Crossing the Water and Keeping the Faith: Haitian Religion in Miami
Terry Rey and Alex Stepick
Abstract
Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, significant numbers of Haitian immigrants began to arrive and settle in Miami. Overcoming some of the most foreboding obstacles ever to face immigrants in America, they, their children, and now their grandchildren, as well as more recently arriving immigrants from Haiti, have diversified socioeconomically. Together, they have made South Florida home to the largest population of native-born Haitians and diasporic Haitians outside of the Caribbean and one of the most significant Caribbean immigrant communities in the world. Religion has played a centr ... More
Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, significant numbers of Haitian immigrants began to arrive and settle in Miami. Overcoming some of the most foreboding obstacles ever to face immigrants in America, they, their children, and now their grandchildren, as well as more recently arriving immigrants from Haiti, have diversified socioeconomically. Together, they have made South Florida home to the largest population of native-born Haitians and diasporic Haitians outside of the Caribbean and one of the most significant Caribbean immigrant communities in the world. Religion has played a central role in making all of this happen. This book is a historical and ethnographic study of Haitian religion in immigrant communities. Where many studies of Haitian religion limit themselves to one faith, the book explores Catholicism, Protestantism, and Vodou in conversation with one another, suggesting that despite the differences between these practices, the three faiths ultimately create a sense of unity, fulfillment, and self-worth in Haitian communities. The book contributes to the growing body of literature on religion among new immigrants, as well as providing a rich exploration of Haitian faith communities.
Keywords:
Haitian immigrants,
Miami,
native-born Haitians,
diasporic Haitians,
Haitian religion,
immigrant communities,
Catholicism,
Protestantism,
Vodou
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2013 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780814777084 |
| Published to NYU Press Scholarship Online: March 2016 |
DOI:10.18574/nyu/9780814777084.001.0001 |
