Abstract
This article builds upon William J. Fielding, Virginia Ballance, Carol Scriven, Thaddeus McDonald, and Pandora Johnson’s (2008) argument that there is a strong and pervasive stigma of being Haitian in The Bahamas. In this article, I build upon and support their research by using examples from 28 semi-structured interviews with adults of Haitian descent in The Bahamas which reinforce their arguments concerning stigma. In particular, I explore examples of stigma in the public hospital, speaking Haitian Creole, fear of being stopped by immigration officers, and surnames. This article will conclude by discussing the ways people of Haitian descent display acts of resistance in the face of such stigma. This is important because it demonstrates the way people of Haitian descent persevere in the face of adversity and the incessant stigma of being Haitian in The Bahamas.
Highlights
In early September 2019, Hurricane Dorian struck The Bahamas destroying businesses, homes, displacing thousands, and killing roughly seventy people
This article will conclude by discussing the ways people of Haitian descent display acts of resistance in the face of such stigma
The following three sections of this paper will look at the experiences of stigma mentioned by participants discriminatory and prejudicial treatment at public hospitals, negative reactions from Bahamians due to speaking Haitian Creole in public spaces, being stopped by immigration officers as well as the way surnames function as a means to discriminate and stigmatize individuals
Summary
In early September 2019, Hurricane Dorian struck The Bahamas destroying businesses, homes, displacing thousands, and killing roughly seventy people. I explore examples of stigma in the public hospital, speaking Haitian Creole, fear of being stopped by immigration officers, and surnames.
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