Introduction / History

Haitians are almost entirely descended from African slaves, who were brought to Haiti by European colonizers. Their job was to harvest sugar, coffee, and timber. Then, in the 1790s, former slaves Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines rebelled against France. They won their independence from France in 1804.

However, since its independence, centuries of economic, political, and social difficulties have put Haitians in severe poverty. A century of paying reparations to France (amounting to $22 billion in today's money) prevented Haiti from developing its infrastructure and society. It is now the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of Haitians in poverty and 60% unemployed, and the number may continue to rise.

About 40% of Haitians live in the country, but due to lower prices in food imports, an increasing number are moving to urban areas. Many are even emigrating, sometimes illegally, to other countries like Canada, the U.S. and the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations. They live in 14 countries, including the United States.

Haitians were first brought to the U.S. after the 1804 successful rebellion in Haiti. Some French planters brought Haitian slaves to New Orleans, doubling the slave population in that city. There have been waves of Haitians coming to the U.S. through the years, especially from the late 1950s to the late 1980s for political reasons. Many of these are the better educated Haitians. They often settled in Miami. Another wave came to escape the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Though the U.S. hosts the largest Haitian diaspora, their numbers were decreasing in the mid 2020s due to new immigration policies.

What Are Their Lives Like?

The United States hosts various Haitian immigrants. Some are very poor like their counterparts in the Caribbean nations. Others are well-educated and own their own businesses. A couple of Haitians have been elected to public office.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some Haitians practice voodoo. Others are Christians in name only who believe that tradition is the way to salvation. More than half of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic, with 1/4 being Protestant. Older Protestant denominations like Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were established in the 1800s, while Baptists, Mormons, and Seventh-day Adventists came from 1915-1934 when the U.S. occupied the country. Western culture has been an influence on the country, causing some Haitians to replace faith with secularism.

What Are Their Needs?

Poverty has been a major scourge for Haitians, not only in Haiti but everywhere else they live.

Prayer Items

Pray for Haitians in the United States to get training that will lead them into high-paying jobs.
Pray for a Holy Spirit-empowered revival that will purify their churches and thrust them out as a mission force to the spiritually lost.
Pray for Haitian disciples in the U.S. who will make more disciples who will bring light to their dark circumstances.
Pray for the Lord to raise up servant leaders in Haiti who can lead them out of poverty.

Scripture Prayers for the Haitian in United States.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Haiti
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47799258
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development https://www.britannica.com/place/Haiti/Government-and-society https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/29/food.internationalaidanddevelopment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Americans