This column was originally published by the Rome Daily Sentinel on Oct. 3

CLINTON — As Hamilton College’s director of international student services, I feel compelled to address a recent baseless and deeply harmful assertion circulating in the nation, accusing Haitian immigrants of eating people’s pets.

This outrageous claim is not just offensive — it is dangerous.

It perpetuates racist stereotypes, incites unnecessary fear, and dehumanizes entire communities of people. Moreover, it has profound repercussions not only for Haitian immigrants in Ohio, but also for Haitian students and other immigrant populations across the country, including our corner of the world.

Throughout history, immigrants have often been the scapegoats for societal problems, and this latest allegation is another iteration of a longstanding pattern. The false claim that Haitian immigrants are eating pets is reminiscent of the dehumanizing tactics used to vilify marginalized groups, making them seem foreign, other, or dangerous. Such stereotypes are not merely inaccurate; they serve to strip individuals of their humanity and reduce them to caricatures of fear.

For immigrants, particularly those of Haitian descent, this narrative evokes painful memories of similar xenophobic attacks. When immigrants are portrayed as threats to public safety or as possessing bizarre, malicious habits, it only fuels existing tensions and biases. These claims do not exist in a vacuum — they are absorbed into the consciousness of communities and can have real, harmful consequences for the people being targeted.

At Hamilton College, we proudly welcome students, faculty, and staff from diverse cultural backgrounds, including those from Haiti. Our Haitian community deserves to be seen for their achievements, their contributions to our community, and their unique perspectives, not reduced to harmful stereotypes.

Haitian immigrants, in particular, have long faced disproportionate stigma and stereotyping. In the United States, this has roots in historical ignorance and discrimination, often tied to Haiti’s history as the first Black republic and its complex relationship with Western nations. Time and time again, Haitian immigrants have been portrayed through racist lenses — whether through exaggerated fears of disease, criminality, or, in this case, bizarre and wholly untrue allegations.

This recent claim about Haitians eating people’s pets plays into these age-old, racist tropes that seek to paint Haitians as incompatible with American society. But Haitians, both immigrants and those born in the United States, have made incredible contributions to this country’s culture, economy, and society. From writers and artists to doctors and educators, Haitian Americans continue to shape the fabric of this nation.

Such baseless allegations are particularly dangerous because they provide ammunition for individuals and groups who are already predisposed to anti-immigrant sentiment. In a country where xenophobia can manifest in violent acts, fueling these stereotypes puts real lives at risk. It becomes easier for people to rationalize mistreatment or violence when they have been fed lies that dehumanize and vilify entire groups of people.

The recent allegations against Haitian immigrants are not just an attack on one group of people — they are an attack on all immigrants. The history of the United States is inextricably linked to the contributions of immigrants, and Hamilton’s campus, for one, is enriched by the diversity of perspectives and experiences they bring.

It is essential that we condemn these baseless assertions not only for their inaccuracy but for the harm they cause. We must stand firmly against any attempts to dehumanize or vilify immigrant communities. All immigrants deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, not subjected to degrading stereotypes that undermine their contributions to society.

We must actively promote understanding, empathy, and solidarity with immigrant communities. It is only through education, dialogue, and standing together against these kinds of harmful narratives that we can create a more just and inclusive society.

We must reject the dehumanizing narratives that seek to pit us against one another and instead promote a vision of inclusion and respect for all. Together, we can build a more just, compassionate society where everyone is valued for who they are — not reduced to harmful stereotypes.