Haiti Update from Lyssa + MLK

 Dear Friends,

We received two deeply meaningful and appreciated gifts today. The first is the piece below from Lyssa Fils-Aimé Hargrove, our Haiti Now Managing Editor, in which she both remembers the Haiti Earthquake on its 2nd anniversary and the importance of Martin Luther King’s birthday celebrated today.

“In every generation, there are moments in history that are so traumatic, that they will trigger one’s brain to remember exactly where they were when that incident occurred.   For me, they include the Berlin Wall coming down, 9/11, the passing of Michael Jackson, and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti. 

                                              

Lyssa Fils-Aimé Hargrove at Work

On January 12, 2010, I was preparing myself to leave the office.  It had been another busy day on the Hill and I was ready to begin my hour-long commute home.  Just as I made my way to the door, someone stopped me and asked about an earthquake in Haiti.  As the person responsible for that portfolio in my office, I quickly replied, “no, that’s not true” and left.  I did not think about it again until I was on the train and reading my emails.  One by one, they started trickling in, and by the time I reached home, I began to realize the magnitude of the earthquake.

I remember watching the footage on television and feeling overwhelmed with grief and sadness.  Barely able to sleep, I woke up early the next morning and was in the office by 8am.  Congressman Rangel was a very good friend to Haiti and I knew the day would be occupied with work to do in response to the devastating earthquake.

Congressman Rangel has always referred to Haiti as the “Mecca for all people of color”.  As the world’s oldest black republic, the nation was birthing generations of free people of color long before anyone else.  This historical fact has the people of Haiti in a special place in the hearts of many who support the principles of liberty.  As expected, Congressman Rangel was no exception.  For his part, as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Rangel introduced a bill providing immediate tax deductions for charitable contributions for Haiti, thus making it easier for Americans to support the devastated country.

That morning, his chief of staff directed me to lead our regular staff meeting and I had the privilege of managing our office’s reaction to the earthquake. I did not realize it at the time, but my former colleague and good friend, William, snapped pictures, and as he always does, captured the historical moment on camera.  I carry that picture with me in my planner, which is essentially everywhere I go.  For me it is not just a reminder of how fragile life is, but also the frailty of Haiti’s infrastructure and government.  Two years later, there are still thousands without homes and rubble everywhere.  Even the President’s Palace, a national symbol of state, is still in ruins.

However, where there is bad, there is often some good.  I witnessed the outpouring of love and support from so many caring individuals, and the international community that stood in solidarity with Haiti.  There were the people I helped reunite with missing family members, and the young Haitian man who I was able to assist in traveling to the U.S. for much-needed surgery.  And the reality is, if the earthquake did not happen, this blog may not have been birthed and I may not have ever crossed paths with Harriet and Bill.

Therefore, if there is any more good to come out of this, my hope is that the aftermath of the earthquake provides a much-needed transformation that sweeps throughout the country and is consistent with their resilient birthright and further solidifies their place in history.

***Speaking of people who support the principles of liberty, I hope everyone takes the time today to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a true American hero!”

Links to some articles:

Haiti Earthquake, Two Years Later (Voice of America)

Memorials, church services in Haiti as country quietly marks 2 years since devastating quake (Washington Post)

Haiti: Two Years After Earthquake, Health Needs Remain Huge (4 min. video)

How Fares the Dream? (NY Times)

The second gift comes from the MLK Center in Atlanta in the form of online access to the Martin Luther King Jr. archives. There are nearly a million documents associated with his life. CLICK HERE to go to the MLK Digital Archive website.

We are immensely grateful for your continued interest and participation,

Advertisement