Haitians have had a presence in this country since its founding, but the largest group of immigrants came to the United States in the 1990s, fleeing political unrest and economic misery. Haiti and its and so-called boat people have been in the headlines for decades, and this reference firmly puts reasons for legal and illegal immigration into historical perspective. Students and other readers will learn about Haiti's history, economy, and culture, which continue to resonate with immigrants. The narrative also focuses on contemporary settlement patterns, major Haitian American communities, immigrants' interactions with other groups, and the impact Haitian Americans have made, and more.

This is the most thorough, up-to-date reference on Haitian Americans today. The author, a Haitian immigrant, has conducted fieldwork in various cities that have large Haitian American populations. The obstacles faced and achievements made show how they contribute to American society. Numerous biographical profiles of noted Haitian Americans and photos accompany the text.

Written by a member of the Black Haitian community, this book brings to life the mechanisms that shape Haitian immigrant identity and underscores the complexity of such an identity. Zephir explains why Haitians define themselves as a distinct ethnic group and examines the various parameters of Haitian ethnicity. Through hundreds of interviews, the author gathered the voices of Haitians as they speak, as they feel, and most importantly, how they experience America and its system of racial classification. This work is a description of the diversity of the Black population in America and an effort to dispel the myth of a monolithic minority or sidestream culture.

The author conducted extensive interviews with both first- and second- generation immigrants in New York City, revealing that second-generation Haitian immigrants do not have one single identity. Rather, they exhibit multiple identities that are shaped by both the American realities and the home and familial context. The author describes in detail the various macro and micro factors that account for this great variation in ethnic identification, and discusses the implications of these identity choices for American society at large.

Unlike their parents, who do not consider themselves American but rather birds of passage and who, additionally, because of their distinctive foreign accents, are not perceived to be American, the children of Haitian immigrants have the option of being less ethnic. In fact, they are very often seen by others as merely American. In light of this distinction, the central questions posed in the present study are the following: Are Haitian families successful at passing on to their offspring the same ethnic feelings, identification, culture, and values? How do their children choose to define themselves? Do they consider themselves American, or more specifically, African American? Is being ethnic important to their self image? In what way does the home environment influence their ethnic choices? What role do the American realities that surround them play in shaping Haitian youth identity? What are the manifestations and implication of these identifies?