Before we begin, I would like to clarify something if you are wondering about the spelling of Hayti. I have chosen to use the spelling of our origins, the one found in the Act of Independence of the country, signed on January 1, 1804, by the generals of the army, including the Commander-in-Chief and later Emperor of Hayti, Jean-Jacques Dessalines. Hayti, derived from the Taíno language - the language of the island’s first inhabitants - means "Land of High Mountains." This decision is personal and concerns only me. That being said, let’s get to the heart of the matter.
Last month, I came across a video from Burkina Faso in which the president announced the creation of a new passport for the AES (Alliance of Sahel States).
This announcement filled me with indescribable joy because it symbolizes something powerful: African states taking concrete initiatives to move forward together.
Currently, only three countries are part of this alliance among the fifty-four states of the continent. But for me, this project represents much more than just a regional agreement. It is a sign of hope for the construction of a truly strong and prosperous African Union. My dream is that one day, all of Africa will speak of a solid and unified union, working towards its common development.
It is in support of this movement that I have chosen to write this article today.
Geopolitical Context
First, a brief overview of the current geopolitical landscape: if you follow the news about France-Africa relations, you have probably noticed the movement initiated by certain African countries, notably Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. These nations have expressed their desire to break free from France’s neocolonial grip.
As a Haytian, a descendant of Africans with a painful history involving France, I can only applaud this movement and offer it my full support. It is time to open our eyes to a reality that many prefer to ignore: the so-called "development aid" used to justify the intervention of developed countries in Africa is nothing but a deception. This has always been the case, and at no point in history has their interest in Africa been driven by a genuine desire to see it prosper.
Analysis of Systemic Mechanisms
I am not here to give you a lesson on global politics. Every country looks out for its own interests - this is a universal reality. Far from blaming the current generations, who bear no direct responsibility for the crimes of their ancestors, isn't it still legitimate to question their complicity in maintaining a system that continues to exploit African countries to this day?
Why is it so difficult to make our white contemporaries understand that Africa is not their private property? Instead of accepting that a significant part of their country’s wealth comes from the exploitation of other countries - a truth that I admit is difficult to swallow - their minds develop a well-known defense mechanism: denial.
This denial manifests in different ways. Some choose to ignore these facts because it is easier to live with injustice when one pretends not to be aware of it. Others, like French President Emmanuel Macron, adopt rhetoric portraying Africa as supposedly ungrateful for not recognizing the "benefits" of colonization—an argument that is both absurd and offensive. And then there are those who take it to the extreme, hiding behind racist ideologies to justify the unjustifiable and perpetuate divisions.
It is crucial to remember that racism, as we know it today, was an invention of the colonizers to legitimize slavery. It was not slavery that created racism, but rather racism that was engineered as a tool to justify slavery. Colonial powers have always operated in this manner - exploiting differences between peoples to sow division. And this mechanism persists to this day.
Africa : The Motherland
Model : Sephorah Alouidor (During her trip to Tanzania)
We are at a turning point in human history, where it is becoming increasingly evident that this system is no longer sustainable. Wars, violence, poverty, and ecological disasters are glaring evidences. Africa, the cradle of humanity, continues to be exploited. But here is what must be understood: when the mother (Africa) is exploited, the home (our planet) deteriorates, and its children (humanity) descend into chaos.
It is time for the African people to breathe, to claim their freedom so they can fully express the love they carry within them. Because what they have to offer is indeed love. Those who have had the chance to travel to Africa or experience its culture will tell you: Africans possess an infectious joy for life and know how to warm the hearts of those they meet.
As for Hayti, populated by Africans in exile, it is a nation where solidarity is a fundamental value. I do not say this merely because I am Haytian, but because I have had the opportunity to live abroad. Never, never, have I seen elsewhere the human warmth that characterizes my country—where a simple "hello" never goes unnoticed, whether you are a stranger or a native.
In Hayti, foreigners are often treated even better than natives because we understand their sense of isolation, and we do everything to welcome and reassure them. Have you noticed that immigration is never an issue in Africa, despite the presence of foreigners on the continent? A friend living in Senegal even told me about a hotel run by white people that refuses to accommodate Black clients, which is a scandal. Foreigners feel so comfortable in our countries that they behave as they please. Meanwhile, in Europe, people cry out about the so-called "Great Replacement" to oppose the immigration of Africans - many of whom are fleeing chaos sometimes caused and fueled by European governments.
It becomes clearer why mindsets struggle to evolve - these problems are deeply ingrained in the system. Without a real political and cultural revolution, Black people will always have to prove their legitimacy as rightful children of this Earth.
Will Africa be the driving force of this revolution?
Final Words
To conclude, I leave you with a magnificent excerpt from the preface of Antenor Firmin’s book On the Equality of Human Races, a response to the racist ideas of Joseph Arthur de Gobineau in his book On the Inequality of Human Races:
"Dignified and proud, intelligent and hardworking, may it grow, prosper, and rise endlessly, from progress to progress, this Black race so full of vitality and generous spirit! To aid it in its ascent, there will never be too many workers nor too much dedication. That is why I religiously bring it my humble and respectful offering. Others will do better than I one day, but none will be more eager for its upliftment and its glory."