08/06/2026
An Open Letter from One Black Community to Another
To my African American brothers and sisters,
And to my Haitian brothers and sisters,
Lately, social media has been filled with painful comments, accusations, and misunderstandings. I’ve seen posts saying Haitians should “go back to Haiti” because of changes to TPS. I’ve also seen claims that Haitians don’t like African Americans.
The truth is, those voices do not represent all of us.
The reality is that Haitians and African Americans have far more in common than what divides us. We are both people of African descent. We have both faced discrimination, racism, and barriers because of the color of our skin. While our histories are different, many of our struggles have been similar.
African Americans have fought for civil rights, voting rights, and equal opportunity in this country. Those victories helped open doors for countless Black people, including many immigrants.
Haitians carry the legacy of the first successful Black republic, proving to the world that enslaved people could defeat colonial powers and claim their freedom. That history inspired freedom movements across the Americas.
Neither story is greater than the other. Both deserve respect.
Like every community, we have individuals who spread hate, stereotypes, or misinformation. But we should never judge millions of people by the words or actions of a few.
If someone has had a bad experience with one Haitian, that doesn’t define every Haitian.
If someone has had a bad experience with one African American, that doesn’t define every African American.
Today, both of our communities face real challenges economic hardship, discrimination, immigration concerns, unequal opportunities, and violence that affects Black communities around the world.
Instead of arguing over who belongs, let’s ask how we can stand together.
Instead of repeating stereotypes, let’s learn about one another.
Instead of allowing social media to divide us, let’s build relationships that unite us.
Division only makes us weaker.
Unity makes us stronger.
Let’s choose understanding over assumptions.
Let’s choose respect over insults.
Let’s choose each other.
With respect,
I Am Haitian
Discussion Question: What are some ways Haitians and African Americans can strengthen our relationship and support one another instead of allowing social media to divide us?
