STAND WITH HAITIANS

Join the Stand With Haitians Campaign!

TAKE ACTION NOW!

A collaborative campaign with Haitian American Foundation for Democracy and Haitian Bridge Alliance

Many politicians and media personalities have disseminated racist and baseless accusations about Haitians widely through mainstream media, social media, rallies and through communications to their constituents throughout the US, as a way of demonizing Haitians and dehumanizing immigrants everywhere. This action campaign targets major media personalities and celebrities, asking them to stand with Haitians by doing a segment to counter the lies and offer another perspective to the American public about Haiti and Haitian immigrants.

Our goal is to change the current narrative about Haitians during this critical moment in the US. 

How to participate:

  1. In your gift bag, you will find two blank postcards that say “Stand With Haitians” along with this card. Use the talking points and statistics listed here along with your own words to send a message to one of the media targets listed below. You can fill the postcards out during the Change the Narrative workshop on Sunday morning at 10am, or at any time over the weekend. Then return them to a member of the HAFFD or HRC team and we will make sure they get delivered for you.

  2. Use social media to expand this campaign even further by sending messages to both the media and celebrity targets.



Some suggestions on what to include in your messages and social media posts:

  • Ask them to take a stand against the hate targeting Haitians by doing a segment on their show or posting their support using #StandWithHaitians

  • Ask them to call for the immediate halting of all deportations to Haiti #stopdeportingHaitians

  • Statistics about Haitian Americans and their contributions in the US 

  • Share your own story about Haiti or immigrating to the US 

  • Offer yourself as a voice that can respond to the negative stories about Haiti and/or refer them to HAFFD for more information 

Facts about the Haitian Diaspora in the US

1.2 million people in the United States with Haitian identities. Haitian Americans are a diverse population. Almost 40% of them were born in the United States. 

Haitian Americans can be found in every state and the District of Columbia, but the numbers vary tremendously. 

Choose 1-2 media personality to send your postcards to:

  • Oprah Winfrey, C/o OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network, 1041 N. Formosa Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046

  • Stephen Colbert, The Late Show, 1697 Broadway, New York NY 10019

  • Jennifer Hudson, Warner Bros., 4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91522

  • Drew Barrymore, The Drew Barrymore Show: Attn: Dear Drew, 524 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019

Send posts on social media platforms to these celebrities:

  • Kerry Washington, @KerryWashington

  • Tracee Ellis Ross, @traceeellisross

  • Reese Witherspoon, IG: @reesewitherspoon, X: @ReeseW

  • Lionel Messi, @leomessi

Today, many Haitian Americans serve as elected officials at all levels of government.

A fifth (21.3 percent) of Haitian Americans work in the healthcare industry. Many of them are nurses, nursing aides, and other hospital workers. 

  • The second largest industry for Haitian Americans is the broad retail category. Almost a fifth (18.7 percent) of Haitian Americans are in this sector, working as cashiers, cooks, stock clerks, and a wide range of other jobs. 

  • The third largest industry category for Haitian Americans is education and social services, with 15.3 percent of them employed in this sector. Many Haitian Americans in this sector work as teachers and teacher assistants.

  • In addition to their care work in hospital and health care facilities, Haitian Americans can also be found doing care work as home health aides. 

(Source: https://cepr.net/haitian-americans-a-socioeconomic-snapshot/)