As the United States celebrated its Independence Day on July 4, 2019, many Haitians found themselves reflecting on the complex and often fraught history of relations between the two countries — neighbors separated by a short stretch of Caribbean water but divided by vast differences in power and wealth.
The relationship between Haiti and the United States has been defined by deep contradictions. The U.S. was one of the last major nations to recognize Haitian independence, fearing the precedent of a successful slave revolution. It occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, during which time it reorganized the country’s finances and institutions in ways that critics argue entrenched dependency. It has provided significant humanitarian aid after disasters. It has also backed governments that prioritized stability over democracy and human rights.
In 2019, the U.S.-Haiti relationship was focused on the political crisis, with the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince calling for dialogue and the protection of democratic processes. American advocacy groups were deeply engaged in fighting for the continuation of TPS for Haitian immigrants. And millions of Haitian Americans in Florida, New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere were living the embodiment of the two countries’ intertwined histories.
For Haitian political analysts, the challenge was navigating the relationship with the United States in a way that protected Haitian sovereignty while also leveraging American influence for positive ends — a balance that Haitian leaders across the political spectrum had found difficult to strike.