Asun Shabazz

In 1825, under military threat, Haiti was forced to pay France 150M francs to compensate former slaveholders—a debt that took over a century to repay and crippled its economy. Today, many call for France to acknowledge this injustice and consider reparations. Tennis star @naomiosaka, whose father is Haitian, has long used her platform to highlight Haiti’s struggles. In 2021, she pledged her tournament winnings to earthquake relief. Now, her viral tweet is sparking new conversations: “Since we’re trying to repossess things, can Haiti get their money back?” Her post references a French lawmaker’s call for the U.S. to return the Statue of Liberty, questioning America’s commitment to its founding values. More importantly, it reignites debate on Haiti’s forced reparations and the fight for economic justice • _____