Why Little Haiti in Brooklyn?
According to the most recent American Community Survey, Haitians are the largest immigrant group in Flatbush and make up more than 20% of the foreign-born population in this neighborhood. Naturally, this neighborhood has become the heart of our Haitian Diaspora’s cultural and commercial corridor. Hundreds of thousands of our community members come to this area to worship, purchase goods and services, and enjoy each other’s company.
However, Brooklyn is facing a wave of gentrification that threatens to displace Flatbush’s Haitian Diaspora. Furthermore, our community is now on the receiving end of unjust rhetoric and anti-immigrant policies that jeopardize our safety and security. This includes: the possible expiration of Temporary Protected Status for 50,000 Haitians, many of whom found refuge in Flatbush after the catastrophic earthquake of 2010.; The ending of H2A and H2B Visa for Haitians; and other immigration policies affecting the Haitian community.
