This wealth was concentrated in the hands of a small minority of mostly French and European planters, who used slave labor from Sub-Saharan Africa to cultivate, harvest, and process their crops.
Many refugees from Saint-Domingue emigrated to the United States, taking their slaves with them, particularly to the New Orleans region, where they reinforced the existing French-speaking and African populations.
During the early 19th century, many immigrants from colonial-era Haiti (St. Domingue) helped found settlements in the French Empire, which would later be the sites of Chicago and Detroit in the modern-day United States.
Altogether, there have been four periods of major migration to the United States in the history of Haiti: the initial wave at the turn of the 20th century, following the U.S. occupation from 1915 to 1934, during the 1960s and 1970s to escape the Duvalier regime, and following the 2004 overthrow of Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
Between 1957 and 1986, when the Duvaliers ruled Haiti, their political persecution of the opposition and suspected activists resulted in many Haitian professionals, the middle class, and students emigrating to other countries, among them the United States, France, Dominican Republic and Canada (primarily Montreal).
Haitian illegal immigrants continue to attempt to reach the shores of Florida and are routinely swept up by the United States Coast Guard.
In January 2023, President Joe Biden announced the extension of a humanitarian parole program to accept up to 30,000 migrants a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
[10] The street co-naming was a tribute to Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a former slave who led Haiti to victory, making it the first Latin American country to declare independence from colonial rule and the first black republic.
Smaller and fast-growing Haitian populations are also growing in the metropolitan areas of DC, Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, and Los Angeles.
[26] Haitian-American artists, famous personalities, and social media influencers have also used platform, like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to shed light on Haiti's struggles.
Figures such as Kodak Black, Wyclef Jean, Pras Michel, and Garcelle Beauvais have utilized their presence to promote aid and solidarity for Haiti.
Haitian-American bloggers and influencers in the media have established virtual communities to engage in discussions about Haitian culture, politics, and societal issues.
Social media channels have transformed into hubs for conversations and advocacy efforts where Haitian Americans can connect with each other and exchange viewpoints on Haiti and its diaspora.
Many have attempted to understand the obstacles that Haitian Americans encounter as they confront stereotypes based on race and ethnicity while engaging in activities within their communities, but due to the lack of Haitian-American representation, efforts often fall on deaf ears.
[28] Economically, many Haitian-Americans engage in transnational activities such as remittances, where they send money back to family members in Haiti to support their financial needs.
In addition, political discourse and natural disasters in Haiti can exacerbate these challenges, prompting Haitian-Americans to grapple with feelings of guilt or helplessness as they try to support their loved ones from afar.
[31] In the 1980s, Jean-Michel Basquiat, known for his groundbreaking contributions to the art world as a neo-expressionist painter, drew inspiration from his Haitian ancestry, infusing his work with elements of African and Caribbean culture.
His heritage played a significant role in shaping his artistic vision and unique aesthetic, as seen in his exploration of identity, race, and socio-political themes throughout his oeuvre.
She is now an established actress and TV personality, having worked in starring roles on the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show and the crime drama series NYPD Blue.
He is known for his continued work in filmmaking, with recent projects including the film "Silver Dollar Road" and the bio-documentary drama "The Young Karl Marx.
[37] In order to provide readers with deep and compassionate portraits of her characters' lives, Danticat's literature frequently explores the nuances of Haitian history, culture, and diasporic experiences.
Drawing on her personal experiences as a Haitian-American, she explores topics like immigration, displacement, family dynamics, and the search for identity in her novels, short stories, and essays.
[40] Roxane Gay is well-known for her vocal engagement on behalf of causes including intersectionality, feminism, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ and racial justice.
[42] In September 2024, a Facebook post falsely claimed that a Haitian immigrant in Springfield, Ohio stole her acquaintance's dog to kill and eat.
These claims were amplified by Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance and Ted Cruz on X despite confirmation from the Springfield police department that the allegations were untrue.
[48][49][50] Despite substantial negative reactions and ridicule, Trump doubled down on these claims in a rally and falsely asserted that Haitian immigrants were walking away with geese from public areas in Springfield.
He was a well-known fur trader who was believed to have been born in Saint-Marc, Haiti (then Saint-Domingue), and who would go on to establish a successful trading post at the mouth of the Chicago River.
[72] The Jean v. Nelson case began in the early 1980s, when the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier caused chaos in politics, violations of human rights, and economic problems that forced thousands of Haitians to flee their homeland.
International standards pertaining to the treatment of asylum seekers were allegedly breached by the plaintiffs, together with their constitutional rights to due process and equal protection under the law.
They claimed the government was illegally keeping them in custody longer than necessary and preventing them from having a fair chance to request their release by refusing to hold bail hearings.