Author’s note: I am a second-year international student at York University. I write political pieces concerning my country (Rwanda) as well as general social issues in Africa.

I woke up on Jan. 12 to reports that Donald Trump, the President of the United States, believes that I come from a “sh*thole” country. Delightful.

Despite his subsequent denial, Trump reportedly criticized immigration to America from El Salvador, Haiti and the 54 countries on the African continent, by calling these nations “sh*thole countries” at a White House meeting with Senators. He called for more immigrants from places like Norway – a predominantly white population that modern white supremacists still look to as a model of racial purity. Typical.

Trump initially allowed reported accounts of his comments to go unchallenged, but went into damage-control mode the next day. He insisted he had not used derogatory words, but admitted the language he used on immigration was “tough.”

American President Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2011 in Washington, D.C.
(Photo by Gage Skidmore)

Trump did not retract his comments because he knows that in America – as in many places – appealing to the lowest common denominator pays well in the game of politics. There are people eagerly waiting to read about the misfortunes of Africa so they can use us as a vanity mirror, to help brighten their own self-image and feel better about themselves.

American neo-nazis hailed his comments as an “illuminating and beautiful” contribution to the start of a revolution that would “restore racial sanity.” I wonder what sanity looks like to the insane.

In a strongly-worded statement, the United Nations said it was impossible to describe his remarks as anything other than racist, while the Vatican decreed Trump’s words as “particularly harsh and offensive.”

The US State Department tried to pour water on the flames, issuing a tweet from its Bureau of African Affairs.

I cannot imagine an African employee tweeted this. We deserve and expect a unified voice of outrage and unequivocal rejection of this blatant disregard for our dignity. Do better than a tweet.

Trump appears to have glossed over the fundamental humanitarian purpose of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is granted to individuals from countries where conditions such as war, natural disasters or political strife prevent citizens from returning home safely. People rarely become immigrants willingly. Trump’s remarks, and those who have defended them, ignore both the histories of these countries and American involvement in them.

Trump did not retract his comments because he knows that in America – as in many places – appealing to the lowest common denominator pays well in the game of politics.

I guess Trump does not know why our countries are poor and why America is rich. Maybe we should shed some light on the role America has played in these “sh*thole’ countries.”

Haiti 

Haiti has been under TPS since a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the island nation in January 2010, killing up to 300,000 people and displacing more than one million citizens. Relief efforts in the wake of that disaster, led by American organizations, were highly criticised and often ineffective.

Nicaragua

During the Reagan administration, America funneled money and arms to right-wing rebel groups known as the Contras, which fought a brutal civil war against the Nicaraguan government until 1990. In 1986, the International Court of Justice ruled America had violated international law.

Somalia

America is heavily militarily involved in Somalia. America conducted more than 30 air strikes in Somalia in 2017 against two militant groups, al Shabaab and ISIS, which killed up to 230 people.

Syria

America has intervened heavily in the Syrian war since its earliest days. America provided funding for anti-government rebels, groups fighting ISIS and other Islamist militant organizations. US Special Operations Forces, Marines and Army Rangers are STILL on the ground in Syria, and American planes have conducted more than 8,700 airstrikes in the country since 2014.

This is just to name a few of America’s influences on these “sh*thole countries.”

This is not the first time Trump has made racist remarks towards Africa. So the real question is: what happens next?

How is it that people around the world continue to remain silent in the face of Trump’s behaviour due to the residing belief that America still has a global leadership role to play?

How can we continue to let him have a say in the affairs of other countries when he has refused to reconcile humanity? How does an immigrant dictate which immigrants have the right to live in America?

A photo of Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by Lori Howe)

So to the man who continues to patronise my continent… I am from the “sh*thole” country that has the highest percentage of women in government. A “sh*thole” country that is fourth in the world for gender equality. I am from a continent of brilliant and ambitious people. Continue to underestimate us, and you won’t know what hit you.

 

Lastly, to my fellow “sh*thole” inhabitants that continue to defend Trump, where you at?

 By Isabella Akaliza

Please note that opinions expressed are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views and values of The Blank Page.