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. and the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean nations. They live in 14 countries, including Canada. Most live in Quebec, where they share the French language. From the 1960s to 1980s, Haitians came to Canada to flee from a dictatorship. Commonly, such political refugees are the better educated population.
Haitians in Canada commonly stay in tune with what is happening in Haiti. They often own their own shops—Canada usually allows the better educated and connected people to migrate to their country.
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.
Poverty has been a major scourge for Haitians, not only in Haiti but everywhere else they live.
Pray for Haitians in Canada 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 Canada.
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_Canadians
| Profile Source: Joshua Project |
