ICYMI: Our community correspondent, Ralph Thomassaint Joseph, was at the Haitian Diaspora Day at the White House! Read more about his experience below:
Last week (November 15th), I attended Haitian Diaspora Day at the White House, an event celebrating Haitian Americans' contributions to the United States. Held in the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building, it brought together Haitian artists, journalists, activists, and business leaders across the United States. Many people I spoke with voiced apprehension about the upcoming presidential transition. Donald Trump’s campaign promises of mass deportations — framed in part by criticism of Haitian immigrants — cast a shadow over the event. Haitians in the U.S. have benefitted from programs like the Biden Administration’s parole initiative, which has allowed nearly 214,000 Haitians to live and work in the U.S. for two years. Additionally, 200,000 Haitians are under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). For these individuals, the uncertainty of the future feels especially acute. As a journalist covering Caribbean communities in New York, I left the event with a renewed commitment to amplify the voices of Haitian immigrants in the U.S. The Haitian Diaspora Day was a celebration and a call to action. It was also a space where pride in the community was met with the urgency to ensure its concerns were addressed, especially regarding the years coming under the Trump administration. I am committed to elevating these critical conversations through the journalism we produce at Documented.