Haitian Community

Most of the Haitian community lives in the Florida, Miami-Deda County. According to the recent records, Haitian population has grown with a very high rate. Its population is approximated to be 200,000 in 2010 census. The vast increase in population is due to immigration into the United States. They are mainly located in the town known as Little Haiti, although its boundary is not identified. In the year 1791, it was a top supplier of sugar under the British colonizers. They later gained their freedom from Britain.

Equally with a high rate of the slave trade, American felt insecure about Black Country in their midst” as a result, they boycotted to Haitians goods and merchants. In particular, this led to the decline of Haiti freedom. In the past ten years, the government of U.S. has tried to re-establish the face of Haitians from underdevelopment and poverty. In particular, this has led to the drop in poverty although they remain the poorest community in the United States (Kobetz et al., 2012). Although the United States of America assists this community, they are faced with many challenges. In general, the Haitian community represents the poorest community among the United States population. Among challenges that face Haitian community includes low education attainment, low-quality jobs, lack of wealth building, cost of housing and low income and high poverty rates.

Haitian community is among low-income earners and poverty-stricken. Notably, this community presents the median household earnings in the United States (Austin et al., 2012). According to a recent record, its income is only $20,000 less than whites in Miami-Deda. Besides, this community poverty rate is 30 percent, double the Miami-Dade County which is 18 percent. In particular, most of the Haitian community earns below $18,000 per month this represents 96 percent, where only 4 percent makes higher, besides, it only contributes to $1,610 compared to $36,000 gross domestic product of United States. Besides, a rate of unemployment is 99% greater than the national average, in particular, this is more contributed to a high level of uneducated in the society. Moreover, Haitian has not had time to establish in business and other relevant institutions. Consequently, it is only 28.5 years old it is argued that as it grows over it will attain a high employment rate, high education levels, and maximum income level. Besides, Haitians are unable to establish businesses due to the long existence of inexperienced business people. Mainly, their marginalization leads to underdevelopment of institutions in their region (Kobetz et al., 2012).

Remarkably, lack of schools is the major factor in unemployment in their community. Additionally, this community occupies the unskilled position in the industrial sector this pushes them deeper into poverty. Lack of formal education is the core contributor to poverty in the Haitian community. According to the records, most of Haitians are migrants from Haiti. Besides, they move from this country due to poverty and poor living standards. Additionally, they do not acquire formal education in their previous resident area ((Rahill, Rice, 2010). Besides, more than 60 percent of the adults do not have formal education. In particular, this makes it hard for them to compete in the job market and for the few who are employed they frequently send a significant amount of money back to their family back in Haiti. It was approximated, about $800 million is sent to Haiti, and this money represents 20 percent of Haitians gross domestic product. As a result, Haitian will remains in poverty and poor, due to lack of incentives to save and invest. Additionally, the ability to earn a desirable salary and enhance economic growth and development is linked to a high level of education.

Notably, very few of Haitians have attained a bachelor’s degree, only 29 percent while those who have to achieve a college education is 22 percent. In particular, this explains the existence of median and low-income class among Haitians (Austin et al., 2012). Also, low education is the main reason for the lack of saving and investment in the region. As a result, migrants are unable to attain education in Miami-Deda due to lack of education facilities in the area.

The language barrier is another factor that has makes the Haitian community to remain in poverty. Most of the Haitians, being migrants from Haiti country, they do not speak or understand English. In particular, this has hindered most of them from obtaining desirable jobs in U.S (Rahill, Rice, 2010). This limitation has moved to the extent of limiting Haitians to participate in the local businesses. The language barrier has contributed to Haitian occupying low-income position which includes: office support, building maintenance, food preparation, transportation, and sales. According to the facts, 31 percent of these occupations are held by Haitians.

Low education attainment and low-income lead them to spend all their income on basic needs. Specifically, they spend their money to buy food, rent, and clothing (Austin et al., 2012). Housing cost spends most of their money because they do not own a house of their own, its evidence that their status will never change. Consequently, they are charged costly than other U.S. citizens despite their low earning.

Moreover, Haitians do not access federal benefits and mainstream financial institutions. In 1996, the federal government passed a policy to terminate benefits for legal noncitizens immigration for the first five years of residence ((Kobetz et al., 2012). Mainly, this prohibited Haitians from receiving benefits of the needy people, and medical care assistance. These changes further, made a life of Haitian in the U.S harder. Additionally, they are discriminated in development programs this situation has affected the Haitian community and the United States in general, mainly because it drags its economic development behind.

There are set policies for both federal government and non-governmental institutes to assist Haitians to overcome these challenges (Rahill, Rice, 2010). They include introduction and development in the education sector, specifically, this will create educated society. The school will accommodate all ages from children to adult education. In this school, the primary goal will be learning the English language, business-related course and educate them on the importance of saving and investing. Importantly, this will be the “heart” of Haitians revolution. Moreover, the government should come up with ways in which Haitians get access to quality jobs. In particular, this will increase their income hence they will have enough to consume, save and later invest (Austin et al., 2012). Notably, a quality job will lead to the development of new industries, companies, infrastructure and more institution in their region. Additionally, their living standard will advance, and they will be able to access valuable services in healthcare and education. Haitian should be allowed to access all federal services like other United States citizens. In particular, they should be provided with good medical care, assist the poor and access to quality education. It is essential for the government to offer support to this community for the development of their area and the development of the whole State ((Kobetz et al., 2012).

Also, the federal government should work together with the Haitian community to identify sources of crimes in the region. Haitians are prohibited from carrying guns. In this regard, they are victimized by police officers whenever they are found with firearms. Additionally, non-profit organizations should work together with Haitians to eradicate poverty in that region. Although Haitians have progressed in political participation, there should be well-managed rules to equalize them to other United States citizens. Besides, these associations should lobby for the amendment of policies that prohibit migrant Haitians from accessing federal services (Rahill, Rice, 2010). Haitians should also be allowed to access all institutions regardless of their occupation or migration status. Non-profit government organizations have the initiative to fight for Haitians rights in all means. Lastly, Haitians rights should protect, mainly, they should be granted freedom of movement, choose their neighbors,’ schools, where they want to work and access all forms of entertainment.

Moreover, they should be permitted to live in a safe place free from crime or any human violence (Kobetz et al., 2012). In particular, this will not only improve their living standard and confidence, but they will also participate in the economic development of the United States. The state and other special interest groups should also encourage gun-right among Haitians for self-defense. In conclusion, although Haitians have made progress in the economic, social and political sector, there is a lot to amend for development of the Haitian community. The above-recommended solution, when implemented, will lead to improvement Haitians status. In particular, for reformation of Haitians from Poverty to thrive, all communities in South Florida should work together as a society, specifically, the government at all levels, the non-profit organization, United States citizens and Haitians community.

Reference

Austin, S. D. W., Middleton, R. T., & Yon, R. (2012). The effect of racial group consciousness on the political participation of African Americans and Black ethnics in Miami-Dade County, Florida.? Political Research Quarterly, 65(3), 629-641.

Kobetz, E., Kish, J. K., Campos, N. G., Koru-Sengul, T., Bishop, I., Lipshultz, H., … & Barbee, L. (2012). The burden of human papillomavirus among Haitian immigrants in Miami, Florida: Community-based participatory research in action. Journal of Oncology, 2012.

Rahill, G. J., & Rice, C. (2010). Correlates of Picuriste Use in a Sample of Health-Seeking Haitian Immigrants and Adult Children of Immigrants in Miami Dade County, Florida.? American journal of public health, 100(S1), S140-S145.

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