At times, the nasty sewer of election-year politics can feel all too close to home, as we watch a national debate unfold that is wildly disconnected from the reality and lived experiences of the communities we care about most.
That’s exactly what happened to me on Monday when I watched Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio lie about legal Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, making abhorrent insinuations about them without any sign of conscience. His purpose seemed to be a trolling attempt to mislead the public and play on people’s hatred and fear. I guess he thinks it’s good politics.
Meanwhile, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced on Monday he would file a lawsuit asking a federal judge to restrict the flow of immigrants into Ohio, after trying last week to baselessly point to Haitians in Springfield as an example to justify his claim that immigrants are “terrorizing our communities.”
Why is this so unsettling to me?
Three generations of my family have called Springfield home, and it has played a big role in my life. Both of my parents grew up in Springfield, and I’ve been visiting the area my whole life. One of my grandfathers retired from International Harvester, and another was an insurance agent in Springfield for decades. One of my grandmothers was a librarian at North High School, and another worked at a local bank. Both of my parents (and two of my grandparents) graduated from Wittenberg University. Mike and Rosie’s Deli, Casano’s Pizza, fishing at CJ Brown Dam, family parties at the Polo Club, and trips to Young’s Jersey Dairy and Clifton Gorge are all staples of my childhood. I have nothing but love for Springfield and the entire region.
Meanwhile, my partner’s parents are Haitian immigrants who moved to the US as teenagers and have lived amazingly successful lives. They have shown me nothing but love and kindness and have played a huge role in my life. Haitian food has become a staple for me; there are always jars of épices and piclis in the fridge; I’m obsessed with dili kore ak powa and griot and boulette; I’ve been trying to learn both Spanish and Haitian Creole for the past few years; I’ve read every book on Haitian history; and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve danced the night away with some of the kindest, most loving people imaginable. I have nothing but love for them and their entire family.
This conversation about Haitians in Springfield, even though they have never lived in Ohio, is so hard for me to accept. Both the Haitian community and the Springfield community live in my heart and I am sickened by the politics that are being played out against both.
Using people’s lives and communities as a political cudgel to stomp fear, hatred and anger with lies and innuendo is vile, vile, spiteful, reckless and destructive, and I cannot understand the mind of any politician who indulges in it.
So let’s get this sordid story out of the way before we move on to a more adult conversation. Vance continues to falsely claim that Springfield’s Haitian community is illegal immigrants. They are not illegal immigrants. They are legal immigrants. They are in the country legally. Some are legal immigrants who newly arrived with work permits, while others have become full U.S. citizens.
What Vance is insinuating about “pets” is inexcusable. It’s a shame the Springfield News-Sun had to fact-check it. This is a vile, racist lie from the far-right internet, and Vance spread it to his millions of followers. Shame on you.
As for Vance’s assertion that “Haitians are causing chaos all over Springfield” and Yost’s use of Haitians in Springfield as an example of immigrants “terrorizing our communities,” I have no idea what they’re talking about. Go to Springfield and tell me where you see the chaos and fear, because I’ve been there for the past four years and I haven’t seen it every time.
But since the pandemic began, Springfield has seen an unusual influx of thousands of Haitian migrants, though the exact number is hard to pinpoint: city officials estimate it’s up to 20,000, although other estimates put it at 10,000 or 15,000.
The New York Times reported last week that “By most accounts, Haitians are helping Springfield recover. They’re building car engines at Honda, operating vegetable packing machines at Dole and loading boxes at distribution centers. They pay taxes out of their wages and spend money at Wal-Mart. On Sundays, they flock to church for lively, joyous services in Haitian.”
“But the speed and volume of arrivals are straining homes, schools and hospitals. Community health clinics are seeing a 13-fold increase in Haitian patients between 2021 and 2023, from 115 to 1,500, straining staff and budgets.”
The Times detailed how, after decades of downsizing and uncertainty, Springfield’s strategic plan has attracted new manufacturing and businesses by 2020, drawing in food service companies, logistics firms and microchip makers.
“But soon there were not enough workers. Many young working-age people fell into drug addiction. Some fled entry-level, mechanical jobs altogether, according to employers. Haitians flooded in after hearing that the Springfield area boasted high-paying, blue-collar jobs and a low cost of living, and employers were eager to hire and train the new workforce. The Haitians had Social Security numbers and work permits, thanks to a federal program that offered them temporary protection in the United States. Some had been living for years in places with thriving Haitian communities, such as Florida.”
So what is actually going on here?
There is a huge population growth in a short period of time, language barriers cause many stresses, housing, schools and health services require adequate resources to cope with large-scale and rapid change.
And we have an engaged, responsible, law-abiding and peaceful workforce that keeps our city vibrant and our local businesses thriving. Our city’s population is growing, not shrinking, with an influx of new taxpayers and consumers who take blue-collar jobs, pay property taxes, shop locally and contribute to our community.
Are there any challenges? Of course.
Is it confusion and fear? Definitely not.
Is there an opportunity for the city of Springfield and the Haitian community to thrive together? Absolutely.
Is it all easy? No. Is it worth it in the long run? Yes.
Serious people should be debating serious solutions to serious problems. Politicians who use dangerous rhetoric to whip people into a frenzy with misinformed anger and malice are not needed or helpful.
With Nazis already marching through downtown Springfield, I am disgusted that our state’s elected leaders are trying to further incite and escalate the situation.
We must do more than that, and we must demand more from our elected officials.
To any Haitians visiting Springfield for the first time, “Sak passe, zanmi m. Mwen akie au!”
And to all my friends and family in Springfield, I hope you will welcome strangers as well, some of whom will be some of the kindest, warmest, most amazing people you will ever meet.