Introduction / History

Haitians are almost entirely descended from African slaves, who were brought to Haiti by European colonizers. Their job was to harvest sugar, coffee, and timber. Then, in the 1790s, former slaves Toussaint L'Ouverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines rebelled against France. They won their independence from France in 1804.

However, since its independence, centuries of economic, political, and social difficulties have put Haitians in severe poverty. A century of paying reparations to France (amounting to $22 billion in today's money) prevented Haiti from developing its infrastructure and society. It is now the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of Haitians in poverty and 60% unemployed, and the number may continue to rise.

About 40% of Haitians live in the country, but due to lower prices in food imports, an increasing number are moving to urban areas. Many are even emigrating, sometimes illegally, to other countries like Canada, the U.S., the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean nations such as Cuba. Haitians have settled in Cuba as far back as colonial days. In the late 1700s to early 1800s, French colonialists fled to Cuba with Haitian slaves. In the 1800s more fled Haiti because of the American occupancy of the island.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Most Haitians in Cuba work on farms and sugar cane plantations far from urban centers. Their language barrier and their lack of education, prevents them from rising above farm work. They teach their own children in Creole, which helps them keep their culture but prevents them from job opportunities. Also to keep their culture alive, Haitians have their own cultural organizations in Cuba.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Some Haitians practice voodoo. Others are Christians in name only who believe that tradition is the way to salvation. More than half of the population identifies itself as Roman Catholic, with 1/4 being Protestant. Older Protestant denominations like Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were established in the 1800s, while Baptists, Mormons, and Seventh-day Adventists came from 1915-1934 when the U.S. occupied the country. Western culture has been an influence on the country, causing some Haitians to replace faith with secularism.

What Are Their Needs?

Haitians in Cuba need to learn Spanish and get practical training to rise above farm work.

Prayer Items

Pray for the Lord to raise up servant leaders in Haiti who can lead them out of poverty.
Pray for them to get training that will lead Haitians into high-paying jobs.
Pray for a Holy Spirit-empowered revival that will purify their churches and thrust them out as a mission force to the spiritually lost.
Pray for Haitian disciples who will make more disciples who will bring light to their dark circumstances.

Scripture Prayers for the Haitian in Cuba.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Haiti
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-47799258
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development https://www.britannica.com/place/Haiti/Government-and-society https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2008/jul/29/food.internationalaidanddevelopment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Cuban
https://www.afrocubaweb.com/haiticuba.htm