Black Unity is vital to our survival.

You're gonna have to make the time to read this.

There's a plague crippling the black community, and its called DIVISION. I'm in a unique position to write about this, because I've been lucky enough to be enveloped in both, the Haitian culture that is part of my heritage, and the African American culture that is part of my environment. In addition, my love for black culture in general has allowed me to explore African, Jamaican, Bajan and many other Caribbean culture. I have two daughters who pretty much share all the cultures, because my ex wife is from Barbados, and my daughter's mother is African American. At the end of the day, I have 2 beautiful black girls that are called African American. When I travel outside of this country, I'm just an American. I'm very mindful to acknowledge my Haitian heritage at all times. I don't discount the fact that I'm African or American, but it is essential to my existence that folks also know that I am Haitian.

First, I must address the fact that all black immigrants in this country should be grateful for the fight of African Americans against Jim Crow, segregation and racism. Without their fight for civil rights, black immigrants wouldn't have the comfort that they have today in America. In addition, black immigrants wouldn't have black communities they can immediately move into when they relocate to this country. If African Americans didn't establish their own communities for immigrants to feel welcome in, most immigrants would've ended up being chase out of white towns all over America just for being black. I needed to get that out of the way first. Second, all black people, including African Americans, West Indians and Africans, should be grateful to the Haitians, because without the Haitian revolution, there would be no Emancipation Proclamation, and slavery and colonization would have lingered across America, Africa and the Caribbean a lot longer. It was because of the Haitian Revolution that Lincoln decided to sign the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves, in order to avoid the same type of revolt that took place in Haiti on American soil. Black people in America were seen as mentally incompetent, lacking in valor, and unfit to be soldiers. However, all that changed after a group of Black people in Haiti whooped the shit out of the Napoleon's army. In addition, the Haitians played a vital role in the United States' purchase of the Louisiana territory from the French. The French only decided to sell Louisiana to the United States, because 5000 Haitian soldiers were sent here to help the US, in case of a war.The black culture that is prevalent in New Orleans today, is only there because many of those 5000 Haitian soldiers stayed in Louisiana and established their own communities in New Orleans. You have the Haitians to thank for your Mardi Gras, Creole culture, Rice and Beans, Jambalaya, and many other things that black people enjoy in New Orleans.The Haitian soldiers also fought alongside the Americans during the battle of Savannah. Don't for one minute allow white people to create a wedge between us. The American history books do not include the many different slave revolts that were taking place in the United States leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln never intended to give black people in this country 40 acres and a mule. His plan was to ship all black people back to Africa after winning the civil war. The Buffalo soldiers came long after Haitians showed the world they were valiant enough to be soldiers.

Third, African Americans and West Indians must find a way to form alliances with our African brothers and sisters, because prior to being enslaved in these United States and the Caribbean, we were all Africans. We are reminded on a daily basis by white people that our language differences does not absolve us from racism, subjugation, and marginalization at the hands of white supremacy.

Fourth, I don't blame African Americans for not knowing their history, because they have been indoctrinated in a school system that prevents them from learning about true heroes from all over the world who also set the path for their freedom in the United states. A lot of the Black scholars in this country came from the Caribbean and Africa. People like W.E. B Dubois, Jean Baptist Point Du Sable, John Audubon, Marcus Garvey, Farrakhan and many others, have a West Indian and African background. At the end of the day, we need to understand our common ground is our African heritage. There's enough blame coming from all the sides, but we must appeal to our senses and understand that we are not each other's enemies. The bullet that hit Amadou Diallo from a cop's gun was not specified for an African. The bullet that hit 12 year old Tamir Rice from a cop's gun was not specified for an African American child. The bullet that hit Botham Jean was not specified for a West Indian. We must understand the common denominator for our enemies is our black skin. Until we are able to see the bigger picture, they are going to manipulate us to no end.

Of course, white people are quick to say Africans and West Indians are smarter, or more hard working than African Americans. Some Africans and West Indians actually buy into that false sense of superiority bullshit, as if there are no high achievers in the African American community. You know why? Because West Indians and Africans were not subjugated by white people on their own soil for 400+ years. White people have not made educational decisions for West Indians and Africans. They have not been able to use race systemically as a barrier to prevent Africans and West Indians from developing dreams of achievement since birth. They have not indoctrinated the bullshit white supremacy dogma into the minds of West Indians and Africans. Yes, we are different, due to our experiences at the hands of white people. West Indians and Africans are marginalized in a different way, and from a distance by them, but we're all exploited one way or another by them. We have to recognize their plans to divide us, and overcome all that bullshit, in order to destroy them and their system. Fighting and hating on one another will get us nowhere. We are the sum total of all progress made by black people in this country. Our efforts are not divided into subgroups by them when they're ready to murder one of us. We need to start learning from one another, and build alliances that will get us over the hump. We can take the good from all the different cultures to build a stronger black community here and abroad. We can't subscribe to their bullshit any longer, because it is to our detriment and demise. We have to recognize that the African American plight is our plight. The African plight is our plight. The West Indian plight is our plight, for as long as we're living in a country and a world that practice systemic racism against all black people.

White people from France, England, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands and the rest of their European allies, always come together when it's time to destroy us. How come we can can't come together to stand strong against them?