In honor of Haitian Solidarity Week, students of Haitian origin are seeking wider recognition of their nation's plight.
Last night the Dessalines Haitian Student Organization gave an introduction to Haitian culture and politics in Huntsman Hall to an audience of 11.
The lecture emphasized the challenges facing the people of Haiti.
Haiti is "struggling right now," College freshman Kathleen Isaac said.
According to College senior Rogette Esteve, one of the reasons that Americans choose not to help Haiti is because of their inability to get beyond the stereotypes associated with the island nation.
"I remember coming to Penn and being asked, 'Do you know how to do voodoo?'" said Esteve, who gave the lecture.
Allain Joinville, a 28 year old Philadelphia resident, said that underlying feelings of racism could explain an American lack of concern for Haiti.
"Cubans always get in [to the U.S.], but they turn the Haitians back." Joinville said. "If [Cuban refugee Elian Gonzales] was Haitian, we wouldn't have had that debate [over his right to stay]. He would be back in a New York minute."
Isaac, the secretary of the organization and a direct descendant of Haitians, said she is currently too intimidated to travel to Haiti because of a State Department travel warning.
"I have always wanted to go. I'm wondering when it will be safe for me to," Isaac said.
According to Esteve, problems began for Haiti at the violent end to the island's French-colony status in 1804. France agreed to recognize Haitian independence only through an indemnity of 150 million francs -- several billion dollars today. This led to a serious capital deficit that inhibited growth and stunted the nation's industrial revolution, Esteve said.
Every year, Esteve said, Haitian descendants in the U.S. send around $350 million to help their relatives in Haiti. According to Esteve, this sum amounts to around 15 percent of Haiti's GDP and goes to the poorer members of society, who make up 99 percent of the population and hold 56 percent of the nation's wealth.
Despite Haiti's difficulties, Esteve retains a great amount of pride in her ancestry.
"Haiti is the world's first free black republic, and that's something we can be proud of," Esteve said.
Today, the organization plans to hold a bake sale to raise funds for Haiti on Locust Walk.
