#186: Miami vs New York: many comments

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From: emitton@netmail.hscbklyn.edu

In  Miami they are two prominent immigrant groups - Haitians & Cubans compared
to NY who is much more diverse than Miami.  In NY we have to compete with the
jews, the italians, the irish, etc.. Also, people seems to have more time on
their hand in Miami, possibly due to the the tropical setting, they respond more
to the community. New Yorkers runs home after work, or class, or another job. -
who has time.
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From: Kim Ives <kives@gateway.net>

Some thoughts on Anne's Miami vs. New York question:

1) Miami's Little Haiti is a lot more homogeneous than the Flatbush, Crown
Heights, Cambria Heights and other New York neighborhoods which Haitians share
with Trinidadians, Jamaicans, Guyanese, etc.
2) I don't have the data, but I would venture that, yes, Haitians make up a far
greater percentage of the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale general population than that of
NYC and hence get more attention from the Herald and politicans there.
3) One feature that has defined the Haitian community in the U.S. from other
immigrant groups is its mobilization to bring political/social change in Haiti.
(This is also true for the Cubans, but in a counter-revolutionary sense.) Little
Haiti carved out its identity since the mid-70s through the massive spirited
anti-Duvalierist and anti-coup marches spearheaded originally by Father
Jean-Juste and carried on by his organizations Veye Yo and the Haitian Refugee
Center from 54th Street. In New York, the marches and rallies over the years from
Utica Ave. to Grand Army Plaza along Eastern Parkway, and more recently from
Grand Army Plaza across the Brooklyn Bridge have also formed the New York Haitian
community's identity and cohesion (The call by some Huppie sectors to forget the
struggle for Haiti and focus uniquely on integrating in the States would surely
dilute this identity and cohesion.)
    In recent years, the Miami community has been more militant and mobilized on
immigration issues (it is more working-class and has many more "boat people" than
New York). It is no coincidence that last October's Haitian Refugee Immigration
Fairness Act was sponsored by Florida politicians.
4) WLQY, the Miami station that provides Haitian programs around the clock, helps
community cohesion. Although the majority of the time slots have been captured by
Protestant or anti-Lavalas animateurs, there is still a good bit of community
debate and discussion carried out over the airwaves. Of course, Radio Soleil
d'Haiti (and to a much lesser extent the fading Macoute-dominated Radio
Tropicale) also has its "ligne ouverte," but you have to buy the radio, which
limits listeners somewhat. The other Haitian programs are few and far between.
5) The Herald caters to the different Latin American and Caribbean nationalities
concentrated in South Florida, mainly Cubans (being practically the official
mouthpiece of Cuban counter-revolutionaries), but also Canadian "snow birds,"
Colombians, Argentinians, those from the English-speaking Caribbean and of course
Haiti. Don Bohning's pieces are always straight State Department line (or worse),
and local stories tend mostly to be "portraits" of a prominent businessmen,
school teachers, church types, humanitarians, or politicians -- usually nothing
too controversial.

Kim Ives

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From: guy serge pompilus <karako@caramail.com>

I don't have an answer to you question, but while working
on a kreyol portal project, I found a paper that can give
you a few paths to start with.

You can find it at
http://www.freedomforum.org/international/1999/1/27haiti.asp

Guy Pompilus


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From: Jlaraque@aol.com

Culturally speaking,  the Haitian community of Miami is much closer to Haiti 
than any other Haitian community is.  For example, Haitians living in Miami 
have had to deal with Haitian problems like Haitian "boat people" fleeing 
Haiti whose bodies have washed off the beaches of Miami.  This hands-on 
situation has created a conscience awareness among the Haitians living in 
Miami who feel compelled to reverse the political situation in Haiti.

Haitians who live in New York are also concerned about what is going on back 
home and the effect the situation has on all Haitians.  But Haitians who live 
in New York do not have the same hands-on experience as Haitians living 
Miami; therefore, they do not have the same level of conscience awareness. 

Mr.  Jean Roger - Just a Thought