School Days

But the schools have also introduced new problems for Haitian-Americans, in particular creating friction between parents and their school-attending children. "[Children] get used to the freedom American culture gives them. In Haiti, kids go to school and they want to, now they don't like to study anymore," laments one father of five teenagers. "They don't get enough homework and they watch too much TV." he adds in a discussion of the draw backs of American life.

AIDS Link

Widespread publicity about a link between AIDS and Haitians has compounded the immigrants' trouble "You get on the train, start talking French Creole and are Black and people move away from you: they assume you're a carrier [of AIDS]," says Minuty, citing one example of the effect popular lears of AIDS have on individuals.

The Cambridge Haitian-American Association [CHAMA], a private community organization set up to assist Haitian immigrants has received far more serious complaints of discrimination because of the AIDS scare--ranging from housing discrimination to doctors who have refused Haitians medical treatment, says CHAMA Director John A. Barnes '69.

Despite the AIDS uproar and other problems adjusting to their new life, most Haitian-Americans, citing greater political freedom and economic opportunities, say they will stay and even encourage relatives to join them.

"Sure, I miss Haiti, but I came here to work and I'm going to stay," explains one of the new Americans.

As long as opportunities in Haiti remain bleak and those in the United States relatively positive, Haitians will probably continue emigrating--no matter how stiff the barriers.