Early Haitian Influence in New Orleans

Jul 19

By Bear Gruzen

The history of the Haitian population in New Orleans begins 1,300 miles away in the Caribbean island of Hispaniola (the island which contains Haiti and the Dominican Republic). To understand the immigration of the Haitian population to New Orleans, we first need to discuss the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian Independence Movement is one of the most remarkable resistances in history, as it resulted in the first free black republic in the world. The revolution first began as a series of conflicts between the enslaved and their French oppressors. Haiti was an incredibly important colony for the French, as it was one of the world’s best suppliers of sugarcane–it was also one of the most brutal colonies. The constant heat and humidity coupled with the strenuous task of harvesting sugarcane made it one of the most inhumane instances of colonialism in the Western Hemisphere. In 1791, a group of enslaved people led by Toussaint Louverture, a brilliant military strategist and former slave, began a revolution. They won their independence from France in 1803, creating the first republic made from former slaves in the world.

Haiti unfortunately suffered greatly after gaining independence, and this sudden change caused mass waves of emigration away from the island– including gens de couleur libre (free people of color), whites, and the enslaved. Following the end of the revolution, thousands of Haitians, including former slaves and other free people of color began fleeing or were forced to the flee the recently formed republic. 90% of the refugees landed in New Orleans. Within a year, the New Orleans population had doubled due to such an influx of immigrants–by 1810, almost 10,000 migrants had arrived in New Orleans from Haiti and almost ⅔ of all residents in New Orleans were black.

There were many reasons for why New Orleans was such a desirable location– mainly because of its proximity to Haiti, and that it shared the same language and a similar climate to the island. The culture and traditions of the Haitians have had a great effect on New Orleans culture, traditions, and way of life. As is with many other cultures and nationalities, the Haitian population has greatly influenced the architecture, naming of the streets, and the overall feel of the city. This mass wave of immigration had come at the ideal time; New Orleans was devastated at that point in history – they had suffered two massive fires that had burned close to 80% of their infrastructure, this meant these mass waves of immigrants and refugees from Haiti could have a substantial impact on the future of the city.

Much of New Orleans culture is quite connected to Haiti, so much so that many do not even notice it anymore. Arguably one of the most notable ways in which Haiti has influenced New Orleans is in the food. Iconic New Orleans dishes such as red beans and rice, jambalaya, mirlitons, and okra are all very similar to those of the Haitian dishes. Needless to say, Haitians were a massive influence on the development of Creole cuisine; their presence, blended with European cultures, created what we know as Creole food today. As far as architecture goes, the shotgun houses and creole cottages that are ever present throughout the city, are commonplace in Haiti. During Mardi Gras, Krewe du Kanaval celebrates Haitian culture and heritage. The Krewe parades through the city of New Orleans ending with a ball and party. This parade reminds the city of the effect Haiti has had on the culture of New Orleans and takes pride in Haitian music, festivities, clothing, and traditions. All previously mentioned influences shows just how special New Orleans is– it's a beacon of multiculturalism and a melting pot of all sorts of different traditions from around the world.