By Felicia Persaud
NEW YORK – The death of Ms. Esmin Green would have gone largely unnoticed had not The Mental Hygiene Legal Service, the New York Civil Liberties Union and Kirland & Ellis LLP, released a copy of surveillance cameras showing the Jamaican migrant slumping to the floor, convulsing, and dying ignored at the psych ward of Kings County Hospital.
The release of the June 19th death on video, a week later – stunned the world rightly and outraged many, including in the Caribbean community. So much so that many of the so called leaders within – who did not know Esmin Green or her troubles while she was alive – are all now boldly stepping up to the cameras and grabbing their 15 seconds of fame.
There are quotes all around, suddenly, from many of the politicians, Jamaican government representatives and community leaders, posturing for the spotlight. And lawyers from outside of our communities are suddenly better able to represent the family than any within our community.
The hypocrisy is astounding as poor Ms. Green would not have been able to meet or even get a phone call directly to many of those now speaking such great prose about her, had she been alive today.
Still the reality is that while many of our leaders posture for the press, there are thousands more `Ms. Green`s` in this city alone, who are desperately in need of help right now. As columnist of Immigration Korner, the letters and stories I get told is heart wrenching and sadly, Ms. Green is just one of those cases that can be magnified many times over.
Let`s get the facts straight here – Ms. Green was a poor, undocumented migrant, who lived all alone, struggling to make ends meet while trying to work two jobs to send money back home to take care of six children in Jamaica.
Alone and poor, she tried hard to cling to her faith but depression took over and her mental health started eroding. Hence her trip to King`s County several times recently. But why alone we ask? Where were the church leaders and `sisters` who now tell such great stories about Ms. Green? Why did they not go with her to the hospital?
And where are our leaders really in the fight for immigrants such as Ms. Green? These are the same migrants who are ignored by and large and seen as not classy enough to be bothered with.
These are the same migrants who are desperately in need of help but whose plight continues to be ignored also by our many Caribbean leaders, who visit here often, including recently at the disastrous Diaspora conference, meeting also with President Bush and the U.S. Secretary of State.
Yet, none have ever bothered to speak up for immigration reform for the millions like Esmin Green, who are in need. The reality of this situation is staring them right in the face. For beyond the horrific health care issue in this country – whether for mental health or all other patients – the issue of Green`s immigration woes and the struggles she faced because of it in this city – issues that no doubt led to her mental breakdown – cannot be ignored.
An uncle of mine always told us, `Give me my flowers when I am alive.` Our many leaders who now posture for the cameras on Esmin Green`s behalf would be wise to remember this and most of all look at the many more migrants, like Ms. Green, who desperately need help in this city and are on the brink of falling through the cracks. If you actually care about Ms. Green, don’t continue to turn a blind eye or zip by in your air-conditioned car and ignore that person sleeping on the street or on a park bench. Walk your district and see what is going on, pop into the emergency rooms of these hospitals and clinics and see the reality.
Lend a hand and perhaps you would have more credibility, the next time you actually speak up for a poor, depressed, undocumented person – whether dead or alive.
EDITOR`S NOTE: The writer is the founder of the Caribbean World News Network and CEO of Hard Beat Communications.
