Workers in Haiti Need Reforestation and Revolution

NEW YORK CITY, April 5—The pianist hit the ivory and ebony keys. The singer used her voice, and the Haitian and church communities gathered together let out a whoop of excitement during our sixth annual fundraiser to benefit grassroots work in Haiti.  120 people attended on a miserably rainy evening in a church basement to raise funds for reforestation projects in Southeast Haiti.
The organizations at the dinner are trying to develop volunteer work within their local communities in Haiti, to reforest areas that have serious soil erosion due to the loss of great forests.  In another room there was a slide show of the work being done. Several thousand dollars were collected that evening with a silent auction, a raffle and an entrance fee.  The work to bring people together and the struggles to maintain the continuity of the participating groups, create a deep respect for each other. It is with this kind of practical work against a tide of racism and sexism that strengthens this growing unity.
The struggles to free Haiti from French slavery and the worker’s battles to ensure life and emancipation have never disappeared in Haiti.  The battle is always to try to eke out a living in a nation that was impoverished by Western imperialist nations.  For the past 75 years or so, the United States has played the role previously played by European nations. That is, drawing every penny of value possible out of the labor and the land of Haiti.  United States troops have invaded and occupied Haiti so U. S. banks could collect their bloody profits. Today United Nations troops still occupy Haiti. Their biggest “contribution” is bringing cholera to this poor country. Meanwhile the various “non-profit” aid organizations mainly benefit themselves and do virtually nothing for the Haitian workers.
Haitians were the first slaves to free themselves with a revolution in 1804 and had been forced for over a 100 years to repay the value of what was “stolen” from the slave owners – namely themselves. One of the speakers said that the capitalist class would never let Haiti forget, because they still remember and tremble at the thought of the Haitian revolution. Along with fighting deforestation and all the other evils brought on by capitalism and imperialism, Haitian workers need another revolution. We need to support our Progressive Labor Party comrades in Haiti as they fight for a Haitian revolution that will be part of the worldwide revolution for communism.
At our fundraiser the Haitian style black rice, the rice and beans, griot, chicken, salads, vegetable stews, macaroni au gratin were gathered up, and taken to tables where people talked and enjoyed each other’s company, argued, and laughed. Many people who came also produced the food. The kitchen had been jumping all evening in preparation with, what appeared, as seamless collaboration between the two communities.
Then the performances began. One of the musical groups, playing jazz, had people jumping up and dancing to the rhythm. Later a Haitian group sang songs of love, of life, of struggle.  The many people who could not speak Haitian Kreyol loved the sound and the cadence of the music. It is hard to express the overwhelming feeling of joyous community and solidarity.
The leader of the Haitian organization and church members gave speeches. Music and poetry were in the air, and a deeper commitment was made to future organizing. When it was time for the cleanup, every single person present moved in amazing grace and, within 15 minutes, the hall was almost pristine.  The kitchen took longer. Everybody helped. This is how everyone should live.  Without each other we live in the capitalist nightmare of isolation.  This was a small antidote for all the isolation and madness of a society that values money over people – that values profit over the needs of the many.
At this gathering, many of us could see both the “beloved community” of the Civil Rights movement, and the future of communism. Care for those who need the care and destroy the capitalism that creates poverty, division, racism, sexism and war. The future is bright!