This week, America has proven yet again that Black lives do not matter here. The U.S. is forcibly sending about 14,000 Haitian migrants back to Haiti, a decision so insensible and rash that the U.S. special envoy to Haiti quit in protest. Just over the summer, Haiti saw the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and before they could even begin to recover from that tragedy or hold a new election, they experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that killed over 2,000 people. Not to mention, with the lack of solid, consistent leadership, Haiti is currently overridden with violence and poverty. Haiti is in no shape to be taking in more people and asylum seekers elsewhere should not be forced to return to an unsafe place, but the U.S. doesn’t care, and why should they?

The infamous images circulating of Haitian migrants being chased by border guards with a whip-like cord in hand reveal America’s truest colors and sets us back by just about 200 years.

Many Americans typically associate Haiti with poverty, voodoo and government corruption. Few people know that in 1804, Haiti became the first Black-led republic, the first nation to permanently ban slavery and the first independent Caribbean country. How is it that 200 years later, the country that set the bar for Black excellence is known primarily for being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere? It’s by design. Haiti was set up to fail since the very minute it gained independence.

Here’s a brief history lesson: Although Haiti won the war against France in 1804, the French refused to officially recognize Haiti’s independence until 1825, and it came at a price. For 122 years, Haiti had to pay reparations amounting to $21 billion to France to recognize Haiti’s sovereignty. Haiti was forced to directly pay 7,900 French slave owners and their descendants because they revolted against a colonial government that stole human beings from their native land, forced them to work, raped them and owned them as property. So, when Haitians should have been focused on developing their infant nation, they also had to worry about paying billions of dollars that they did not have as an apology for their people wanting to live their lives as human beings instead of commodities.

You can find plenty of other examples in which Haiti was wrongly punished throughout history, especially by the U.S. Some include when Haiti was wrongly blamed for bringing AIDS to the U.S. in the ‘80s or in the early ‘90s when the Bush administration detained and rejected thousands of Haitian refugees who were fleeing dangerous conditions. And we can’t forget about when Donald Trump publicly referred to Haiti as a “shit-hole” country in 2018. The truth is, Haiti is still being punished for attempting to gain independence in 1804.

Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her “concern” soon after the images of border patrol went viral on Tuesday: “What I saw depicted about those individuals on horseback, treating human beings the way they were, is horrible. And I fully support what is happening right now, which is a thorough investigation into exactly what is going on there.”

Regardless of how sincere Harris and other political figures are, it’s not enough at this point. Black people are tired of the empty apologies and the meaningless investigations and condemnations. What we need are proactive measures that prevent damage before it is done, before families are separated and before the border patrol takes it upon themselves to set us back 200 years. This is not the first time the U.S. has done wrong by Haiti and its people, and it will happen again unless something is done to protect all international migrants seeking refuge from dangerous conditions.

This is a crisis that needs more than performative reposts on social media meant to “spread awareness.” It is time for Haitians to stop paying reparations. It is time for the U.S. to take the initiative and figure out how to do better. The era of “America first” needs to end here and now.