Thin Yadanr, tmy24@uakron.edu
Since the last presidential debate, there has been raging news about the Haitians in Springfield, Ohio. As Trump falsely claimed “they were eating cats and dogs”. This falsehood, also amplified online by vice presidential candidate and Ohio Senator JD Vance brought out the xenophobia and racism among many Americans. So why Springfield? Why does such a small city in Ohio have so much attention and a large population of Haitian immigrants? How did this threaten the normal life of thousands of immigrants?
Springfield is considered a low cost living space and there is a wide variety of work. The employment opportunities in factories drew many immigrants in and allowed Springfield to grow economically. Many Springfield residents and government officials say they are grateful that the Haitians are living in Springfield and describe them as hard-working. Due to Haiti’s economic challenges, gang presence in the country, and disruption of basic functions, people from Haiti were forced to flee their country and find economic opportunity elsewhere. Haiti’s economic challenges, gang presence in the country, and disruption of basic functions, there is a need to find economic opportunities elsewhere. Immigrants strongly rely on friends, family, and a piece of culture wherever they may end up and the Haitian population have created a beautiful community in Springfield. The claims by former President Trump and Senator Vance have been widely discredited and proven false by several sources, including the Springfield Police Department. In spite of the lack of evidence for the rumors of Haitians eating family pets, there have been several bomb threats that have come from outside the United States, resulting in closures of schools and fear among many innocent families. Since this comment, there has been several bomb threats, closure of schools, and fear inserted to many innocent families.
This culture of Haitians gathering together and creating a beautiful community is something we can all see in our very own Akron. Northhill, for example, holds a large population of Nepali, Congolese, Karen, and others that have all come together and built our economy to what it is. Some would say it is an international resettlement success but the community has grown so passionately and strives for the local people.
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