black men in charge
Reparations for What? The Tragic Pattern of Lawlessness in Black Male-Led Nations
By Shanice Fils-Aime
Brooklyn, NY - As a Haitian immigrant who was forced to flee my homeland with my mother in the aftermath of Jovenel Moïse’s assassination, the current state of the country is deeply painful to witness. Haiti, once a beacon of resilience and independence, has been reduced to a place where survival is uncertain, and violence is an everyday reality. My heart aches for the people who remain trapped in this nightmare, especially the women and children who suffer the most. What is even more devastating is that the suffering is not inflicted by foreign invaders or colonial forces, but by the very Black men who hold power. Those who were meant to lead, protect, and uplift their people have instead allowed corruption, violence, and lawlessness to take hold. The dream of a stable and prosperous Haiti has been abandoned, replaced by unchecked crime, political instability, and a government that either turns a blind eye or actively enables the destruction of its own people.
Haiti stands as a glaring example of a nation where Black men are in power, yet mercy, order, and structure remain absent. Decades after liberation, the country continues to spiral into lawlessness, crime, and disorganization, leaving its people in a perpetual state of suffering. The brutal violence plaguing Haiti, where gangs terrorize civilians with impunity, is not just a momentary crisis—it is a deeply entrenched pattern that can be observed in many other Black male-led nations.
Despite holding political and military power, Haiti’s leadership has failed to curb the chaos. Rather than acting as protectors of their people, those in authority often turn a blind eye, or worse, enable the corruption and violence that has left the nation in ruins. Women and children bear the brunt of this collapse, as gang rule has normalized rape, murder, and displacement. The government remains either unwilling or incapable of enforcing law and order, making Haiti a country where survival depends not on governance but on luck and resilience.
This tragic trend is not unique to Haiti. Across the world, from parts of Africa to the Caribbean, many Black male-led nations share the same fate—unchecked crime, economic devastation, and a blatant disregard for the well-being of their people. These nations have been independent for decades, yet they remain mired in dysfunction. The argument that colonialism alone is to blame grows weaker with each passing year as self-inflicted destruction continues at an alarming rate. Leadership has been in the hands of Black men for generations, yet their own people suffer endlessly under their rule.
If reparations are to be a conversation, what exactly are they owed for? When given the reins to power, there has been no mercy, no organization, and no true commitment to nation-building. The responsibility now lies within these nations to address their own internal failures rather than point fingers outward. The world watches as Haiti and other Black male-led countries descend into chaos, and one question remains: reparations for what?
