Hurricane Matthew made its way through the Caribbean causing destruction and taking lives. Areas in Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic were impacted. The worst damages and casualties in the hundreds were in Southern Haiti in and around the cities of Jacmel, Jérémie, Les Cayes, and Miragoâne. Seeing the number of lives lost circulating in the media is unbearable and surreal. The images of how these towns looked before and after makes recovery seem insurmountable. What has also been disturbing in the midst of this tragedy is how the media chooses talk about Haiti’s struggles.

Negative press about Haiti has always been the standard. And every article that I read and news report that I saw about Hurricane Matthew landing in Haiti had to mention how “Haiti is so poor” or the “poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.” Some even said that the “majority” of people on the entire island have been “living in tents” since the earthquake. Apparently, according to Jen Delgado, a meteorologist on the Weather Channel, deforestation is all over the island and Haitian children “eat trees” too. That’s news to me and other Haitians.

Haiti, like all the other “third world” nations, needs internal progress and actual external help. Yes, people are in dire situations in Haiti, but let’s stop acting like the hardship is the only word to describe the entire country. Everyone on the island isn’t starving or sick and everyone doesn’t live in a shack. There are resilient, intelligent, creative, hard working, beautiful, sucessful, and multifaceted people on the island. Everyone in Haiti shares these qualities whether they are rich, middle-class, or poor. Also, there are places on the island that are pure paradise, have beautiful architecture, or have historical significance. For every image of poverty, there is one of beauty, culture, and history. How can we assist another country in their time of struggle if we can’t understand or empathize with its people?

Maybe it’s not all the mainstream media’s fault. Those who are reporting on Haiti are probably trying to help and inform with what they are given as reference, but Haiti is often portrayed through stereotypes. This is degrading and needs to stop. Every country on this earth has poverty and riches. People should learn about a country or actually set foot in it (not just the poorest areas) before they talk about it. I’m not saying we should ignore those who ARE suffering; we need to see them as people similar to us and not just faces for charity.

Media is responsible for the information that it shares and news should inform the public with accuracy from all sides. Haitians don’t need apologies or sympathy, just the whole truth to be shown. Haitians are tired of hearing the misinformation about our country and Haiti doesn’t need the negativity while battling to recover from yet another natural disaster.