Haitian and Cuban immigrants in Miami, Florida: are they more similar than they are different?

Abstract

ABSTRACT There has been significant research done on the assimilation patterns of immigrants in the US, particularly immigrants of color. However, since fewer studies have focused on Afro-Caribbean and Cuban immigrants, this research extends the literature beyond its current scope by providing a comparative analysis of Haitian and Cuban immigrants, two immigrant groups in Miami, Florida, that have received very little attention comparatively regarding assimilation. Using data from approximately 100 Haitian and Cuban immigrants in and around Little Haiti and Little Havana, the research demonstrates that though both groups are racially and ethnically diverse, assimilation patterns do not prove to be distinctive. Interestingly, the results of this study will also show that for this sample of immigrants, their experiences are relatively similar economically, politically, and culturally. Further, findings challenge classical, segmented and new assimilation theories because they inadequately provide insight on the new wave of immigrants.