Haitiano en San Antonio: “Chile no está preparado para tantos inmigrantes”
Haitian in San Antonio: “Chile isn’t prepared for this many immigrants”
This article examines the recent immigration waves in Chile, most specifically immigration from Haiti. Told from the perspective of a real Haitian immigrant living in the Chilean city of San Antonio, the article describes the negative sentiments thrown towards Haitians trying to live a better life in Chile. The article is very engaging because the Haitian immigrant agrees with both sides. In other words, the immigrant agrees that Chile by no means has the foundation in place to receive a great amount of immigrants and thus understands where negative sentiments might come from. In a country that struggles with an increasing unemployment rate (Statista, 2017), the immigrant recognizes that immigrants looking for jobs are immediately villainized by local Chileans. On the other hand, the immigrant also notes that him along with his fellow Haitians deserve more respect and tolerance because they came with good intentions to work and live better a better life in Chile. A legal worker and tax payer, the immigrant raises many good points about the nuances of being an immigrant in Latin America.
This article comes from a regional Chilean newspaper in the city of San Antonio called “Soy San Antonio”. As a regional newspaper, the immigrant is represented more as a positive and beneficial figure. The article’s tone is one of tolerance and suggests that Haitian immigrants have much more to offer than the stereotypical crime and poverty. The evidence, using real quotes from a real Haitian immigrant, gives legitimacy to the article and allows for Chileans to see a more personalized take on the immigration issue. This differs from the national newspaper “El Mercurio”, which focuses more on the negative sides of Haitian immigration and its consequences.
Source:
Pizarro, Karem. “Haitiano En San Antonio: ‘Chile No Está Preparado Para Tantos Inmigrantes’ Fuente: Soychile.cl – Http://Www.soychile.cl/San-Antonio/Sociedad/2018/03/02/519724/Haitiano-En-San-Antonio-Chile-No-Esta-Preparado-Para-Tantos-Inmigrantes.aspx.” Http://Www.soychile.cl/San-Antonio/, 2 Mar. 2018, www.soychile.cl/San-Antonio/Sociedad/2018/03/02/519724/Haitiano-en-San-Antonio-Chile-no-esta-preparado-para-tantos-inmigrantes.aspx.
San Antonio Chile 04 de Septiembre 2017 Alumnos de la Escuela Cerro Placilla . Foto: Cristian Socrates Orellana.