Fifteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

In the last few decades, and especially in the last ten years or so, Haitian migration to Guadeloupe has been on the rise. Political instability, poverty, earthquakes, hurricanes, and diseases in Haiti may account for this surge in Haitian migration (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs). Guadeloupe, a French Department, has become particularly attractive to Haitian migrants due to their linguistic (Creole and French), cultural and historic (both former French colonies), geographic proximities; economic and political stability (relatively speaking); and finally, the availability of the French Government’s social safety net (Bégot sec. 2). Guadeloupe’s geography, with access to its main islands by boat through short channels of water from the islets of Marie Galante and Les Saintes, also makes its borders somewhat porous and easily accessible for migrants. Despite their economic and cultural contributions, discrimination against the Haitians is very apparent in Guadeloupe. The Haitians are considered the “other”, the inferior ones. Sentiments of prejudice, negativity, and resistance to their presence by those that consider themselves the established communities can be seen and heard even by casual visitors to the island. This paper explores attempts made by these Haitian refugees to build a community within a hostile environment and create a unique space among native Guadeloupeans with whom they share so much of their historic and cultural narratives.