Caribbean immigrants have now become part of the social landscape of many American cities. Few studies, however, have treated in detail the process of their integration in American society. American Odyssey assesses the development and adaptation, in both human and socio-economic terms, of the Haitian immigrant community in three boroughs of New York City. An informed and well-rounded portrayal of a Caribbean community in New York, this book offers a fresh theoretical view of the structuring of urban ethnicity and provides the ethnographic background essential to understanding the problems of the Haitian population in the United States.
Toussaint L’Ouverture was the leader of the Haitian Revolution in the late eighteenth century, in which slaves rebelled against their masters and established the first black republic. In this collection of his writings and speeches, former Haitian politician Jean-Bertrand Aristide demonstrates L’Ouverture’s profound contribution to the struggle for equality.
Vodou has often served as a scapegoat for Haiti’s problems, from political upheavals to natural disasters. This tradition of scapegoating stretches back to the nation’s founding and forms part of a contest over the legitimacy of the religion, both beyond and within Haiti’s borders. The Spirits and the Law examines that vexed history, asking why, from 1835 to 1987, Haiti banned many popular ritual practices. To find out, Kate Ramsey begins with the Haitian Revolution and its aftermath. Fearful of an independent black nation inspiring similar revolts, the United States, France, and the rest of Europe ostracized Haiti. Successive Haitian governments, seeking to counter the image of Haiti as primitive as well as contain popular organization and leadership, outlawed “spells” and, later, “superstitious practices.” While not often strictly enforced, these laws were at times the basis for attacks on Vodou by the Haitian state, the Catholic Church, and occupying U.S. forces. Beyond such offensives, Ramsey argues that in prohibiting practices considered essential for maintaining relations with the spirits, anti-Vodou laws reinforced the political marginalization, social stigmatization, and economic exploitation of the Haitian majority. At the same time, she examines the ways communities across Haiti evaded, subverted, redirected, and shaped enforcement of the laws. Analyzing the long genealogy of anti-Vodou rhetoric, Ramsey thoroughly dissects claims that the religion has impeded Haiti’s development.
Second edition of a work that reveals realities behind the foreign aid industry. Schwartz, an anthropologist who has worked with foreign aid agencies in Haiti for extended periods, exposes the fraud, greed, corruption, apathy and political agendas that permeate the industry.
This book describes the struggle of Haitians in the United States, the strain between pride in their Haitian roots and prejudice against Haitians, and its causes and consequences for approximately 500,000 Haitians in the U.S. The book examines the problems of prejudice, economics and immigration Haitians confront, along with their pride and resources of family, community and culture. Haitians reflect continuing difficulties in America concerning race, ethnicity and nationality. Part of the New Immigrants Series, edited by Nancy Foner. Focusing on the massive wave of immigration currently sweeping across America, this ground breaking series includes coverage of five new immigrant groups for 1998, the Hmong in Wisconsin, Brazilians and Koreans in New York City, Haitians in Miami, and Chinese in San Francisco. This series fills the gap in knowledge relating to today's immigrants, how these groups are attempting to redefine their cultures while here, and their contribution to a new and changing America.
In "Haitians in Michigan," Michael Largey chronicles the challenges facing Haitian immigrants and their U.S.-born children as they seek to maintain their cultural identity in the United States. "Haitians in Michigan "demonstrates the rich contributions of a people whose long and difficult struggle for self-determination brought them into a historical convergence with the United States. Largey shows how much the United States-and Michigan in particular-has benefited from this convergence.
