Obviously, no one was ever eating any pets in Springfield—yesterday’s Garbage Day newsletter breaks down the origin and spread of the hateful conspiracy theory, if you’re “doing your own research”—but that didn’t save the Ohio town from becoming a hot spot for asshats. Aymann Ismail wades into the fray, skirting the lunacy as best he can in order to spend time with longtime residents and Haitian community members alike.
Another recent arrival, James Fleuri Jean, told me that parts of the local support system, like the community center, have helped many Haitian families settle in Springfield, but have also fueled misconceptions about their success. “People think the government is giving us these homes, but the truth is we work hard. We’re always working—overtime, extra shifts, anything we can do,” he said. He in particular resents the bad-driver stereotypes because he drives for a living. “I drive trucks for Amazon, and I’ve never had an accident. People have accidents everywhere, but when we do, it’s used as an excuse to make us look bad,” he said. He said Haitians here have grown more wary of neighbors but aren’t letting the moment define them: “We’re not here to convince anyone. We just live our lives and hope that eventually, they’ll see who we really are.”
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