Arab Haitian
Encyclopedia
In Haiti
, there are a small yet visible number of Haitians that are of Middle-Eastern
stock or trace their origins to Arab descendants
. Hadrami
ancestry can be found within the Arab Haitian community. Lebanese
and Syrians
ancestry however are the most common origins of Arab Haitians, albeit a significant Palestinian
component as well.
and Italian
immigrants. Many of them migrated to the countryside where they peddled and were very informal economically speaking. World War I
, which took place when Lebanon
was part of the Germany-allied Ottoman Empire
, triggered a Lebanese migration to the Americas
, with Haiti receiving a large number of Lebanese immigrants. Haiti received a score of Palestinian refugees during the Arab-Israeli War. , the country was estimated to have about 15,000 residents of Lebanese heritage.
and white Haitian populace. For years, they have been shunned by the poor black Haitian because of their association with the "elite" but have gradually begun to become accepted and amicably interact with the poor masses. Arab Haitians are prominent in Haiti's business sector and consequently, a large percentage of them reside and do business in the capital of Port-au-Prince
. Middle class Arab Haitians often are the owners of many of the city's supermarkets.
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, there are a small yet visible number of Haitians that are of Middle-Eastern
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
stock or trace their origins to Arab descendants
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
. Hadrami
Hadrami
The Hadrami Sheikdom , Maktab Al Hadharem , or Al Hadharem , is one of the five sheikdoms of Upper Yafa. The Hadrami sheikdom was divided into four quarters: Sinaani , Bal Hay , Thuluthi , and Marfadi . The capital of the sheikdom is the village of Al-Shibr , which is located in the Sinaani quarter....
ancestry can be found within the Arab Haitian community. Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
and Syrians
Demographics of Syria
Syrians today are an overall indigenous Levantine people. While modern-day Syrians are commonly described as Arabs by virtue of their modern-day language and bonds to Arab culture and history...
ancestry however are the most common origins of Arab Haitians, albeit a significant Palestinian
Palestinian people
The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
component as well.
History
The first Arabs to arrive in Haiti reached the shores of the Caribbean country during the middle to late 19th century. During the time, Haiti's business sector was dominated by GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
immigrants. Many of them migrated to the countryside where they peddled and were very informal economically speaking. World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, which took place when Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
was part of the Germany-allied Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, triggered a Lebanese migration to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, with Haiti receiving a large number of Lebanese immigrants. Haiti received a score of Palestinian refugees during the Arab-Israeli War. , the country was estimated to have about 15,000 residents of Lebanese heritage.
Social relations
Arab Haitians are commonly considered as part of the upper class within Haitian society, yet they maintain their own unique presence separate from the very influential and much larger mixed-raceMultiracial
The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from multiple races. Unlike the term biracial, which often is only used to refer to having parents or grandparents of two different races, the term multiracial may encompass biracial people but can also include people with...
and white Haitian populace. For years, they have been shunned by the poor black Haitian because of their association with the "elite" but have gradually begun to become accepted and amicably interact with the poor masses. Arab Haitians are prominent in Haiti's business sector and consequently, a large percentage of them reside and do business in the capital of Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
. Middle class Arab Haitians often are the owners of many of the city's supermarkets.
Notable Arab and Arab-descended Haitians
- Nathalie HandalNathalie HandalNathalie Handal is a French-American poet and playwright of Palestinian origin. She has lived in Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Arab world.-Biography:...
, renowned writer, poet, and literary researcher - Antoine IzméryAntoine IzméryAntoine Izméry was a Haïtian businessman and pro-democracy activist.-Career:Izméry, who was of Palestinian descent, was among the wealthiest people in Haïti. He was one of the most prominent backers of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and helped finance his election campaign...
, murdered businessman and political activist - Roberto and Reynaldo Martino, compas musicians (partial Arabic ancestry)
- André ApaidAndré ApaidAndré Apaid, Junior, the leader of the Group of 184 in Haiti, the civil society movement which forced Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power in 2004 through a coup d'état. He is the head of Alpha Industries, one of the largest assembly factories in Haiti, and of Fondation Nouvelle Haiti, a member of the...
, American-born Haitian tycoon - Samir Mourra, Haitian businessman and 2006 Haitian Presidential candidate