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Sen. JD Vance is wrong. Haitians aren’t a drag on this country. We have been building America from the very beginning. From Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Haitian founder of Chicago to the countless contributions of Haitian immigrants today, we are part of this nation’s progress. My family’s story is just one thread in that tapestry.
In 1994, my father fled Haiti amid political violence, seeking asylum in the United States. I was 4 years old, too young to understand the gravity of his decision, but old enough to feel its impact. We settled in under-resourced neighborhoods in Florida. Growing up, I lived in constant terror — not just from poverty, but from the stereotypes surrounding Haitians. In middle school, kids mocked our accents and food. Many Haitian children were afraid to admit where they were from.
As I grew older, that fear turned into pride. Being Haitian wasn’t something to hide — it was a badge of resilience. Our culture is strong, and despite misconceptions, we have contributed meaningfully to this country.
I moved to Minnesota 10 years ago to start a nonprofit supporting entrepreneurs and to reunite with my college sweetheart. Today I advise senior leaders and institutions all over the country on innovation, workforce and infrastructure. Minnesota is leading the country on how the private sector, philanthropy and the public sector can work together to tackle complex regional challenges and I am proud to be at the forefront of that effort with the GroundBreak Coalition and the city of Bloomington.
From my childhood in neglected neighborhoods to standing in rooms with decisionmakers shaping cities, I often ask: Is this not the American dream?
But that story is constantly overshadowed by harmful misconceptions about immigrants, especially those from Haiti. Take vice presidential candidate Vance’s recent remarks where he didn’t just recycle the tired stereotype of “dirt cookies,” but fabricated a grotesque lie about immigrants “eating cats and dogs.” This kind of rhetoric isn’t just offensive, it’s dehumanizing.
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Publish date : 2024-09-18 15:30:00
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