Haitian American - Adjustment and Culture

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.