Haitian American

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Haitian American
Haitienne Américaine
Ayisyen Ameriken
WyclefJean.jpgWEB DuBois 1918.jpg
Reginald Fils-Aime.jpgGarcelle Beauvais
Notable Haitian Americans:
Wyclef JeanW. E. B. Du Bois
Reginald Fils-AimeGarcelle Beauvais
Total population
530,897 (2007 est.)[1]
Regions with significant populations
New York City, New Jersey, South Florida, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., West Palm Beach
Languages

American English, Haitian Creole, French

Religion

Predominantly Roman Catholic with considerable adherents of Protestantism, Mormonism, and Vodou

Related ethnic groups

African-American, Afro-Latin Americans, Afro-Cubans, Latin Americans, Haitian Canadians, French American

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 South Jamaica, Queens, New York, Washington, D. C., Philadelphia, Chicago and Boston. In 2007 it was estimated that there were 530,897 Haitian Americans living in the U.S., but many consider this number inaccurate because of the many undocumented Haitian immigrants. During the early 1960s throughout the 1970s, many Haitians emigrated to the U.S. legally as well as illegally during François Duvalier's totalitarian regime.

Contents

[edit] High percentages of Haitian ancestry by community

The top 36 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Haitian ancestry are:[2]

 % 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

[edit] High percentages of Haitian birth by community

Top 101 U.S. communities with the most residents born in Haiti are:[3]

  1. Pompano Estates, FL 26.6%
  2. North Miami, FL 24.3%
  3. Golden Glades, FL 24.1%
  4. Kendall Green, FL 21.2%
  5. Tedder, FL 20.9%
  6. Pinewood, FL 18.5%
  7. Bonnie Lock-Woodsetter North, FL 16.6%
  8. Spring Valley, NY 16.4%
  9. Loch Lomond, FL 15.6%
  10. Hillcrest, NY 14.7%
  11. El Portal, FL 14.0%
  12. North Miami Beach, FL 13.8%
  13. Melrose Park, FL 11.5%
  14. Lauderdale Lakes, FL 11.2%
  15. Belle Glade Camp, FL 10.7%
  16. Immokalee, FL 10.5%
  17. Delray Beach, FL 10.3%
  18. Lake Park, FL 10.1%
  19. Belle Glade, FL 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, FL 5.3%
  51. Oakland Park, FL 5.3%
  52. Westgate-Belvedere Homes, FL 5.3%
  53. Whitfield, FL 5.2%
  54. Broadview-Pompano Park, FL 5.2%
  55. North Lauderdale, FL 5.1%
  56. Randolph, MA 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, FL 3.1%
  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%
  101. Tangelo Park, FL 2.6%

[edit] Background

Vast disparity between the Haitian wealthy elite and the poor existed and continues 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%. Illegal Haitians 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.

[edit] 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, their own restaurants (predominately of Haitian cuisine, however other Latin American food is often prepared), and many venture into car service. 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. 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.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Languages