What Happened in HAITI?

For most people the entire world stopped when the small country of Haiti experienced a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on January 12, 2010—the most powerful to hit Haiti in a century. Casualties from the earthquake count 230,000 but we always have reasons to believe the number to be quite higher than that. Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince experienced large devastation from the severe damaging of vital infrastructure: hospitals, schools, communication systems and many homes. This catastrophe for the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation meant a state of emergency for everyone, much aid and assistance would be needed to restore Haiti.

On February 22, 2010, Mr. Joe Madison, Ms. Roberte Exantus, Ms. Nicole Lee, and Professor Yanick Rice Lamb all came out to speak at the forum “What happened in Haiti!” conducted in Cramton Auditorium at Howard University. When I arrived at the forum, Joe Madison was speaking about current conditions of Haiti, since he had just visited the country post-earthquake. Madison, often called by the nickname “The Black Eagle” is radio talk show host and activist. He explained that displaced Haitians are being sheltered by tents when hurricane season is starting. Was this a bad idea? Nevertheless, the tents in Haiti get in the way of reconstruction, but we should ask ourselves, what else can the government do for Haiti? Madison explained that the rubble from the earthquake will take up to 3 years to remove. The Haitian government and United States government want to recycle the rubble and use it to repave roads.

The highlight of the forum for me was the discussion of how Haiti became the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. We praise Haiti for being the first Black republic to achieve independence against the French, but 100 years later, Haiti is in the state of “total embargo”. No imports, no trade—the French destroyed Haiti. Madison also made this point clear in his discussion. The question, “What Happened to Haiti?” is far more complex than the recent destructive earthquake, it involves hundreds of year’s worth of history that left Haiti isolated and ignored. In my opinion the 2010 earthquake only reminded the world that Haiti still exists, because in everyone’s mind it is long forgotten.

African American Heritage Trail - Howard University

Welcome! Welcome to Howard University, "The Mecca," "The Hilltop," "The Black Harvard," you may wish to call it something else, but it is an institution I have grown to call home. Certainly Howard University is among the many landmarks which our nation's capital has to offer, though probably one of the most important to African Americans. The entire campus has been the site of many historical events that changed the fate of present day, thus creating an African American Heritage Trail. The picture above is the most popular attraction of Howard's campus, "The Yard" onlooking Founders Library and Moorland and Spingarn Research Center.

Founders Library and Moorland Spingard Research Center preserves, collects and offers an abundance of historical texts, artifacts, and archival collections of the culture of the people of African descent. Once you enter Founders Library, there is a 3-dimensional map of the campus and many archive classrooms and book rooms.

I did not have to go very far to see the next location on the African American Heritage Trail. Everyday, when taking the shuttle to campus down the infamous Georgia Avenue, I frequently see this old-looking white house on the hill. I had figured it held some importance because it seemed to be there for a long period of time, certainly it did. Howard Hall (http://www.howard.edu/images/photos/howard-hall225.jpg) lies behind the university's administration building, aside from the School of Social Work. It was one of Howard University's first four buildings, and is named after its founder, General Howard. The building currently serves as the University's Alumni Center.

The Gallery of Art in Childers Hall has a display of plentiful paintings and other art work from both national and international artists. Having spent 4 semesters on this campus and this was the first occasion that I visited it. Colleagues I know who are in the Division of Fine Arts here at Howar University fall nothing short of talent, therefore, it was not very surprising to see the incredible exhibition Childers had to offer.

More on the Gallery of Art can be seen at: http://www.howard.edu/library/Art@Howard/GoA/generalinfo.htm

The last point of interest on my African American Heritage Trail around the Howard University campus was the now-demolished Howard University Hospital/Griffith Stadium site. The Griffith Stadium was the home of a couple of Washington based and Negro League baseball teams.

Source: http://medicine.howard.edu/about/history/default.htm

This shows a 1966 aerial view of the baseball diamond of the Griffith Stadium.

A fairly recent establishment, the Howard University Hospital was built on site in 1975, providing a health care resort for African Americans in the community of Washington.

Finally, we come to a close on the heritage trail. The grounds on which I walk and see everyday functioned as the key sites of reform in Black history and will continue to make history as the Howard University students, like myself who create social change without knowing it. In one year, I hope I have the priviledge of calling this establishment my alma mater; now and forever, Howard University will be in my heart.