16544: Nlbo: Commenting on U.S citizenship post (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Nlbo@aol.com

Dear Corbetteers,

I was in Brazil and Argentina in the last six weeks and could not always get
to my "aol" to comment or share some thoughts. I remember someone who became a
naturalized citizen three years ago wrote about the benefits of  a U.S
citizenship and how one can accomplish his/her dream in the United States.  However
as I  observe Haitians living here or in Haiti, our pattern of behaving and
mindset is the same whether or not we are a U.S citizen. As  citizens, many
Haitians don't vote, or don't participate in  local or national civic life in the
U.S. We are still a "transnational" group. Many Haitians become citizens so
they can spend more time in Haiti,  sponsor a relative, or get  a job, but not
to "really" be active in the United States' civic, political and economic life.

I have been trying to dwell on the outcome of these behaviors as a first
generation immigrant and don't seem to grasp what is happening to three
generations of close to a million people living in the United States. Let me share what
I am thinking and hope someone can help me.

I don’t have the statistics. If someone has the numbers on any of these
observations, please share it. Anecdoctally speaking, Haitians are getting a
college education. They are buying homes. They have small businesses. What had
happened or what is happening to us Haitians after more than four decades in the
United States, we are not an "established" community? If a Haitian lives
exclusively in the Haitian community, listens to Haitian radios, watches Haitian TV
programs, goes to Haitian churches, even some schools geared to Haitians, goes
to Haitian theaters, concerts, or bals, more likely he/she will become an
isolated, a marginalized member of this 21rst century world; whereas a Cuban, an
Asian, a Muslim can remain exclusively in his/her community and become
independent educationally, economically and collectively.  They don’t depend on grants
or  foundations to have after school , educational or social programs for
their children, youth,and communities whereas other minority groups such as
Haitians can not prosper socially, gain respect and produce for their communities
or even countries without outside help. Given the number of college educated
Haitians in the U.S, why is this  pattern seems to prevail in our setting
Sometimes, we have  gotten grants for our socila programs in the U.S. Haitians can
not manage them and the agencies end up closing.

 Examples of Haitians as physicians, lawyers, mayors, judges, college
professors, public servants, politicians, acclaimed journalists, authors, businessmen
and women abound in the diaspora. But as a whole, are Haitians a collective
group? Are we viewed like the Asians, the Muslims, or the Cubans?

 The Cubans' migration pattern is similar to  ours. Middle class Cubans were
leaving Cuba in the late l950’s for political reasons so were the Haitians.
They had the boat people phenomenon in the l980’s so did the Haitians. The jews
came here after WWII barehanded. They have had a history of 4,000 years of
oppression. They faced anti-semitism in the l940's and still do. Forty years
later, in l980’s, they were  a powerful group of people, even more powerful today
- here and in Israel.

The Asians have put themselves together to achieve the title of ” The Model
Minority”. Despite the anecdotal successes, Haitians have gone from French
people ( frenchies), to boat and AIDS people, to a reknown marginalized community.

Besides being tax payers, I would like to know how  Haitians are using their
citizenship or legal immigrant status to communicate,  engage, contribute, and
participate actively in this First World country as well as the global
village.

Nekita