Zephir explores Haitians\u27 identification with Americans through the transitional nature of Haitians\u27 ethnicity, roles of languages, the roles of bilingual educational programs, the generational transmission of Haitian ethnicity, and Haitians\u27 and Black Americans\u27 relationships. For historians and sociologists who are unfamiliar with the history of Haiti and Haitians in American, this book is informative and insightful, especially because of its useful maps and tables. Scholars interested in migration and adaptation are provided with helpful demographic information on Haitians\u27 immigration and settlement in America. Very relevant is a critical discussion of Haiti\u27s history and the resulting effects in the behavior and attitudes of Haitian immigrants in New York

Mendoza, Aloma M.

English

VCU Scholars Compass

Book Reviews 
Flore Zephir. Haitian Immigrants in Black America: A Sociological 
and Sociolinguistic Portrait. (Westport, Connecticut: Bergin & 
Garvey, 1 996). 1 80 pp. ,  $59.95 cloth. 
Zeph i r  explores Haitians' identification with Americans through 
the transit ional nature of Hait ians' ethnicity, roles of languages, the ro les 
of b i l i ngual  educational programs, the generational transmission of Hai­
t ian ethnic ity, and Hait ians' and B lack Americans' relationships.  For his­
torians and sociologists who are unfami l iar  with the h istory of Hait i  and 
Hait ians i n  American,  th is book is informative and ins ightfu l ,  especial ly 
because of its useful maps and tables . 
Scholars interested in migration and adaptation are provided 
with helpful demographic information on Haitians' immigration and settle­
ment in America. Very relevant is a critical d iscussion of Hait i 's h istory 
and the resulting effects in  the behavior and attitudes of Haitian immi­
g rants in New York. 
Haitians' t rip le invis ib i l ity is explained with reference to their d i ­
lemma over ethn ic ity, race and language.  Their notion of race and 
ethn icity confl icts with that of Americans. Hence, this theme of subordi­
nation based on blackness in  America, becomes Haitians' quest not to 
be B lack Americans o r  African Americans, but to ident ify themselves 
through their  ethn icity and cu ltu re .  The effects these issues have on 
Hait ians' sett lement in New York when they real ize that i nequal ity is part 
of their American existence would encourage i nteresting scholarly dis­
cussions. Zeph i r  explores Hait ians' ethnocentric perspectives on Afri­
can Americans. Haitians identify with African Americans' struggle against 
racism, but bel ieve i n  H aitians' ethn ic superiority. Their views on assimi­
lation ,  isolation ,  i ntermarriage, and adaptation show their strong need to 
be Haitians whi le maintain ing strong cu ltu ral t ies to the i r  homeland. 
Zeph i r  makes a genuine ly interest ing argument for language 
being "real" and essential as Haitians' col lective inheritance - the un it ing 
force in  the construction of thei r identity. The notion of ethnol inguistic 
vital ity us ing status,  demography, and institutional support shows that 
Haitians are not ambivalent about their d ist inctiveness in  US society. 
Creole language is a marker of ethnol inguistic identity, serving 
as an emblem of ethnicity to combat American racism. Haitians seek to 
preserve their  d istinctiveness and educate others about those d istinct 
features.  Social c lass defin it ion is bu i lt around the symbolic functioning 
of language, for French is a social marker not an ethnic one. 
The specific functions of Creole, French, and Engl ish languages 
are d iscussed in the context of ethnic maintenance. Haitians' patterns 
of language use involving h igh and low density networks of individuals, 
code-switching to denote class d ivisions, and intimate versus nonintimate 
relations should be i nteresting to l inguists. 
The examination of· cu ltural aspects of hegemonic relations be-
243 
Ethnic Studies Review Vol. 19, No. 1 
tween White Americans and Haitians is a topic that is relevant to schol­
ars interested in  cultural p lural ism. Although Zeph i r  specifical ly referred 
to educators, this book makes a poignant case for publ ic and private 
pol icymakers to seriously review their notions of a mult icultural America, 
where equal ity of conditions and status for each citizen should be a 
real ity. 
This book also cautions us to socio-psycholog ical ly, histo rical ly, 
and pol itically review our notion of skin  color as a un ifying force among 
various Black groups, who wish to retain the i r  cultu res and national it ies, 
because there is  no monolithic minority and Black population in  Ameri­
can society. Although some of Zephi r's ideas and Hait ians bel iefs are 
shared by other Black Engl ish Caribbean immigrants, there are many 
obvious d ifferences with respect to languages and Haiti's h isto ry which 
this book h igh l ights . 
244 
Aloma M .  Mendoza 
National-Louis U n ivers ity 


[Review of] Flore Zephir, Haitian Immigrants in Black American: A Sociological and Sociolinguistic Portrait

Book Reviews Flore Zephir. Haitian Immigrants in Black America: A Sociological and Sociolinguistic Portrait. (Westport, Connecticut: Bergin & Garvey, 1 996). 1 80 pp. ,  $59.95 cloth. Zeph i r  explores Haitians' identification with Americans through the transit ional nature of Hait ians' ethnicity, roles of languages, the ro les of b i l i ngual  educational programs, the generational transmission of Hai­t ian ethnic ity, and Hait ians' and B lack Americans' relationships.  For his­torians and sociologists who are unfami l iar  with the h istory of Hait i  and Hait ians i n  American,  th is book is informative and ins ightfu l ,  especial ly because of its useful maps and tables . Scholars interested in migration and adaptation are provided with helpful demographic information on Haitians' immigration and settle­ment in America. Very relevant is a critical d iscussion of Hait i 's h istory and the resulting effects in  the behavior and attitudes of Haitian immi­g rants in New York. Haitians' t rip le invis ib i l ity is explained with reference to their d i ­lemma over ethn ic ity, race and language.  Their notion of race and ethn icity confl icts with that of Americans. Hence, this theme of subordi­nation based on blackness in  America, becomes Haitians' quest not to be B lack Americans o r  African Americans, but to ident ify themselves through their  ethn icity and cu ltu re .  The effects these issues have on Hait ians' sett lement in New York when they real ize that i nequal ity is part of their American existence would encourage i nteresting scholarly dis­cussions. Zeph i r  explores Hait ians' ethnocentric perspectives on Afri­can Americans. Haitians identify with African Americans' struggle against racism, but bel ieve i n  H aitians' ethn ic superiority. Their views on assimi­lation ,  isolation ,  i ntermarriage, and adaptation show their strong need to be Haitians whi le maintain ing strong cu ltu ral t ies to the i r  homeland. Zeph i r  makes a genuine ly interest ing argument for language being "real" and essential as Haitians' col lective inheritance - the un it ing force in  the construction of thei r identity. The notion of ethnol inguistic vital ity us ing status,  demography, and institutional support shows that Haitians are not ambivalent about their d ist inctiveness in  US society. Creole language is a marker of ethnol inguistic identity, serving as an emblem of ethnicity to combat American racism. Haitians seek to preserve their  d istinctiveness and educate others about those d istinct features.  Social c lass defin it ion is bu i lt around the symbolic functioning of language, for French is a social marker not an ethnic one. The specific functions of Creole, French, and Engl ish languages are d iscussed in the context of ethnic maintenance. Haitians' patterns of language use involving h igh and low density networks of individuals, code-switching to denote class d ivisions, and intimate versus nonintimate relations should be i nteresting to l inguists. The examination of· cu ltural aspects of hegemonic relations be-243 Ethnic Studies Review Vol. 19, No. 1 tween White Americans and Haitians is a topic that is relevant to schol­ars interested in  cultural p lural ism. Although Zeph i r  specifical ly referred to educators, this book makes a poignant case for publ ic and private pol icymakers to seriously review their notions of a mult icultural America, where equal ity of conditions and status for each citizen should be a real ity. This book also cautions us to socio-psycholog ical ly, histo rical ly, and pol itically review our notion of skin  color as a un ifying force among various Black groups, who wish to retain the i r  cultu res and national it ies, because there is  no monolithic minority and Black population in  Ameri­can society. Although some of Zephi r's ideas and Hait ians bel iefs are shared by other Black Engl ish Caribbean immigrants, there are many obvious d ifferences with respect to languages and Haiti's h isto ry which this book h igh l ights . 244 Aloma M .  Mendoza National-Louis U n ivers ity 

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[Review of] Flore Zephir, Haitian Immigrants in Black American: A Sociological and Sociolinguistic Portrait

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