Haitians headline ‘Caribbean Americans for Harris’ call as identity enters presidential race

The strains of Carimi’s body swaying-inducing “Are you ready”  greeted attendees as they logged on to the Rally for Kamala National Call virtual panel of Caribbean Americans last Thursday. The konpa song set the vibe for what would turn out to be a heavy Haitian presence on the fundraising call to support the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris, with Haitian American actor Jimmy Jean-Louis and U.S. Rep. Shirley Cherfilus-McCormick among the headliners.

“What a time to be alive,” Cherfilus-McCormick, the sole Haitian American representative in Congress, said on the Aug. 1 call. “Who would’ve thought this Caribbean girl is about to be the president of the United States? 

“This is our destiny moment,” the Florida congresswoman continued, encouraging attendees to turn out voters. “Right here, right now, if you are alive today, it’s for us to take our spot in history and to make this moment a reality.”

Organized by a group of Caribbean American politicos and leaders, including Florida-based attorney Marlon Hill, the 2-hour Zoom call drew about 1,900 attendees and 12,000 views on YouTube as of Friday. The turnout indicates the energy Harris’ candidacy has injected into a traditionally Democratic circle that had become resigned to supporting President Joe Biden. With Biden dropping out and endorsing Harris, the spike in interest that helped Harris raise $200 million in one week in July also electrified Caribbean American voters. Interest in her skyrocketed to a fever pitch among many immigrant groups after Republican nominee Donald Trump questioned her Blackness during a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists conference last week. 

The excitement was clear on the Caribbean Americans for Harris call, which took place the day after Trump’s comments about her “turning Black.” On YouTube, where live views reached nearly 1,400 at times, participants posted nonstop comments that showcased not only their support for a Harris ticket, but solidarity and kinship across the Caribbean-born Americans. 

As a parade of celebrities, elected officials and community advocates appeared during the 2-hour panel, so did scores of colorful Caribbean flags next to the names of viewers from across the United States. Some posted laughing emojis when actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, a Jamaican American said when opening the call that “we need some rice and peas in the White House.” Others mentioned roti, doubles and other Caribbean dishes.

Haitians often interjected with a “sak pase,” “l’union fait la force,” and Haiti’s red-and-blue bicolore. And they cheered on Jean-Louis, who closed out the call.

“All my Haitians, make sure you vote,” Jean-Louis said in Creole.  “Everybody out there, in general, go out there. Speak to your family, speak to your friends and just go out there and vote because every vote counts. Go, Kamala.”

The Los Angeles-based actor, who came to mainstream fame as The Haitian in NBC’s “Heroes,” said the last time he was this energized was for Barack Obama in 2008. Now, having a president of Caribbean origin would mean that much more for anyone who dreams of making it in America. As Sidney Poitier inspired him as an actor, so too would having “President Harris” inspire youngsters and Black people worldwide.

“Don’t just say you’re going to vote, don’t just make a plan to vote,”  Cherfilus-McCormick said. “Get every single person connected to you – all your children, your aunties, your uncles – everyone must be ready to vote so we can make this a reality for her.”

That message needs to reach U.S. citizens who may be living in the islands so they can register to vote or plan to cast an absentee ballot in time. Permanent residents who are not eligible to vote can also get involved by donating, engaging, volunteering, and persuading their family and friends who are U.S. citizens to register and vote.

On Aug. 25, the group plans to hold a Sunday dinner virtually to keep the momentum going.

“Whether we’re eating rice and peas, whether we’re eating griot or whether we’re eating doubles, we all share a common experience as people of immigrant descent,” Hill said. “It’s important that we celebrate each other in this way and leverage the power of our culture.” 

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