21591: Laleau: Re: 21586: Vishnusurf: Re: 21582: (Chamberlain) Haiti-US

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: NLaleau@aol.com

There's no "mentality" problem among Haitians. There's an OPPORTUNITY
problem
in Haiti. That's why they leave. Those who get to the United States
demonstrate
a very modern mentality: they work multiple jobs, save money, get
educated,
push themselves up the economic ladder because at least there IS an
economic
ladder for them, although the bottom rungs are often low wage, demanding
jobs.
They live in crowded apartments and work long hours. In 1971 as a grad
student
at Columbia Univ. I interviewed NYC agencies involved with Haitians, and
many
immigrants. I think the picture today in NYC, Miami, and Boston is
similar, but
includes 2-3 more generations, and different effects of  generational
assimilation and acculturation.