted to be held accountable for despite the evidence presented. Or that a lot of the money pledged to help Haiti never left any of its donor states. Or that even though there were people who were sleeping in the streets next to dead bodies, and camps filled with debilitated elderly women and children, the diplomats, former presidents and ambassadors were in luxury hotels outside of Haiti. Despite the narrative America intended to perpetuate in regards to rebuilding Haiti, what was really being conveyed is that impoverished Haitians don’t matter. This is why we don’t trust them with money, and this is why they don’t deserve to live. We know what’s best for them, and what’s best for them is to allow others to make the decisions for them, even when it is at their expense. We won’t acknowledge the structural violence they endure on the regular basis, nor do we care, because after all “we” are on the good side. “We” are the competent Americans, with a thriving political system, and “they” are the contemptible people with a corrupt government. We are “blans” and they are “negs”, and unfortunately the “negs” are never on the “good” side.
The “relief” efforts in post-quake Haiti perpetuated a narrative of us vs. them, blan vs. neg, diplomat vs. kleptocrat, or any dichotomous model reflecting “good” and “bad”. Just being an American placed me on the “good” side, and if you’re negligent in interrogating what that really entails, some would say that should be enough. Why? Because as Americans we did our part to help our poor and pitiful Haitian neighbors. The neighbors who just can’t seem to catch a break with their corrupt government and all. The neighbors who always need rescuing because they are susceptible to natural disasters. The AIDS infested neighbors who can’t remember to wear condoms long enough to prevent killing each other off with sexually transmitted diseases. The neighbors who continue to populate without the resources to take care of themselves. Those discinct Haitians who continue worshiping the devil with their voodoo and witchcraft despite it being the reason the earthquake occurred in the first place, at least according to Pat Robertson. Sure, with just a simple text to the red cross, or a donation to a celebrity telethon, I as an American am now absolved from any guilt that I had watching the aftermath of the travesty in Haiti because I did my part. Besides, why should I care? The government stepped in and took care of it like they usually do. Hell, American NGOs raised over 2.5 billion dollars in aid alone, so that should be more than enough. Not to mention the U.S. government contracted over 1 billion dollars to help rebuild the impoverished country.
Unfortunately, these are the sentiments a lot of Americans shared whether they have the balls to admit it or not. As a matter of fact, once it could no longer be classified as “news”, many of us forgot, and never followed up. I’m sure we would be surprised to know that in addition to having inadequate living spaces, sanitation and food, the Haitian population suffered immensely from a cholera outbreak. A disease brought to Haiti by Nepalese UN peacekeepers. A disease no one wanted to be held accountable for despite the evidence presented. Or that a lot of the money pledged to help Haiti never left any of its donor states. Or that even though there were people who were sleeping in the streets next to dead bodies, and camps filled with debilitated elderly women and children, the diplomats, former presidents and ambassadors were in luxury hotels outside of Haiti. Despite the narrative America intended to perpetuate in regards to rebuilding Haiti, what was really being conveyed is that impoverished Haitians don’t matter. This is why we don’t trust them with money, and this is why they don’t deserve to live. We know what’s best for them, and what’s best for them is to allow others to make the decisions for them, even when it is at their expense. We won’t acknowledge the structural violence they endure on the regular basis, nor do we care, because after all “we” are on the good side. “We” are the competent Americans, with a thriving political system, and “they” are the contemptible people with a corrupt government. We are “blans” and they are “negs”, and unfortunately the “negs” are never on the “good” side.
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