A tragic accident involving a container ship and the Francis Scott Key Bridge occurred on March 26, 2024, on the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America. Two American pilots were operating the ill-fated MV Dali, a Singapore-flagged container ship, with 22 Indian crew members on board. On the fateful night, the cargo ship experienced a complete blackout, causing the pilots to lose control and collide with the Baltimore Bridge. Before the ship could collide the bridge, the crew and pilots managed to save lives by sending an SOS message to the Maryland Transport Bridge to halt traffic onto the bridge as they lost control of the ship. Investigation is going on. After the incident, many voices were raised about cause of incident including racist voices from likes of magazine like Foxford comics.
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MV Dali Ship with Cargo
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MV-Dali-Ship-with-Cargo.jpg?fit=275%2C183&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2326" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MV-Dali-Ship-with-Cargo.jpg" alt="MV Dali Ship with Cargo" width="275" height="183" /> MV Dali Ship with Cargo
Some people and magazines instead of focusing on the discussion on restoration of the bridge, are displaying racism against the poor Indians on the Baltimore bridge. Foxford Comics magazine produces a racist clip depicting Indians almost naked and publishes it on X. The question that arises now is, have they forgotten the root causes of the Haitian revolution-racism and the slavery of coloured people?
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Screenshot of Foxford Comics Racist Intolerant Post on X, Depicting Indians on Ship
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Foxford-comics-Tweet-on-X-Screenshot.jpg?fit=203%2C248&ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2312" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Foxford-comics-Tweet-on-X-Screenshot.jpg" alt=" Screenshot of Foxford Comics Racist Intolerant Post on X, Depicting Indians on Ship" width="203" height="248" /> Screenshot of Foxford Comics Racist Intolerant Post on X, Depicting Indians on Ship
Screengrab of Reuters news
USA National Transport Board Chief Jennifer Homedy says that 2 US pilots would be questioned to understand the reasonof Baltimore Bridge accident.
What is the Haitian Revolution, and why does it now have relevance?
The Haitian Revolution is remembered as the largest revolution in the history of mankind against slavery and racism. Fought for nearly 15 years against colonial rule and enslavement, the local Haitian people enjoyed their freedom from enslavement, torture, and the colonial rule of Europeans.
The indigenous Haitian people were subjected to immense torture; they were enslaved right from childhood and were forced to work in harsh working environments in mines. Colonial forces physically assaulted them; they forced Haitians to work in fields as household servants, boilermen, and even slave drivers.
Slaves laboured through long, gruelling workdays, frequently succumbing to injuries, infections, and tropical diseases. Malnutrition and starvation were also prevalent among them. As the local population became scanty because of deaths due to diseases and torture, the colonial European forces also imported men and women from Caribbean islands.
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Captive individuals are being brought aboard a slave ship on the West Coast of Africa mage: Getty images
" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Slaves-on-the-ship.jpg?fit=647%2C458&ssl=1" class="size-medium wp-image-2310" src="https://fortaze.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Slaves-on-the-ship-300x212.jpg" alt="Captive individuals are being brought aboard a slave ship on the West Coast of Africa mage: Getty images " width="300" height="212" /> Captive individuals are being brought aboard a slave ship on the West Coast of Africa image: Getty Images
Slaves were tied in chains and humiliated, stripping them of dress. The slaves would live almost naked, with only underpants. Haitians fought against every form of discrimination, and in 1804, they won against colonial rulers who subjected them to slavery, racism, and immense torture.
We must fight Racism and Intolerance
Today, in 2024, the slavery mindset is still prevalent, as we can see from the caricature of Indians depicted in the ship by Foxford Comics about Baltimore Bridge Incident. Racism and intolerance showcased against the coloured need to be questioned, and the abusers need to be taken to a mental asylum.
We need to fight like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. The foxes are everywhere!