If you look at almost every heartbreaking story coming out of Haiti, there are many thoughts that may come to mind. You may be even more grateful to be an American and live in a country that may not be perfect, but is safe and have the money and power to maintain a functioning society, especially at the moment of disaster. With the exception of the governments’ previous slow response to Katrina , which anyone could see was more of a disaster than the actual Hurricane. We have a pretty amazing track record as a nation that responds fast and covers most of the tab. For that we should be proud.

I hate to look at things like the tsunami from a few years ago, or the erathquake in Haiti now and try to find something to complain about, but this time it’s a little more personal to me because these are black people.

My issues is this..where are the black rescue workers? This is not an argument of discrimination towards blacks, this is me asking the question , where are all the black hero’s in this disaster? I see white firefighters, white doctors and nurses, loving white families who are adopting Haitian orphans, and white rescue workers doing all the heroics for the people of Haiti. Sure every now and then I will see the face of a black nurse from Harlem, or a black doctor here and there, but overall, the majority of the effort is coming from whites, which I am VERY grateful for.

And, just in case you were wondering if I am trying to blame the media for not showing blacks rescuers on purpose, you’d be wrong. This is something that has always bugged me about African-American people, MY people. On paper, as a group we do almost nothing for the poor an sick of the world. White rapper Asher Roth came out months ago to publicly shame “Black Rappers For Showing Off & Neglecting Africa“, and you know what, HE’S RIGHT!  It is almost always whites who take the lead and put the blood, sweat and tears into doing whatever possible for the needy of the world.

I understand the economics for many African-Americans aren’t the same for whites, but why does it always seem to be white people running clinics, and orphanages in poor black and latin countries? They hold fundraisers, telethons, charity events, and put themselves directly in the front lines in some of the worst places a person can live just to help people they don’t know. Let’s face it, we know that in our black culture here in the US, we put more effort into our rims, shoes and hair weaves than Africa and the poor of this world. A sista can drop $1,000 on a lace front wig, but not consider to  donate $10 to the Red Cross. Of course this doesn’t apply to all of us, but you know deep down inside what I mean.

I’m not taking anything away from the blacks who do volunteer their time and effort to causes they care about. I know there are several community organizers and local activists in many black and Hispanic communities that devote their lives to helping their people.  So the real question is why don’t blacks commit to helping the poor and sick of Africa and other devastated countries like so many whites do? Can it all be about money? I doubt it. I think more than anything this recent disaster in Haiti should inspire more African-Americans to become firemen, rescue pilots, doctors and whatever field of training that gives more flexibility for situations just like this. It would be nice to see black people included in the rescue of their own people and all races of people who face this kind of nightmare. It would be great if more blacks took an interest in adopting the orphaned children of Haiti, and Africa.

I remember making  jokes about the “trend” of white people with money who adopt Asian babies. To me I always thought it was sweet and the right thing to do overall, but I really would feel for Asian people who had to see their race of children being raised by rich white people. I always felt sympathy for those who had to see it become what I felt was some kind of exotic tend to impress people.

Well guess what? Now it’s happening to us. I see more and more black children being adopted by whites and now that the shoe is on the other foot I feel nothing but support and love for the whites who decide to adopt black children. Nobody else seems to want them, especially us black folks, so why not?  I would rather see more blacks adopt black children purely for the sake of numbers. Black children are less likely to be adopted than any other race in the United States alone, far less in other countries. So if a white couple decides they want to open their home and hearts to black children I support that right. I also feel the same for gays , who are embracing mixed adoptions as quickly as their heterosexual counterparts.

I don’t even think we as a people even think to consider adoption when all other options aren’t possible. Is the concept of shelling out thousands of dollars to much to handle for something blacks feel can be naturally done for free? Do black women who are not able to have children feel like they would rather go childless than adopt a black orphan ?

When you see white people taking the initiative in catastrophes like the Haitian earthquake, it gives the appearance to the world that black people are incapable of  taking care of their own. Barack Obama is black , but he is one man, and we cannot lay all the responsibility of charity  and awareness on Obama, Oprah and Wyclef  Jean. More black celebrities, athletes, business leaders and families who can afford it should start investing in helping the world outside of their neighborhood.  Stop leaving it all up to the whites of the world and start including our culture and people in a more diverse world stage that has nothing to do with sports or music. It seems to be the only time blacks are seen for anything internationally is for needing help, and it’s always whites there to do it.

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