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There are quite a few people in Haiti whose ancestors were Poles or Germans. Haitian 1805 Constitution states that no white man may reside in Haiti except for Poles and Germans. There are still people with blue eyes or lighter skin and hair in Haiti, some living in a village of Cazole for instance. Here is a story: Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti « Raf Uzar
there is a documentary about them and polish photograpaher went to the region where their descendants live and did a photo journalism project on their direct descendants. there are a few of them that could almost pass for polish.
I wondered why some of my Haitian friends had Polish surnames.
I've met white Haitians in the NE Dade sector at FIU north campus and its surrounding areas.
popular area for Haitians in general. many Haitians are going to the USA for education in places like florida at one time france was the favored area and still is for education but most Haitians od European and middle eastern background migrate to Florida and NY like most Haitians.
There are quite a few people in Haiti whose ancestors were Poles or Germans. Haitian 1805 Constitution states that no white man may reside in Haiti except for Poles and Germans. There are still people with blue eyes or lighter skin and hair in Haiti, some living in a village of Cazole for instance. Here is a story: Lost Polish Tribe on Haiti « Raf Uzar
there is a small documentary about this and there are interviews the polish lineal descendants within the documentary. also a polish photo journalist did an amazing project on the people of polish heritage within Haiti you should check it
popular area for Haitians in general. many Haitians are going to the USA for education in places like florida at one time france was the favored area and still is for education but most Haitians od European and middle eastern background migrate to Florida and NY like most Haitians.
Canada is a popular destination for Haitians also as well.
Yep, there were a lot of Spaniards, French, Jews, Polish, Germans, Syrians, Lebanese, and North Africans, and Arabs that came to Haiti since 1492.
I thought the whole island was Spanish for 205 years (1492-1697) and what allowed the French to settle in the western fringe was the forced depopulation of the western part (moved the entire population closer to the capital city Santo Domingo) by the Spanish government. A group of French pirates found the northwestern coast completely depopulated and filled with wild cattle that were left by the Spanish. This was the reason why the French pirates decided to settle, in Tortuga island and then on the main island, in order to sell the cow hides to Europe.
How is it possible that Haiti received a lot of Spaniards since 1492 when most of the Spaniards in Haitian territory abandoned that part of the island almost a century before the island was officially split between France and Spain?
In fact, none of the other groups arrived since 1492. The largest French migration wave took place after 1697, the Polish migration took place in the early 1800's via Napoleon's army; the Germans, Syrians, Lebanese, and other Arabs arrived in the mid to late 1800's. Even the African slaves, most were imported in the mid to late 1700's. In fact, at the time of Haiti's independence in 1804 something like half of all the blacks were born in Africa and most of the remainder didn't had more than 2 or 3 generations born on the island.
I think its safe to assume that the overwhelming majority (if not all) of the lineages that have ties to that island since 1492 or even since before are in the former Spanish part (Dominican Republic) than in Haiti. In fact, quite a few Dominican families are related to several Spanish conquistadors that conquered the American continent (for example, the Valverde family are related to Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru; another example are the direct descendants of Juan Ponce de Leon, settler of Puerto Rico and discoverer of Florida, still live in that country.)
The real beginning of the history of Haiti starts with the arrival of the French. Had the French never arrived almost two centuries after 1492, Haiti would had never emerged as an independent country.
I thought the whole island was Spanish for 205 years (1492-1697) and what allowed the French to settle in the western fringe was the forced depopulation of the western part (moved the entire population closer to the capital city Santo Domingo) by the Spanish government. A group of French pirates found the northwestern coast completely depopulated and filled with wild cattle that were left by the Spanish. This was the reason why the French pirates decided to settle, in Tortuga island and then on the main island, in order to sell the cow hides to Europe.
How is it possible that Haiti received a lot of Spaniards since 1492 when most of the Spaniards in Haitian territory abandoned that part of the island almost a century before the island was officially split between France and Spain?
In fact, none of the other groups arrived since 1492. The largest French migration wave took place after 1697, the Polish migration took place in the early 1800's via Napoleon's army; the Germans, Syrians, Lebanese, and other Arabs arrived in the mid to late 1800's. Even the African slaves, most were imported in the mid to late 1700's. In fact, at the time of Haiti's independence in 1804 something like half of all the blacks were born in Africa and most of the remainder didn't had more than 2 or 3 generations born on the island.
I think its safe to assume that the overwhelming majority (if not all) of the lineages that have ties to that island since 1492 or even since before are in the former Spanish part (Dominican Republic) than in Haiti. In fact, quite a few Dominican families are related to several Spanish conquistadors that conquered the American continent (for example, the Valverde family are related to Francisco Pizarro, the conqueror of Peru; another example are the direct descendants of Juan Ponce de Leon, settler of Puerto Rico and discoverer of Florida, still live in that country.)
The real beginning of the history of Haiti starts with the arrival of the French. Had the French never arrived almost two centuries after 1492, Haiti would had never emerged as an independent country.
I personally know Haitians of Spanish background. people of a direct spanish lineage or more often a result of more recent migrations. the late 19th century and early to mid 20th century saw sizable migrations to Haiti from many parts of the world. They are much more rare now since the Duvalier take over.
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