The Hidden Religion: Islam in Haiti by Steven Baboun

On Wednesday, October 28, during her My Life, My Story residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Mary J. Blige surprised the crowd by bringing @WyclefJean onstage for a performance of their 2000 hit collaboration “911.” Blige and Wyclef traded verses and chorus lines as the stage glowed in red and orange LED visuals with atmospheric smoke. The audience, phones raised, captured the energetic reunion of the two longtime collaborators.⁠ ⁠ “911,” from Wyclef’s 2000 album The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book, peaked in the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of their best-known joint tracks, blending R&B, hip-hop, and Caribbean influences. Bringing it back live during Blige’s first-ever Las Vegas residency added a nostalgic, high-energy highlight to an already memorable night that also included her direct response to a heckler.⁠ ⁠ This viral clip captures both the unfiltered stage presence the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul is known for and the seamless chemistry between her and Wyclef on one of their signature songs.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

An ICE arrest of a Haitian poultry plant worker in Temperanceville, Virginia, has spread fear among the immigrant workforce at a Tyson Foods facility and across the Delmarva Peninsula. Agricultural groups are now warning that the administration’s enforcement operations threaten the nation’s food production and grocery prices.⁠ ⁠ According to @NYTimes, on August 18, ICE agents arrested Frandrich Pierre, a Haitian asylum seeker who held a valid work permit, outside the Tyson Foods plant. Pierre had worked there for two years sorting chicken parts for $21 an hour. He was later released and has an upcoming asylum hearing. The arrest, captured on video by coworkers, prompted many Haitian workers to stop reporting to work out of fear.⁠ ⁠ The revocation of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians has led ICE to arrest people who had been living and working in the U.S. legally. The Delmarva Peninsula, spanning parts of Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, is a major poultry processing hub for large producers including Tyson, Perdue, and Mountaire. These companies have long relied on Haitian labor and, in some cases, offered to sponsor work visas and permanent residency. Now, many workers are staying home or going into hiding, leaving plants short-staffed.⁠ ⁠ While ICE has not conducted raids inside the poultry plants themselves, workers told The New York Times that companies are scrambling to hire and train replacements. None of the three major producers, Perdue, Mountaire, or Tyson, commented on the impact. Tyson has issued letters for employees to carry that ask law enforcement to “allow our team member to come to work” and state that their work is “crucial to Tyson’s continuing operations.” ⁠ ⁠ Last week, a coalition of food industry groups warned President Trump that the immigration crackdown is affecting the nation’s food supply. At a protest in Salisbury, Maryland, residents said companies are not doing enough to protect longtime immigrant employees, some of whom have worked at the plants for decades. As ICE continues deportations to Haiti, workers are being returned to a country in crisis.⁠ ⁠ Source: New York Times ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitia

Javits Frimpong, a quiet 15-year-old who left Ghana for a brighter future in New York just one year ago, was fatally shot Thursday morning steps from his Bronx home as he walked to school. His father says he knows who is responsible and points to recent bullying that led to suspensions. On Thursday, October 29, around 9:24–9:30 a.m., Javits Frimpong was ambushed in the Claremont section of the Bronx, just one block from the apartment he shared with his father. The tenth-grader at DreamYard Preparatory School was struck once in the abdomen. Surveillance video captured him running for his life as at least one person in black pursued him; he managed to run about a block before collapsing. Officers from the NYPD’s 42nd Precinct, responding to a 911 call, did not wait for an ambulance. They placed the injured teen in a patrol car and rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital. He was initially listed in stable condition after surgery but died a short time later. Police say Frimpong was the intended target. They are searching for three teenage males, described as wearing black clothing or sweatsuits and blue surgical masks, who fled the scene toward Crotona Park or Fulton Avenue. No arrests have been made, and investigators have not publicly confirmed a motive. Thomas Frimpong, 60, a yellow cab driver who has lived in New York since around 2000, brought his son from Ghana approximately one year earlier so the boy could pursue better opportunities. Javits’s mother remains in Ghana. The day before the shooting marked roughly the one-year anniversary of Javits’s arrival. Frimpong believes the killing is connected to bullying at school. He says the principal contacted him about three days earlier to report that two students had been bullying Javits and were suspended for a week. School officials told him Javits was innocent and had only been defending himself. This loss has shaken not only the Ghanaian community but immigrant families of every background who understand the sacrifices made to give children a better life in America. Our community extends its deepest condolences and solidarity. Rest in perfect peace, Javits. 🎥 Pix11 ABC7 #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Thursday posted a video of his country’s military deployment to Haiti alongside a direct message written in Kreyol, stating that El Salvador has nearly finished sending more than 2,000 soldiers and equipment to the country. In the video, which shows Salvadoran soldiers in full combat gear marching across an airport tarmac toward waiting aircraft, armored vehicles being loaded, helicopters secured onto cargo platforms, and large equipment being lifted by cranes, Bukele presented visual evidence of the mobilization he described in the accompanying text. “This is not an operation against the Haitian people, nor an invasion of the country of Haiti,” Bukele wrote. “We are not a great power. We have no interest in coming to dominate the Haitian people, nor in laying hands on Haiti’s wealth.” It comes days after four Salvadoran Air Force aviation technicians assigned to the GSF went missing following an ambush on their armored vehicle in the Croix-des-Bouquets area near Port-au-Prince on October 18. The men had been operating in non-combat roles focused on medical evacuations. No group has claimed responsibility. Bukele said the primary goal is to bring the four technicians home, while also giving “a lesson” to the gangs “that make the Haitian people suffer, that kill people the population loves, that prevent them from living a normal, free life, without fear.” He stated that El Salvador, a “modest country that is developing” is covering roughly 90 percent of the operation’s costs with its own funds, receiving only limited logistical help from other countries. Drawing a parallel to El Salvador’s own past experience with gang violence, he wrote that his country endured more than 200 years of violence and instability before achieving peace. He stressed that El Salvador’s troops did not come “to make money” but “to fight against the wicked,” adding that justice and peace have no price. The deployment has been coordinated with Haitian interim Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, who spoke with Bukele by phone and reaffirmed cooperation on security and the search for the missing technicians. #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

"🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹 wouldn’t have it no other way"⁠ 📸 ✍🏾 @Moegoin⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian #caribbean

GIVEAWAY: We're an official community partner of BAYO's 10 Year Anniversary in Little Haiti, and we're giving away tickets!⁠ ⁠ 🎟️ Every winner gets 2 tickets: ⁠ One for you and one for the person you want to go with.⁠ ⁠ To enter:⁠ 1⃣ Follow @bayotour and @rockstargames⁠ 2⃣ Repost this post⁠ 3⃣ Tag the person you want to go with in the comments⁠ ⁠ Winners will be contacted by DM and announced on November 3rd.⁠ Tickets are digital and sent by email.⁠ ⁠ #LunionSuite #BAYO #BAYOMiami ⁠ #CommunityPartner #BAYO10

From Jacmel, Haiti, to Brooklyn, New York, @JonathanPierreLafleur is building a career around something close to his heart: bringing people together through food, culture and community. ⁠ ⁠ Pierre-Lafleur has been named a finalist for the 2026 Haitian American Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, recognizing his work in the food and hospitality industry.⁠ ⁠ With more than 15 years of experience, he has built a career as a food and beverage strategist, culinary storyteller and cultural event organizer. He is the co-founder of Quartier Hospitality, Rogers Burgers and Atelier Artist, as well as the founder of Taste of Haiti NYC.⁠ ⁠ Through Rogers Burgers, which he co-founded with his husband and business partner, Josue Pierre, he has helped introduce Caribbean-inspired flavors to New York's burger scene. Their work has attracted attention from major publications, including The New York Times.⁠ But his work goes beyond restaurants.⁠ ⁠ Through Taste of Haiti NYC, Pierre-Lafleur has created opportunities for families to learn about Haitian history and traditions through food. His programming has reached institutions such as the Brooklyn Children's Museum and Brooklyn Public Library, where culinary experiences help introduce younger generations to Haitian culture.⁠ ⁠ His journey is another example of how Haitian entrepreneurs are finding creative ways to build businesses while keeping their culture at the center of what they do.⁠ ⁠ Congratulations to Jonathan Pierre-Lafleur on his nomination! 🇭🇹⁠ ⁠ Credit 📸:@mcalexanderciceron⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

El Salvador is increasing its military presence in Haiti as the search continues for four Salvadoran military personnel who disappeared following a gang attack earlier this month.⁠ ⁠ On Wednesday, October 28, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele spoke by phone with Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé about the ongoing rescue operation and security cooperation between the two countries.⁠ ⁠ According to El Salvador's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country is carrying out a large-scale military deployment involving more than 2,000 soldiers to help locate the missing men and support operations against armed gangs in Haiti.⁠ ⁠ The four Salvadorans, identified as aviation technicians, went missing on October 18 after armed gangs attacked their armored vehicle in the Croix-des-Bouquets area, outside Port-au-Prince. Although they reportedly escaped the burning vehicle, contact with them was lost.⁠ ⁠ The announcement comes just one day after Le Nouvelliste reported that 690 additional Salvadoran soldiers had arrived in Haiti, bringing the total to approximately 1,300. The latest statement from El Salvador's government now places the broader deployment at more than 2,000 troops, although it does not specify how many have already arrived.⁠ ⁠ Haiti's government also confirmed the conversation between Bukele and Fils-Aimé. Both leaders discussed strengthening cooperation to find the missing personnel and address the country's ongoing security crisis.⁠ ⁠ Bukele reaffirmed El Salvador's commitment to supporting Haiti's fight against armed gangs. However, the four missing Salvadorans have not been confirmed rescued, and their whereabouts remain unknown.⁠ ⁠ The growing military presence comes as Haiti continues struggling with gang violence, with many communities still waiting for lasting improvements in security.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

Haiti will have to wait longer to hold its next presidential election.⁠ ⁠ On Wednesday, October 28, Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) announced a new election calendar, moving the first round of presidential and legislative elections from December 13, 2026, to July 18, 2027. The second round, along with local elections, is now scheduled for October 4, 2027.⁠ ⁠ The announcement marks another delay in Haiti's efforts to return to elected leadership. The country has not held national elections since 2016 and has been without an elected president since the assassination of Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.⁠ ⁠ Under the revised schedule, the first-round campaign will run from April 15 through July 17, 2027. Preliminary presidential and legislative results are expected on July 22, with final first-round results scheduled for August 9.⁠ ⁠ The July 18 vote is also expected to include a public vote on constitutional changes. If a second round is needed, campaigning will take place from September 3 through October 2, ahead of the October 4 election.⁠ ⁠ The CEP says the revised calendar follows discussions with security officials, political leaders, civil society groups and the Haitian government.⁠ ⁠ However, organizing elections remains a major challenge as armed gangs continue to control parts of the country, forcing families from their homes and making it difficult for authorities to prepare polling locations.⁠ ⁠ The new dates provide a plan for moving forward, but they do not guarantee that elections will take place as scheduled.⁠ ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican

#LetsTalkAboutIt 🤭🇭🇹 ⁠ ✍🏾 @adonygachette⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian #caribbean

Sam Alexis, the Haitian-American forward from Apopka, Florida, recently jumped on a viral TikTok trend that pairs everyday and milestone photos with simple, affirming labels: “A Haitian,” “A smart Haitian,” “A fly Haitian,” “A curious Haitian,” “A loving Haitian,” and “A rich Haitian.”⁠ ⁠ We love an opportunity to remind people of Haitian excellence, and Alexis is living proof of it right now in Bloomington. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Indiana Hoosier from Apopka, Florida, is back for another season after a breakout 2025-26 campaign in which he set the program’s single-season field-goal percentage record and established himself as a high-energy, efficient frontcourt piece for coach Darian DeVries. In 2025-26 Alexis played in all 32 games (starting the final 23), averaging 8.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 21.3 minutes. He shot a program-record 68.7% from the field (114-of-166), breaking Thomas Bryant’s previous mark of 68.3%. He also shot a career-best 72.5% from the free-throw line, led the team with 50 dunks, posted 13 games with 10+ points (including a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double against Minnesota), and was one of Indiana’s most reliable and energetic bigs. He finished the year shooting 70.9% on two-point attempts, among the best marks in the Big Ten. @Sam4alexis announced his return for 2026-27 with a simple “RUN IT BACK.” Coach DeVries and the program have treated him as part of the roster; he has been practicing and contributed in exhibition games as Indiana prepares to open the regular season. His presence gives the Hoosiers experienced frontcourt depth and the same physicality and efficiency he showed last year. ⁠ #lunionsuite #haitianamerican #haitian

Haitian-American actor Da’Vinchi sat down with The Breakfast Club this week to address the intense backlash he received after comments made during an October appearance on Cam Newton’s Funky Friday podcast. The original remarks, touching on American work ethic, the Black diaspora, and the idea of “moving on” from slavery went viral, leading to widespread criticism and accusations of dismissing the unique nature of the transatlantic slave trade. On Tuesday’s episode, Da’Vinchi directly confronted the fallout. He noted that he is not heavily active on social media and only fully grasped the reaction after people began calling him. He firmly rejected the notion that Black Americans treat slavery as an excuse for present-day conditions. A central theme of the appearance was his repeated insistence that “moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting.” He discussed the lasting impact of trauma, referencing ideas from Dr. Bruce Lipton’s The Biology of Belief around epigenetic and cellular memory, he concept that ancestral experiences can be felt on a cellular level today. The conversation also covered systemic oppression in Black America and personal relationships. Da’Vinchi argued that everyone is entitled to their own dating preferences, but noted that fear of cultural backlash has led some people to keep interracial relationships private. Haiti was raised as a direct parallel during the discussion. Charlamagne tha God pointed out that Haiti is “a nation whose history [is] profoundly shaped by slavery, colonialism, foreign intervention, [and] exploitation of its economics,” then asked whether Da’Vinchi would tell Haitian people to simply move on from that history. Da’Vinchi responded by citing Jean-Baptiste Point du Sable, the Haitian-born pioneer widely recognized as the founder of Chicago. He said he would encourage Haitians to “move forward the same way” du Sable did when he left Saint-Domingue and established a thriving trading post that became the foundation of one of America’s major cities. The appearance has continued to generate discussion across the diaspora about history, identity, and accountability. 🎥 @breakfastclubam #lunionsuite #haitianamerican