September 17, 2024

Two years ago, a team of journalists set out to do something that had never been done before — calculate the amount Haiti paid to its former enslaver and colonizer, France, in independence ransom. 

If you're not familiar with the history of the island nation, the shorthand version goes like this: In 1791, enslaved Haitians revolted against their French captives and in 1804 declared independence, the first for a Black nation in the Western Hemisphere. 

Then a few years later, France decided to do Haiti like Deebo did in snatching the chain Red's mom bought him. After subjecting Haiti to years of colonial violence and oppression, they parked a flotilla of warships off the coast and threatened to commence another bloody war if Haiti didn't pay a yearly bribe. 

In total, Times journalists determined, Haitians paid about $600 million over decades in today's money.

"If that money had simply stayed in the Haitian economy and grown at the nation’s actual pace over the last two centuries — rather than being shipped off to France, without any goods or services being provided in return — it would have added a staggering $21 billion to Haiti over time, even accounting for its notorious corruption and waste. For perspective, that’s much bigger than Haiti’s entire economy in 2020," the Times reported. 

Haiti shares a kinship with many American places, especially the South. It is no coincidence that Mississippi, for example, is both the Blackest and poorest state in the nation and has also produced some of the world's greatest art and music. That includes a greater diaspora of people who left their homes in search of opportunity and shared their beautiful cultures with their new communities 

So is the story of Haitian immigrants, who came to America — to Florida to Queens and Springfield, Ohio. 

Let's talk about it.

Learn more about the people of Haiti with these 7 must-read stories from The Haitian Times

Founded 25 years ago, The Haitian Times aims to cover "the real, often untold stories of Haiti and Haitian Americans." 

Garry Pierre-Pierre, who launched the paper in 1999, recently addressed the ugly news out of the Buckeye State that has also affected his newsroom. 

"This past week has been intense for us at The Haitian Times. Threats, a canceled gathering, and our editor being swatted—yet we’re standing strong. Grateful for the support from journalists and leaders. We’ll continue covering Springfield and shining a light on anti-Haitian hate," Pierre-Pierre posted on social media. 

The Haitian Times naturally is covering events unfolding in Springfield, which has been seized by xenophobia and fear since the two white Republican men seeking the White House repeated baseless, racist lies about legal Black immigrants in the city of Springfield (pop: 58,000). One of them admitted as much himself. 

As a proud collaborator with The Haitian Times in the past, I encourage our readers to spend some time with its website, which highlights the fullness, beauty and complexity of Haiti and its people. 

Start with these great stories:

🇭🇹 Ohio’s Haitian immigrant influx boosts economy, strains services and sparks social furor: Ohio is seeing a notable rise in Haitian immigration, particularly in cities like Springfield, where the population has increased by nearly 25% in the past four years. This shift is reshaping the local economy and community dynamics, benefiting industries with labor shortages while also challenging infrastructure and services such as healthcare and education

🇭🇹 “You are not alone,” leaders from across U.S. tell Haitians in Springfield: During a Haitian Times community conversation in Springfield, Ohio, leaders committed to providing support and educational resources to fight against anti-Haitian racism

🇭🇹 Haiti’s Limonade, where spirituality and tradition meet: Every year a village known as Bord de Mer (French for seaside), comes alive for a vibrant celebration, a fascinating mix of Catholicism and Vodou

🇭🇹 In Haiti’s Big North, kasav remains a favorite snack and staple of pride: Cassava is undergoing a boost in production. This key crop traces its roots back to the Indigenous people of Ayiti Kiskeya

🇭🇹 Some parents of U.S.-born Haitian Olympians are moved by children representing motherland: Discover how the parents of U.S.-born swimmers Alexandre Grand’Pierre and hurdler Emelia Chatfield decided to represent Haiti at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris

🇭🇹 How Haiti’s trash fuels a global tech giant, local jobs for families: A compelling profile of Edouard Carrié, who's made a living battling Haiti's persistent problem with discarded plastic

🇭🇹 Haitian-born studio exec launches professional development platform for immigrants: Couple Maurice and Devika Brij launched and self-funded a platform aimed at helping immigrant professionals navigate their careers. They also started a podcast featuring immigrant executives and began promoting on social media

Extra: Our partners at The 19th published this amazing piece examining the centuries long false narrative designed to stoke fear of Haitian people. “So, over the years, the narrative just kind of increases about how Haiti is this barbaric place. ... It’s run only by Black people,” Danielle N. Boaz, professor of Africana Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  

Data points were made

Some facts about Haiti from the Center for Immigration Studies, using census data:

—Haiti is second only to Jamaica as the largest origin country for Black immigrants

—Approximately 852,000 Haitian immigrants live in the U.S. as of February 2024, more than triple the number in 1990 and double the number in 2000

—The number of Haitian immigrants in the U.S. is similar to the populations of San Francisco, Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio

—The top states of Haitian immigrant settlement based are Florida (369,000, 51 percent); New York (113,000, 16 percent); Massachusetts (63,000, 9 percent); New Jersey (46,000; 6 percent); Georgia (28,000, 4 percent); and Connecticut (14,000, 2 percent) 

— In February 2024, there were 689,000 U.S.-born Americans with at least one parent born in Haiti. A total of 1.5 million people living in the U.S.  were either born in the Caribbean country, or have a parent born there

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