Haitian American

Haitian American
Haitienne Américaine
Ayisyen Ameriken

Notable Haitian Americans:
Wyclef Jean •
Reginald Fils-Aime • Garcelle Beauvais
Jason Derülo • Dawn Richard
Total population
599,450 (2008 est.)[1]
Regions with significant populations
South Florida metropolitan area, New York City, New Jersey, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Languages

French, Haitian Creole, American English
Religion

Predominantly Roman Catholic with considerable adherents of Protestantism, and Mormonism
Related ethnic groups

African-American, Afro-Latin Americans, Haitians in France, Latin Americans, Haitian Canadians, French American, Haitian Brazilians

Haitian Americans are Americans of Haitian heritage, or Haitian-born people who are naturalized citizens or permanent residents of the United States. The largest proportion of Haitians live in South Florida counties and cities such as New York, Washington, D. C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston.

In 2009 the US Census estimated that there are 1,000,000 Haitian Americans living in the U.S.[2] but many consider this number inaccurate due to the presence of illegal Haitian immigrants. During the early 1960s and the 1970s, many Haitians emigrated to the U.S. legally as well as illegally during the family dictatorships of François "Papa Doc" and Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier.

Contents

History

During the 1790s, Haiti was the main place of exploitation sugar cane in the world, being also the most affluent of the French colonies. Haitians, whose country was populated by a majority slave (original Sub-Saharan Africa and Central Africa), rebelled against their owners and began fighting for independence. However, this rebellion caused a mass exodus encouraged by panic: Many whites of French descent and blacks, free and slave, emigrated to the United States seaports establishing large French-speaking communities in New Orleans, Norfolk, Baltimore, New York City and Boston. France was a good place to live only for college and for some Haitian middle class people, but most Haitians were poor. For this reason, many Haitians decided to emigrate to United States. This migration is basically developed between the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Thus, many Haitians living in the United States studied in college. After of this period there are four period of migrated en masse o United States in the history of Haiti: the United States occupation of Haiti (1915-1934); the period of the Duvaliers (1957-1986); and the overthrow of President Aristide (1991). Thus, Between 1957 to 1986, when François Duvalier and Jean-Claude Duvalier governed Haiti, the political persecution that suffer the Haitians caused that many Haitian professionals, the middle class, and students emigrated to others countries. Haitians in sought political asylum or permanent residence status in many countries such as the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico, France, Dominican Republic. Between 1977 and 1981, 60,000 Haitian boat people landed in South Florida, most of them migrated to a neighborhood called "Little Haiti". In the 1980s, many Haitian immigrants arrived in the United States by boat on the shores of Florida. They were known as the "boat people." In these years was also a significant brain drain from Haiti, since early 1980s, Thousands of Haitian doctors, teachers, Social Workers and entrepreneurs from New York moved to Miami. Haitians also began working in restaurants and music stores. In 1986, 40,000 Haitians who came to the United States seeking political asylum, achieved permanent resident status.

Also in 1991, there was another wave of Haitian boat people. However, with the governments of Bush and Clinton, many were not allowed to reach the shores of the United States, so that they were stopped at sea, and back to Haiti. others were detained. Between 1995 and 1998, 50,000 Haitians obtained temporary legal status.[3]

Languaje and Religion

Most of the Haitian immigrants to the United States, especially the more recent ones, communicate basically in Haitian Creole and in English. This is because in Haiti, although the French the official language, most Haitians speak Creole. Most of his descendants Americans speak English. Most Haitian Americans, as in Haiti, are Roman Catholics. However, there are also small Protestant communities of Haitian Americans. Religion is very important in the life of Haitian Americans.[3]

Background

Vast disparities between the Haitian wealthy elite and the poor existed and continue to exist. Political strife, marked with corruption, and intimidation led to many Haitians leaving the island for an opportunity of a better life. Waves of Haitians made it to the shores of Florida seeking asylum. Most of the foreign-born Haitians arrived during the 1970s. The Haitian immigration to United States started with the exodus of most French settlers in Haiti. Florida has the largest percentage of Haitians residing within its borders. In 2000, Florida had 182,224 foreign-born Haitians, 43.5% of the total foreign-born population from Haiti. That excludes the number of American-born Haitians. New York had the second largest population of foreign-born Haitians with 125,475, approximately 30%. Haitian illegal immigrants attempting to reach the shores of Florida are routinely swept up by the United States Coast Guard and often repatriated. This has led to many civil rights group protests regarding the unfair treatment they receive, in contrast to the asylum granted (see: wet feet, dry feet policy) to their Cuban counterparts.

Adjustment and culture

The Haitians that emigrated to the United States brought many of their cultural practices and ideologies into their communities. Many foreign-born Haitians go into the business sector, often setting up their own businesses. Many Haitians establish barbershops and their own restaurants (predominately of Haitian cuisine). Haitian presence and culture is often strongly felt when entering communities of a significant Haitian American population, most notably, the well-known ethnic enclave in Miami, Florida known as Little Haiti. Neighborhoods in New York, such as Flatbush (Nostrand), East Flatbush, and Canarsie of Brooklyn and Elmont, Long Island, have a significant Haitian American influence. The Mattapan section of Boston is considered the main center of Boston Haitians. More recently, many Haitians have left "the big city" for a better, more quiet life and better education for their children and growing Haitian communities have formed in smaller cities in the Northeast especially Providence, Rhode Island. Influence is sometimes marked by the everyday conversations between people in Haitian Creole on the streets. Second-generation Haitian Americans are generally more successful in terms of higher-paying occupations, and significantly better off in terms of level of education.

High percentages of Haitian ancestry by community

The 36 U.S. communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Haitian ancestry are:[4]

 % Community State
33.5% Golden Glades Florida
33.0% North Miami Florida
23.0% El Portal Florida
23.0% Spring Valley New York
19.9% North Miami Beach Florida
15.7% Lauderdale Lakes Florida
14.5% Lake Park Florida
13.9% Ives Estates Florida
13.8% Immokalee Florida
12.1% Pine Hills Florida
11.5% Belle Glade Florida
11.4% Orange New Jersey
11.3% New Cassel New York
11.1% Irvington New Jersey
10.8% North Valley Stream New York
10.7% Elmont New York
10.5% Delray Beach Florida
9.2% Biscayne Park Florida
9.2% Mangonia Park Florida
9.1% Lauderhill Florida
8.5% Uniondale New York
8.3% Miami Shores Florida
8.1% Lake Worth Florida
8.0% Roselle New Jersey
7.8% Nyack New York
7.6% South Nyack New York
7.0% Ramapo New York
7.0% Oakland Park Florida
6.9% Fort Lauderdale Florida
6.7% Florida City Florida
6.7% North Lauderdale Florida
6.7% Wilton Manors Florida
6.5% Boynton Beach Florida
6.4% Asbury Park New Jersey
6.4% Fort Pierce Florida
6.2% Randolph Massachusetts
3.2% Cranston Rhode Island

High percentages of Haitian birth by community

The 100 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Haiti are:[5]

  1. Pompano Estates, Florida 26.6%
  2. North Miami, Florida 24.3%
  3. Golden Glades, Florida 24.1%
  4. Kendall Green, Florida 21.2%
  5. Tedder, Florida 20.9%
  6. Pinewood, Florida 18.5%
  7. Bonnie Lock-Woodsetter North, Florida 16.6%
  8. Spring Valley, New York 16.4%
  9. Loch Lomond, Florida 15.6%
  10. Hillcrest, Queens 14.7%
  11. El Portal, Florida 14.0%
  12. North Miami Beach, Florida 13.8%
  13. Melrose Park, Florida 11.5%
  14. Lauderdale Lakes, Florida 11.2%
  15. Belle Glade Camp, Florida 10.7%
  16. Immokalee, Florida 10.5%
  17. Delray Beach, Florida 10.3%
  18. Lake Park, Florida 10.1%
  19. Belle Glade, Florida 10.1%
  20. Naples Manor, FL 9.6%
  21. Leisureville, FL 9.1%
  22. Ives Estates, FL 9.1%
  23. New Cassel, NY 9.0%
  24. Biscayne Park, FL 8.8%
  25. Twin Lakes, FL 8.7%
  26. Norland, FL 8.5%
  27. Pine Hills, FL 8.4%
  28. Orange, NJ 8.4%
  29. Lake Worth, FL 8.1%
  30. Irvington, NJ 8.1%
  31. Westview, FL 8.0%
  32. Oak Ridge, FL 7.8%
  33. North Valley Stream, NY 7.8%
  34. Elmont, NY 7.6%
  35. South Nyack, NY 7.1%
  36. Lantana, FL 6.4%
  37. Boynton Beach, FL 6.4%
  38. Lauderhill, FL 6.4%
  39. Wilton Manors, FL 6.4%
  40. Miami Shores, FL 6.2%
  41. Mangonia Park, FL 6.2%
  42. Roselle, NJ 6.2%
  43. East Garden City, NY 5.9%
  44. Fort Lauderdale, FL 5.9%
  45. Uniondale, NY 5.8%
  46. Nyack, NY 5.8%
  47. Asbury Park, NJ 5.6%
  48. Ramapo, NY 5.4%
  49. Collier Manor-Cresthaven, FL 5.3%
  50. Fort Pierce, Florida 5.3%
  51. Oakland Park, Florida 5.3%
  52. Westgate-Belvedere Homes, FL 5.3%
  53. Whitfield, FL 5.2%
  54. Broadview-Pompano Park, FL 5.2%
  55. North Lauderdale, Florida 5.1%
  56. Randolph, Massachusetts 4.9%
  57. Pompano Beach, FL 4.8%
  58. St. Leo, FL 4.8%
  59. Lake Forest, FL 4.5%
  60. Scott Lake, FL 4.4%
  61. Inwood, FL 4.4%
  62. Golden Gate, FL 4.3%
  63. Wyandanch, NY 4.3%
  64. Breckinridge Center, KY 4.3%
  65. Seminole Manor, FL 4.2%
  66. South Floral Park, NY 4.1%
  67. Lakeview, NY 4.0%
  68. Miramar, FL 4.0%
  69. Wheatley Heights, NY 3.9%
  70. Miami, FL 3.9%
  71. Brockton, MA 3.9%
  72. Fort Myers, FL 3.8%
  73. Lake Belvedere Estates, FL 3.8%
  74. Pine Manor, FL 3.7%
  75. Pompano Beach Highlands, FL 3.7%
  76. Andover, FL 3.7%
  77. East Orange, NJ 3.6%
  78. West Little River, FL 3.5%
  79. West Palm Beach, FL 3.5%
  80. Maplewood, NJ 3.4%
  81. Rodney Village, DE 3.3%
  82. Pomona, NY 3.2%
  83. Northwest Dade, FL 3.2%
  84. Pembroke Park, FL 3.2%
  85. Baldwin, NY 3.1%
  86. Naranja, FL 3.1%
  87. Florida City, Florida 3.2%
  88. Miami Gardens, Broward County, FL 3.1%
  89. Lake Worth Corridor, FL 3.0%
  90. Pine Castle, FL 3.0%
  91. Homestead, FL 3.0%
  92. St. George, FL 3.0%
  93. Pleasantville, NJ 3.0%
  94. West Haverstraw, NY 2.9%
  95. Nanuet, NY 2.8%
  96. Roosevelt, NY 2.8%
  97. Deerfield Beach, FL 2.8%
  98. East Perrine, FL 2.8%
  99. Linden, NJ 2.7%
  100. Everett, MA 2.7%

References

  1. ^ "S0201. Selected Population Profile in the United States". http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-reg=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201:701;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR:701;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T:701;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR:701&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-TABLE_NAMEX=&-ci_type=B&-redoLog=true&-charIterations=424&-geo_id=01000US&-geo_id=NBSP&-format=&-_lang=en. 
  2. ^ http://www.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/acsbr09-18.pdf
  3. ^ a b Felix Eme Unaeze and Richard E. Perrin. "A Countries and Their Cultures: Haitian Americans". Countries and their cultures. http://www.everyculture.com/multi/Du-Ha/Haitian-Americans.html. Retrieved December 26, 2011, to 18:19 pm. 
  4. ^ "Ancestry Map of Haitian Communities". Epodunk.com. http://www.epodunk.com/ancestry/Haitian.html. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 
  5. ^ "The 101 cities with the most residents born in Haiti (population 500+)". city-data.com. http://www.city-data.com/top2/h136.html. Retrieved 2008-08-04. 

See also

 Brazil   Canada   France   United States