What Black History Month Means to Pierre Jacques, a Haitian-American Immigrant and Investigator

Pierre Jacques is a Wage and Hour Division investigator who works in the Miami District Office in Florida. We interviewed him to hear what motivates him as a Haitian-American investigator and to learn his perspective on the importance of sharing and magnifying the indelible struggles and remarkable achievements that encompass Black history.

Q: What do you like most about working for the Wage and Hour Division?

I like making a difference in the lives of hard-working people. It’s a very moving experience for me to be able to recover back wages for workers, people who worked long hours and many who have families depending on the money they were denied for their labor. I feel honored to help them and bring violators into compliance with the law. ?

Q: Where are you from originally and when did you come to the U.S.?

I’m from Gona?ves, a city in northern Haiti that’s known as the city of independence because it’s where Haiti declared independence from France in 1804. My father left Haiti for the U.S. when I was two years old, and my mother followed him eight years later. Then, I reunited with them in the U.S. at age 13. We immigrated because we wanted to better ourselves and have better opportunities. I became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

I was living in Haiti in November 1987 when, the night before an election, the police spent several hours targeting my house because my family member was running for Senate. We survived because the police mistakenly shot at the houses to the left and right of our house.

I was also living in Haiti during a coup d'état in September 1991. A trade embargo was imposed on Haiti afterwards and it was devastating because the Haitian economy depends on international trade. It was difficult to find food for over three years due to the embargo. Sometimes, it was also difficult to attend school because of riots and clashes between protesters and the army. My school was located behind a military base, which made it a dangerous place to be during riots and protests. There were times that I heard gunshots in every direction as I went home from school.

Q: Did you have to overcome any obstacles during your transition to life in the U.S.?

After arriving in the U.S. when I was 13 years old, I had to learn to read and write in English. It wasn’t easy, especially when other students made fun of my accent. My parents worked night shifts, so I had to get my five-year-old sister ready for school, then walk her to elementary school before walking 1 ? miles to my school every morning. My parents worked hard, and I saw them struggle with unfair working conditions like having to work long hours with little to no pay. I got my first job working in fast food and I experienced similar frustrations with what I now know to be labor violations. But, as struggling immigrants, we accepted this mistreatment because we needed that money to support our family. Which is why I take my job as an investigator so seriously and am passionate about stopping bad businesses from taking advantage of people like my family who are vulnerable to exploitation.

Q: What has your experience been like as a Haitian American in the U.S.?

Overall, I’ve had better living conditions and opportunities here in the U.S. However, I’m aware that the color of my skin can be a target for discrimination. For example, I’ve been pulled over by the police while driving in a neighborhood where people thought I didn’t belong, including my current neighborhood. An officer once drew his gun on me at a traffic stop. According to the officer, he thought I had committed a crime and was trying to flee the area. Sometimes, I’ve been followed around by employees in retail stores and I’ve seen people refuse to get on an elevator with me. I know that I’ve lost opportunities, have had to wait longer, or work harder for something because of who I am.?

Q: How important is Black history to you and how do you see its manifestation within your work?

Black history month is very important to me because it honors the many struggles our ancestors had to overcome in our fight against racism and injustice and also reminds us as a country of how much more work remains in this tireless fight, that even in 2023 we see blatant discrimination against Black people in America.

This month represents a call to action for us all to reflect on the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters, such as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Sojourner Truth, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and countless others who dedicated their lives to fighting for the safety and wellbeing of Black people. Learning about my identity and belonging within this powerful history has shaped my work ethic and dedication to protecting workers against exploitation. My life experience has continuously been impacted by racism, but I refuse to let that define me as a person or weaken my faith in the possibility of a better world.

?#BlackHistoryMonth #BHM #BlackExcellence?