These poor people do not only eat dirt, they eat cement! It eventually kills them and when the autopsy is performed (when it is) that is what is found in their digestive system. Clumps of cement that has formed inside them. I know this because Aug 07 I went there.
Consider this- some of these people aren’t just the poor living in slums.
it is also the ones that have been deported with no family to go back to. Worse- some actually have family that are in the states or other countries that have simply forgotten where they came from and what they left behind!

.46 BashyBoo wyclef alone cant solve the problem- what about all the other haitian artits that are internationally known? i wonder if they set up foundations and organizations like Wyclef.

pray for these folks ya’ll

@New Yorker, i understand english but i can’t right it very well i apologise

@panam no it’s not that i had a problem with it. it’s just that i think you have a lot to say but not everyone can understand it in french. a lot of ppl need to be educated about what’s going on so anyone who can help educate them is a nice addition

bashyboo.. maybe you should check your info before you say dumb shit. Wyclef does donate time and money to haiti.

@New York sorry i understand english but i can’t write it very well, i’m a learner

i mean write it

I am amazed at how there are people on here who have found a way to disect my comment about Oprah helping Africa.I am just trying to put out there how being a humanitarian can help.She is not the only person who helps ,but she is a great tool.I also talked about the Plumpy Nut nutritional supplement that they have been giving to malnurished children in poor countries so get off of my back.

I hate to be the negative one but seeing all the death, poverty, and misery happening all over the world, it’s almost overwhelming in terms of where to begin. We really don’t know how good we have it living in America compared to Haiti and 3rd world countries all over the world. While some of us stand with Rev. Jesse Jackson against the unjust killing of a citizen by the police or like someone said complaining about gas prices. If our ancestors didn’t make the boat, we’d be in Africa right now suffering with the rest of our brothers and sisters fighting to stay alive from corrupt governments that want to destroy you (Sudan) etc. Every time u think about buying a pair of icecreams you should put it aside for somebody. And I’ll do the same!

This is why I choose Concrete Loop over other sites (like the horrible, not-black-owned BOSSIP): it’s not just entertainment; it’s social consciousness as well.

Speechless… Please God, help them.

This is not the time to beef so get ya’ll act together.

OK, maybe I’m just really ignorant, but why do American’s owe Haitians anything? It seems like when we focus on other countries and their issues (think IRAQ), something goes horribly wrong right here at home. People are losing their homes left and right, there are poor and homeless people on US streets. How can we possibly put more focus and energy on other countries, and neglect what is going on right under our noses.

Haiti is predominantly black; so is DETROIT, and a lot of other U.S. cities. The U.S. owes Haiti its support??? What about the support it owes to its own citizens?

The plight in Haiti and a lot of other impoverished countries is heart-wrenching. When compared to the U.S., their quality of life sad and disturbing. However, there are some U.S. citizens who also have a poor quality of life. What about them?

Take care of home first, and the rest will take care of itself.

PLEASE CONCRETELOOP SET UP AN ACCOUNT AND HAVE US SEND MONEY IN TO YOU TO SEND TO A CHARITY OVER THERE. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS. MAYBE REACH OUT TO YELE (WYCLEF’S HAITIAN CHARITY).

PLEASE USE YOUR CONNECTIONS AND LET US DO SOMETHING TO AFFECT CHANGE.

EATING DIRT IS NOT RIGHT THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. WE COME ON LINE AND TALK ABOUT PEOPLE, CRITIC THEM AND SIT BEHIND A COMPUTER POWERED BY ELECTRICITY, WE EAT, WE BUY FASHION WE WATCH CABLE……. PLEASE ORGANIZE US TO DO SOMETHING.

IF NOT THEN TELL US WHERE WE CAN SEND OUR DONATION WHERE IT “WILL MAKE A CHANGE”.

PLEASE

THIS IS A CALL TO EMERGENCY AND ACTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that everyone who was “moved” by this story took time to visit the link provided and made a donation… or found some other way to contribute. Just a reminder that simply feeling bad does not help the people in need.

somebody call oprah !
all jokes aside , i AM haitian .. i speak the language eat the food & all that
about twice a year , my father goes to haiti with stuff he’s collected here ..
books , calculators , pencils , gifts for kids at christmas , clothes etc ..
but he can onlyy do S0 MUCH you know !?
god bless

GOD please help!

this story just breaks my heart T-T

Ok, to set the record straight, I am of Haitian descent. Not only have I been raised to appreciate my Haitian roots, I am more than proud of them. And unlike the general concensus, I have not forgotten about my relatives in Haiti. The reality of Haiti’s situation is a lot more than what you see/read.
From jump, Haiti has been held back by their origins. Haiti, as previously mentioned, is the only country in WORLD HISTORY to have to pay back reparations to their parent country. Upon gaining independence from France in 1804 after defeating Napoleon’s army (the only country to EVER defeat Napoleon), France was so ashamed/upset of defeat by a Black regime that they set rules for Haiti to pay back 150 million Francs as punishment. Even with this enormous burden, the county still managed to run prosperously until the Duvalier years.
During the Duvalier era, the people of Haiti were subject to a lifestyle comparable to Cubans currently under Castro’s regime. Riches in the country were rationed out, so that no one had more than any other. Though it may seem unfair, keep in mind that no one had much LESS than their fellow country men as well. Life was good for a mass of the country, though democracy was not a given.
After Papa-Doc passed, his son Baby-Doc was seated as the president. He was very young and unexperienced and left most of his judicial decision to his wife, a French woman. With tons of power, an almost indestructible army, and no one to question her decisions, she went on a sort of Bush-esque rampage, claiming anything that could personal benefit her family financially regardless of effects on the general population. This in turn grew a large national deficit, and upon notice by masses and the more developed countries that were donating money to Haiti, both she and her husband fled Haiti for exile in France with all the wealth they had amassed while extorting the country’s people, just as Aristide did not too long ago.
This in turn caused yet another coup, which in turn brought US influence, with troops initially being sent for rescue efforts. But with US enacted trade embargos and US seized territories, it is very hard for a country already held down to bring themselves up with this burden. To say Haiti should lift themselves is to say Cubans should overthrow Castro and force a bureactic government regardless of present burdens. Basically, IT IS DAMN NEAR UNREAL.
For Haiti to be re-born and being to prospere again as a nation, the trade embargos need to be lifted and UN help re-placed. It is immoral and unfair to turn a blind eye to your neighbors, and moreso to neglect outside help without knowing the history. So, please, be informed, make good decisions, and help your neighbor. Visit yelehaiti.org (Wyclef’s organization) if you want to make a donation. It is the Godly thing to do, regardless of amount.

This is heartbreaking. It seems like an overwhelming problem because you don’t know who to trust to actually get help to the people. Can you trust the Haitian government? History says no. Can you trust the U.S. government? Doesn’t look like it (look at Katrina). Maybe the U.N. needs to step in. But the U.N. has its own problems with corruption. And how long do you stay?

I have two Haitian friends that I love dearly and that have been in the US for at least 15 years now, and even they don’t really know what to do or who to trust to remedy this situation. Haitian governmental corruption is legendary.

In my dreams, black people all over the world would come out of violence, ignorance and poverty and learn how to *rule themselves*. I just don’t know if that’s a fantasy or not. Anyway, I am willing to donate to any organization that is trustworthy and effective in Haiti.

WeezyBombaclotDifrentChick … Are you retarded?? You can’t seriously be bitching because the help comes from white people? How ignorant are you? Who cares where the help is coming from?At least they’re trying to help. Are you? We’re all HUMANS you MORON. I swear, all I ever hear about is how white people are racist but all I ever hear out of black peoples mouths is racist dumbass remarks like that. Black people are by far more racist than whites. Blacks NEVER shut up about it. Always putting down white people. I pray now that all white aid to that country stops. If it’s not good enough then they don’t deserve it and neither do you. Ignorant bitch.

I just started working in the bakery at a local grocery store and it saddens me how much food I have to throw out every night…and no one, not even the employees, can eat it! They just got where they will give a small (and I mean VERY SMALL) bit of it to local churches, but if you knew how much bread, meat, and vegetables the bakery, deli, and meat departments throw out before it’s even stale or bad, it would make you sick! I have been working here for two weeks now and I still haven’t gotten used to it. It’s also against the law for anyone to go in the dumpster and get it! I just get sick to my stomach when I see this.

This is sad, words cannot express.

this is a REAL tragedy. people eating dirt cookies to survive?? this is horrible. america is so wasteful. we throw away not just food but medicines also. i worked with the elderly and when one of them dies and leaves medicines unused, my supervisor would have me put all medicines in a cup and flush it down the toilet. it had got to the point that i had to say something but what could my supervisor and i do?? that is the law. you can’t give another persons medicines to another patient even if he or she is on the same meds as the person who died. i really feel sad. i am on my way to the bank to cash a check. this really has made me think. i need to be grateful for what i have. now i was even thinking about buying some crab legs. people are still starving in 2008?? where are all the donations going?? our country can afford to send something or some kind of help. hell we even have people in america still going to bed hungry. i am really, really, hurt and bothered over this.

and gee its always Americas fault huh…..smh

OMFGOSH

Wow–this is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard. I agree w’y'all: Jesus is coming soon. He has shown-and continues to show me His mercy despite my sins so I gotta help these people. I have never written a response, though I read the ‘loop’ nearly everyday. I agree with all of you-WE need to step in-step up and help. But how? And in doing so, we need to convince Haitians and Jamaicans and Africans–that we are ALL people of color who have been oppressed one way or another. We need to come together and stay together! I have encountered Haitians and other people of color in my life who have a chip on their shoulders: like they are better than African-Americans. Like we had a say in where our slave ships landed! Y’all get my point–I don’t wanna go off on a tangent here: but let’s find a way to uplift each other; not for the moment but over the long-term…let’s help end hunger and poverty amongst our own and then branch out and assist the rest of society. If anyone knows of any REAL solutions or charitable efforts that we can trust to help FEED these people, send me an email at barestofsouls1@aol.com so I can sign up.

Please stop posting in french!

[...] (Via CL) [...]

….God wont do what people can……….that’s why it is important to use your GOD-GIVEN gifts, talents, mind, and blessings to at least do what you can do before you ask God for help………….until enough people care enough to take at least a little responsibility and honestly try to help them on their own, God will allow things to continue until people realize love and giving is the only way to solve the world’s problems…….just imagine if everyone on concreteloop did just one thing to help, the problem would be totally or almost gone……….

This is UNBELIEVABLE! I am going to make my kids read this for a clear understanding of what’s important in the world, because the latest Jordan’s is not important.

First off, you cannot just decide to go into a country and build resorts to create jobs or decide to donate money on the internet and expect it to aide the people in need. Just like we have a SO-CALLED government and leaders whom make decisions on what we deserve and are allowed, they have the same.

Although HAITI is an independent state, they have Diplomatic relations with the United States and are a Member of United Nations and not all parts of HAITI is like this. I know a lot of educated Haitians that came to the U.S. educated. All Countries , Independents, etc.. have a wealthy population and a poor population including the U.S. When we see homeless people, poor people, children begging for food - Do we help? After you cook dinner - do you take a plate to the elderly woman who lives next door (or wherever)? Do we stop and take a minute out of our luxurious day (yes luxurious, because computers and the internet is a luxury not a necessity for survival) to aide these people that are right in front of our faces? Very few of us do.

I don’t know how we should go about helping them, because I don’t know about the inter workings of their country. What I do know is I am going to give my money to someone who does know - http://www.yele.org.

For all whom is interested, there is a Donate Now link on the home page.

People start fixing YOURSELF and MAYBE we can fix the world. I will add Haiti to my list of prayers.

america should start helping their own!!
WHY DONT U SEE THE HUNGRY PEOPLE OF AMERICA
WHY DONT U SEE HOW WASTEFUL AMERICA IS
WHY DONT U SEE WHAT REALLY GOING ON IN AMERICA instead of seeing what britney did, or paris and whoEVER thats always on the news. and about what bag she is wearin,how she cut her hair,her shoes blah blah blah i can go on and on.
THAT’S WATS HEARTHBREAKING;
This topic among others are REALITY
THIS SHOULDNT BE SAD TO YOU, this should actually open peopleZ EYES, because that’s life.
Life isnt about what celebs do for a living,wat they wear or how they look coz for sure they nt give a damn about how we look;
If they did,their money wouldnt be SPENT ON GARBAGE that makes them feel rich.

91# i feel you by the way …so tru

this is so sad. I can’t believe this. WE as a country really need to step it up. We ain’t got nobody on our side as is smh

This is sad. Very sad. I remember reading multi page article explaining that there are 2 societies in Haiti. The ligh skinned and the dark skinned. I was so shocked that that people of the same race who are the majority in their country and have been discrimated against the world over would see each other for the most part like different races. The newspaper went on to explain and quote that the light skinned society looked down on the dark skinned and were not interested in helping them and therefore the scorned people of Haiti had to struggle all the more and were much poorer, obviously. It would be honourable for the richer people in any society to stop basing their or anyone’s importance on skin shade and just help our fellow human.

It hasn’t been that long ago since Black people have been freed from segregation, and if we think about it, from slavery too so it makes me angry when someone points out that other races are managing to get ahead quickly so why not the Black man. Since Blacks have always been treated with the least amount of respect or just none at all more than any other race it should be understandable why it hasn’t been so easy. The rich White nations shouldn’t have to be pleaded with to give a helping hand to nations that gave free labour and lost their lives so that the White man could get hundeds of years of a head start of building their bank accounts and getting a good education. Their descendents have profited from Blacks(especially) and from Native Indians yet the White man has the nerve to look back and laugh and ridicule as though they didn’t really set a nation back hundreds of years and they expect or pretend that progress can be made easily and quickly.

White nations should, at the very least, partially correct the wrong of their ancestors that stole emotionally and physically from Blacks and Native Indians.

i thought we had it bad in Africa.
oh my goodness.
smh…

You know the conditions in Haiti, and the Katrina response points out that African Americans need the ability to help people of color even if others choose not to. With the wealth that we have in this country we can have a world class emergency response capability unequaled in history for black people. When matured it could even respond to humanitarian aide, and emergencies on the African continent, like the unrest in Kenya.

I have a plan for such an emergency response entity. Give me a note if you want to know about it.

Noting New.

My great grandparents and great aunts and uncles used to do the same exact thing back during the depression in the 1930’s .. they were actually talking abpout having to eat dirt the other day…and it amazed me what they had to go thru..and how shoes and clothes costed 10 cents..how they walk 15 milesto scool in the snow..while the white kids rode the bus…

Weird ..but it happens..and in america too!

DAMN!

The question I looked for on this site I ve not seen in any comment . “How can we Help ” Don’t talk about the how Sad it is Get up of Ur ASS BLACK PEOPLE .
Mexicans send money back home every day to help their own and what do we do sit online and think of the Sadness . WTF !! U all can be serious . I want to know how I can HELP ….

@Panam,
Vous pourrait parlez s’il vous plaît dans becuase anglais la majorité des gens sur ce site ne parle pas de français et je suis sûr ils wolud aiment entendre vos opinions, qui sont grandes à propos …. j’ai appris quelque chose déjà

This is BEYOND sad…I will be reading to find out how I can do something. Ain’t no point in bytching if you aren’t going to step-up and play your part…I’m not rich but every lil bit helps.

Also for the religious people (or whomever), you can donate money at church that has international ministries or outreach programs. If your church doesn’t then find a church that does. Many churches have online giving capabilities.

I wasn’t even thinking about this in my initial post and we do have international outreach at my church. I pray that GOD disciplines me to consistently give to these programs so things such as this is at a minimum. We all know how many of us pass by the collection plate at church (myself included). Hopefully the church is righteous and your good deed will not go unnoticed (to MAN anyway).

you know what makes this situation worse? when stupid ppl ( Nancy Cartwright-the voice of Bart Simpson) donated 10 million dollars to the stupid church of scientology–and the only purpose the money served was to spread the word of Scientology. yet you have ppl eating dirt cookies? that money could’ve went to something MUCH more important.

http://minkoze.com/forum/...umID=10&MessageID=124

US OF IGNORANCE, see what I mean, I was talkin about the same shit b4, instead of the US spending billions on this useless war they should be helping people in need, theres absolutely no reason not to, the only war we are supposed to be fightin is poverty. Nobody deserves a life like that.. I’m a Muslim so its an obligation if you have money you have to give it to the poor regardless, and my fam does every year, but of course its far from enough. People should really give out, but I think more pressure should be put on the government who really have the money to do something like this, we can’t make enough of a difference. Anyway just my thoughts.

I donated but will they REALLY see the money…and how long will it take us to see progress?

Mud cookies HUH?!

its crazy how u don’t hear of any of this on the news!!! or is it just me not watching the news …hmmmmmmm

@ TIPPI

Read my post @103 and 114.

The Aerospace Guy also says he has a way to help.

From J. Dakar “For ways you can help Haiti, visit the Lambi Fund of Haiti.” The link is at the end of the story.

People ARE asking the same questions you are. Payday is tomorrow and I will be sure to give to Wyclef’s site. We don’t need to WAIT for anyone else.

@GODs 13th Disciple - We understand this is nothing new, but we as a people have advanced and should be able to do more than just accept is as a part of life.

i agree completely at #60!
God bless my country lord…

wow……..i did not know that the u.s.a was playing haiti like that,this is just sad…..i dont know how much i’ll be able 2 do but i’ll try my best to help out.

mud cookies because there is no oil there the man in control dispises this race. go anywhere on this planet and i’ll guarntee if you are black you are suffering . i’am not talking about and to the HOUSE NIG-ROWS, UNCLE TOMS, AND SELL-OUTS AND THE SOLD -OUT . BOW,BOW-DOWN I SEE YOU BOBB’N YOUR HEAD. YOU PLANTATION LACKEYS.

and you still think you need a louis vuitton bag?

And here I am complaining about what I don’t like to eat…puts things into perspective…blessed to be in the position to be picky.

I read this on msn a few days ago and was completely blown away…this is tooooo unfortunate, what they are forced to eat is not nutritional at all…anyway thanx for the link, i will surely be donating

And that’s a dayum shame. This $hit is disheartening.

I’m proud haitian and with everything is going on in the Haitian community makes upset and sad at the same time. Us as the future of tomorow we need to step up and do something. Our generation doesn’t know how much power we actually have we as Haitian’s, Amcericans, Haspanics and all cultures need to come together and help all of us out. Reading this and thinking about makes be want to cry. I’m aprat of a wonderful organization known as NJHSA(New Jersey Haitian Students Assoociation) and I will bring this to them because I am concrened a great deal about it. WE NEED TO STEP UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!

@ # 35

You took the words right out my mouth. Dose anybody know where we can donate or about any organizations that are trying to help?

This is sad and I feel bcuz there are so many Haitians over here in America who are doing really well its time for them to stand up and open there wallets and pocket books. They need to be the first to start giving back to there community. If they dont take a stand and start doing something then no one will pay any attention.

Africa is helped by millions of African Americans every year who choose to donate back into the homeland which we originated. We believe that its our duty and only right to take care of our ancestors and allow them many of the same opportunities that we have been afforded by the resorces through this country.

This is crazy Hati is a small island and There may be more hatians in the us then are in hati but they seem to hate americans

Im married to a hatian girl and we have been together for 5 years and i know more about her past then she does.

For a country that is the only africans to free themself from slavery to be in such bad shape i dont get it

Blackfolk are Strong

We can do Anything but for a free people they dont act that way

Its sad they need to be helped to stand on their feet no more handouts …..

please forgive me my spelling is horrible ………..lol

Damn, this is not good at all.
They probably don’t even complain about eating these cookies either, yes of course they would love to be eating something else, but they accept whatever they can eat at the moment.
America is spoiled as hell. Here they are eating dirt cookies, and here we are complaining about eating day old food, and simple sh**.
I have to print this out, and really make my nieces and nephews read this, because they are pro’s at wasting food.

what can i do to help???

Yall talk about how we waste food everyday, but we waste money everyday too, money that can go to help people that are starving. People are so selfish! Instead of waistin money on lambroghinis and ferraris(i can’t afford it so i don’t need to know how to spell it) the wealthy people of America need to try and help feed the hungry around the world. I get sick of rappers rappin about what they got and not giving to the needy, which is way more important.

This is really fucked up. I agree with whoever used the war in Iraq as an example. The shit loads of money is being used to support this shitty war could be used to support those who are desperately in need. Knowing that the poor people of Haiti has to eat fucking DIRT for Christ sake, is just really sickening. No one and I mean NO ONE should be in that type of position. They just don’t deserve this. With all of the money that these wealthy folks have, they should REALLY be reaching out to those who are truly in need.

George W. Bush who is the most moronic and shittiest President of them all, won’t even budge. Fucking ding bat.

This is bullshit, this is absolutely ridiculous and maybe if America really wants to help all they have to do is stop spending so God damn much on fighting Wars that dont make no raasclaat sense. A whey di BomboClaat a gwaan in Jah worl?

dam!

I’am truly saddened in what is going on in Haiti,but I think that charity starts at home.I use to live in D.C.back in the early nineties, and on any given night you could see hundreds of black people sleeping on top of exhaust platforms,of government buildings,less than a mile from the WHITE HOUSE,trying to stay warm because they had no where to go.If you look at what has happened to our people in New Orleans and how hard working poor people have had their families broken up,lied to by insurance companies who took their money and left them to suffer.And here we are in 2008 and more than half of one million black families have lost or are about to lose their homes by foreclosure.Most black folk here in America are 2-3 paydays away from eating dirt themselves.The people of Haiti were enjoying freedom and independence while our ancestors were still feeling the sting of a whip.In fact their independence expanded the American Slave Trade,the comment @91 was on point, Toussaint L’Ouverture defeated Napoleon,but not before Napoleon sold France’s share of America to America, what we know as the Louisiana Purchase.Haiti’s military was strong,strong enough to run the most powerful man of that time back to Europe,and if you talk to “some Haitians” they will look at us black folk like we are something less than human.I’ve had some them tell me that our people were afraid to fight for our freedom and that we have no culture.Go to the Little Haiti section of Miami (but don’t go alone)and try to interact on a personal level,again with “some of the Haitians”and they will be quick to call you a Black Yankee,if you are not spending money in their shops/stans they have no holla.We are better served in working to keep our own heads afloat before we make an attempt to help others,but if your pockets are that deep,by all means do all that you can.But any deposable funds you have should go to a local homeless shelter/foodbank or like MO said Habitat for Humanities.I have no hate for the Haitians,I just feel that there are a million and one black folk that you can help right here.

typo I meant the comment @93

How the hell can this be happening in the world? I wanna fucking cry…knowing that I’m a brattyass 18-year-old sitting pretty at a prestigious HBCU and someone out there is eating fucking dirt cookies! I can’t say anymore. This just…ugh…

tout à fait d’accord ac toi # 74 panam. voilà à koi la première n en est réduit

voila à quoi la première nation noire en est réduit…

The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer as the middle class disappears right before our eyes…

Something needs to be done by all this suffering! It’s crazy!!! how Europe, wth their pompousness and the U.S. do nothing to help, it’s straight up racism, it’s degrading, this history! The explorers come in and steal, and take o

I swear this makes me literally want to go there and help them out, after my donating I felt that it wasn’t enough…

Thank you CL for bringing this issue to light. Yes, people say “Only God Can Help Them”.. But hey, i got an idea!

How about each one of us start to take some action and CLICK on that Lambi Fund Link below the article.. and then donate a little money to the cause?

It may not seem like much, but I am going to DO MY PART and SPREAD THE WORD TO OTHERS!

Everyone who reads the article, should immediately send 1 to 10 dollars (and if you can spare more, please don’t be afraid to do so) to this LAMBI FUND or another fund for the people of Haiti.

Do it now before your forget about it and it leaves your heart, like most global issues do…you see the commercial, say aww. and feel bad, then you change the channel..

Don’t change the channel on the people of Haiti!
God Bless,
Nigeria

oh no. see, this is what i be talkin about with my friends. we are sooooo fortunate & don’t even know it because half of us are too busy thumbing thru life on a sidekick 3.

prayers & positivity to the people of haiti.