List of Haitian Americans

This is a list of notable Haitian Americans, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.

To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Haitian American, or have references showing they are Haitian American and are notable.

Academia

• Claudine Gay, Harvard University's first Black person and second woman to lead the university.
• Michel DeGraff, tenured professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a founding member of the Haitian Creole Academy
• Charles L. Reason, the first Black college professor in the United States; mathematician and linguist

Artists

• John James Audubon, painter
• Jean-Michel Basquiat, artist
• Edouard Duval-Carrié, painter and sculptor
• Vladimir Cybil Charlier, visual artist
• Paul Gardère, visual artist
• Jackson Georges, painter, whose works have been on exhibit at the World Trade Art Gallery, the United Nations, and Mehu Gallery
• Ligel Lambert, mixed-media painter and educator
• Edmonia Lewis, sculptor who gained fame and recognition in the international fine arts world
• Naudline Pierre (born 1989), painter of Haitian descent, lives in Brooklyn, New York
• Patrick H. Reason, engraver
• Kathia St. Hilaire (born 1995), visual artist
• Sacha Thébaud (1934–2004), a.k.a. "Tebó", artist, sculptor, architect, furniture designer born in Haiti and known for encaustics in international contemporary fine art
• Didier William, mixed-media painter

Business

• Hurby Azor, hip-hop music producer
• Jean-Claude Brizard, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools
• Karen Civil, digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, author; CEO of KarenCivil.com, Live Civil & CMO of Marathon Agency
• Suzanne de Passe, television, music and film producer; co-chairman of de Passe Jones Entertainment Group
• Mignon Faget, fine jewelry designer
• Reggie Fils-Aimé, former president of Nintendo America
• Ralph Gilles, automobile designer (Chrysler 300)
• Viter Juste, businessman, community leader and activist
• Danielle Laraque-Arena, first woman President of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University
• Monique Péan, fine jewelry designer
• Harve Pierre, President of Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy record company
• James Rosemond, former businessman involved in the rap music industry
• Mona Scott-Young, CEO of Monami Entertainment
• Dumarsais Simeus, owner of Simeus Foods
• Vince Valholla, hip-hop music producer
• Steven Victor, record executive, artist manager, music publisher, and A&R representative.

Culinary arts

• Vanessa Cantave, co-founder and executive chef of the catering company Yum Yum

Crime

• Kendall Francois, serial killer
• James Rosemond, "Jimmy Henchman", former businessman involved in the rap music industry; convicted drug trafficker
• Rudy Eugene, "Miami Zombie" He was American of Haitian descent through his immigrant parents
• Haitian Jack, "Jacques Agnant" A Haitian who had an infamous beef with American rapper Tupac Shakur

Entertainment

Broadcasting

• Vladimir Duthiers, television news broadcaster
• Carmelau Monestime, community leader and Haitian Creole radio broadcaster
• Liliane Pierre-Paul, radio journalist famous for having a political dispute with Haitian Kompa artist turned politician Michel Martelly

Dancers

• Jean-Léon Destiné, dancer and choreographer
• Emmanuel Pierre-Antoine, dancer

Films and TV

• Eric André, actor and comedian (father is Haitian)
• Nadege August, actress
• Marlyne Barrett, actress
• Angelique Bates, actress best known for the Nickelodeon sketch-comedy series All That
• Garcelle Beauvais, actress, singer, model
• Michelle Buteau, stand-up comedian, actor
• Gabriel Casseus, actor
• Suzanne de Passe, television, music and film producer
• Alex Désert, actor
• Gary Dourdan, actor
• Mike Estime, actor
• Susan Fales-Hill, television producer, author, screenwriter
• Abner Genece, award-winning actor
• Hugues Gentillon, film director, screenwriter, and producer
• Meta Golding, actress
• Jamie Hector, actor
• Nikki M. James, Tony Award-winning actress and singer
• Kyle Jean-Baptiste, youngest actor and first black American actor to be cast as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables on Broadway
• Jimmy Jean-Louis, actor
• Vicky Jeudy, actress
• Jean-Claude La Marre, television actor, director, and film and writer
• Jerry Lamothe, screenwriter, director, producer, and actor
• Sal Masekela, television host, sports commentator, actor, and singer
• Trina McGee-Davis, actress
• Moxiie, singer
• Natalie Paul, actress
• Sharon Pierre-Louis, actress
• Josephine Premice, actress
• Sandra Prosper, actress
• Lela Rochon, actress
• Luka Sabbat, actor and model
• Alisha Wainwright, actress

Media personalities

• Kai Cenat

Models

• Joanne Borgella, fashion model
• Mama Cax, fashion model, and disabled rights activist
• Alexandra Cheron, model
• Daphnée Duplaix, actress, model and former Playboy playmate
• Tyrone Edmond, fashion model
• Marjorie Vincent, Miss America 1991

Music

• Kodak Black, Rapper
• Gaelle Adisson, singer
• Jean Beauvoir, multi-Platinum singer-songwriter, producer
• Elijah Blake, songwriter and contemporary R&B musician
• Bibi Bourelly, singer and daughter of Jean-Paul Bourelly
• Jean-Paul Bourelly, jazz fusion and blues rock guitarist
• Won-G Bruny, rapper and entrepreneur
• Capone, rapper
• Casanova, rapper of Panamanian and Haitian descent
• Alan Cavé, kompa singer
• Andrew Cyrille, jazz drummer
• Jason Derulo, singer-songwriter
• Flipp Dinero, rapper
• Sheff G, rapper of Haitian and Trinidadian descent
• Louis Moreau Gottschalk, composer and pianist
• Bigga Haitian, reggae musician
• Hoax, alternative rock band including Frantz N. Cesar of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent
• Lee Holdridge, multi-award-winning Haitian-born composer and orchestrator
• Wyclef Jean, Grammy Award-winning Haitian rapper, musician and actor
• J-Live, rapper, DJ and producer
• Jacki-O, rapper
• J. Rosamond Johnson, composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance
• David Jude Jolicoeur, also known as "Trugoy the Dove"; rapper from De La Soul
• Kangol Kid, rapper, UTFO
• Rich The Kid, rapper
• DJ Whoo Kid, DJ, producer
• Steph Lecor, singer
• Mach-Hommy, rapper
• Maxwell, Grammy Award-winning singer
• Leyla McCalla, cellist with the string band Carolina Chocolate Drops
• Travie McCoy, lead singer of the band Gym Class Heroes
• Woodson Michel, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor
• Teri Moïse, singer
• Michel Mauléart Monton, composer; notable for composing the classic song choucoune (known as "yellow bird" in the English version)
• Richard Auguste Morse, founder of a mizik rasin band, RAM, named after his initials
• Jimmy O, rapper
• Pras, Grammy Award-winning rapper and founded of The Fugees; actor
• Riva Nyri Précil, singer
• Qwote, singer
• Dawn Richard, singer
• Devyn Rose, singer
• Daniel Bernard Roumain, composer, musician
• Saigon, rapper
• Cécile McLorin Salvant, Grammy Award-winning jazz singer
• 21 Savage, rapper (paternal grandfather was of a Haitian descent)
• Melky Sedeck, contemporary R&B duo
• Smitty, rapper
• Sol, rapper
• Vince Staples, rapper
• Sergio Sylvestre, singer
• MC Tee, rapper and co-founder of Mantronix
• Jon Theodore, former drummer of The Mars Volta, current drummer for Queens of the Stone Age
• Torch, rapper
• Pastor Troy, rapper
• Black Violin, musical duo
• Sha Money XL, producer
• Tony Yayo, rapper
• Fridayy, musician
• Sarina, musician

Sports

Basketball

• Jeff Adrien, undrafted NBA free agent
• Zach Auguste, undrafted NBA free agent, former Notre Dame basketball player
• Kervin Bristol, professional basketball player currently playing for the KK Włocławek of the Polish Basketball League
• Nadine Domond, former professional basketball player
• Quincy Douby, former Sacramento Kings NBA guard and current Zhejiang Golden Bulls CBA player
• Mario Elie, former Houston Rockets NBA guard
• Marie Ferdinand-Harris, first Haitian American WNBA player drafted; former Phoenix Mercury guard
• Blake Griffin, member of the Los Angeles Clippers after being drafted 1st in the 2009 NBA draft
• Taylor Griffin, drafted by the Phoenix Suns
• Nerlens Noel, member of the Philadelphia Sixers after being drafted 6th in the 2013 NBA draft
• Eniel Polynice, member of the Atleticos de San German in the BSN of Puerto Rico
• Matisse Thybulle, 20th selection of the 2019 NBA draft.

Boxing

• Andre Berto, professional boxer, 2004 Haitian Olympian, two-time welterweight champion
• Fernando Guerrero, Haitian-Dominican-born boxer
• Erickson Lubin, professional boxer
• Melissa St. Vil, women's lightweight boxer
• Patrick Day, professional boxer

Football

• Mackensie Alexander, cornerback
• Stanley Arnoux, linebacker
• Cliff Avril, defensive end
• D'Anthony Batiste, offensive tackle
• Mackenzy Bernadeau, guard
• Giovani Bernard, running back
• Yvenson Bernard, running back
• Jacques Cesaire, defensive end
• Gosder Cherilus, offensive tackle
• Jason Chery, wide receiver
• Lewis Cine, safety
• Stalin Colinet, defensive tackle
• Antonio Cromartie, cornerback
• Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, safety
• Marcell Dareus, defensive tackle
• Louis Delmas, safety
• Pierre Desir, cornerback
• Marc Dile, guard/tackle
• Jayson DiManche, outside linebacker
• Leger Douzable, defensive end
• Vladimir Ducasse, offensive tackle
• Elvis Dumervil, defensive end
• Dominique Easley, defensive tackle
• Audric Estimé, running back
• Terrence Fede, defensive end
• Deondre Francois, quarterback
• Junior Galette, defensive end
• Pierre Garçon, wide receiver
• Ron Girault, safety
• Josh Gordon, wide receiver
• Stanley Jean-Baptiste, cornerback
• Ricky Jean-Francois, defensive tackle
• Max Jean-Gilles, guard
• Lemuel Jeanpierre, guard and center
• Rashad Jeanty, linebacker
• Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver
• Carlos Joseph, offensive tackle
• Davin Joseph, offensive guard
• Frantz Joseph, linebacker
• Johnathan Joseph, cornerback
• Karl Joseph, safety
• William Joseph, defensive tackle
• Steve Josue, linebacker
• Emmanuel Lamur, linebacker
• Sammuel Lamur, linebacker
• Corey Lemonier, defensive linebacker
• Corey Liuget, defensive end
• Henry McDonald, running back
• Whitney Mercilus, linebacker
• Sony Michel, running back
• Vernand Morency, running back
• Steve Octavien, linebacker
• Olsen Pierre, defensive end
• Kevin Pierre-Louis, linebacker
• Jason Pierre-Paul, defensive end
• Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback
• Mike Sainristil, cornerback
• Jonal Saint-Dic, defensive end
• Greg Senat, offensive tackle
• Pierre Thomas, running back
• Fitzgerald Toussaint, running back
• Jonathan Vilma, linebacker

Martial artists

• James Edson Berto, MMA fighter
• Olivier Murad, MMA fighter
• Ovince St. Preux, mixed martial artist; competes in the Light Heavyweight division for the UFC
• Adler Volmar, judoka
• Neil Magny, mixed martial artist; competes in the Welterweight division of the UFC

Soccer

• Jozy Altidore, soccer player for Toronto FC
• Gilbert Bayonne, soccer player
• John Boulos, soccer player; is in the US National Soccer Hall of Fame
• Kimberly Boulos, soccer player
• Joenal Castma, retired soccer player; played in the US and Poland
• Dave Cayemitte, soccer player (retired), now businessman
• Steward Ceus, soccer player
• Ronil Dufrene, retired soccer player
• Derrick Etienne, soccer player
• Pat Fidelia, retired soccer player
• Joe Gaetjens, member of the 1950 World Cup US National Team
• Zachary Herivaux, soccer player
• Andrew Jean-Baptiste, soccer player
• Stefan Jerome, soccer player
• Jacques LaDouceur, retired soccer player
• Jerrod Laventure, soccer player, forward (striker) for Red Bull New York)
• Benji Michel, soccer player
• Fafà Picault, soccer player
• Brian Sylvestre, soccer player
• Sébastien Thurière, soccer player

Sprinters and runners

• Dudley Dorival, Olympic hurdler
• Wadeline Jonathas, Olympic sprinter
• Nadine Faustin-Parker, Olympic hurdler who competed for Haiti in the Olympics in Sydney (2000), Athens (2004), and Beijing (2008)
• Moise Joseph, middle-distance runner; competed in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
• Barbara Pierre, track and field sprint athlete in the Pan American Games
• Marlena Wesh, sprinter competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics for Haiti
• Angie Annelus, sprinter finalist at the 2019 World Athletics Championships

Tennis

• Ronald Agénor, professional tennis player
• Victoria Duval, professional tennis player
• Jennifer Elie, professional tennis player
• Naomi Osaka, professional tennis player

Other sports

• Francis Bouillon, professional hockey player
• Dayana Cadeau, Haitian-born Canadian American professional bodybuilder
• Shad Gaspard, WWE professional wrestler
• Haiti Kid, retired WWF professional wrestler; had dwarfism
• Samyr Lainé, Olympic triple jumper; competed for Haiti at the 2012 Summer Olympics
• Rodney St. Cloud, professional bodybuilder
• Touki Toussaint, professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves

Fashion designers

• Azède Jean-Pierre
• Kerby Jean-Raymond, founder of the menswear label, Pyre Moss
• Fabrice Simon, award-winning artist and fashion designer, best known for his handmade beaded dresses

Historical personalities

• Jeremiah Hamilton, Wall Street broker noted as "the only black millionaire in New York" about a decade before the American Civil War
• Jean-Jacob Jeudy, activist, politician and currently a soldier in the United States Army
• Viter Juste, coined the name "Little Haiti" for the neighborhood in Miami which is a center of the Haitian American community in Florida; considered the father of the community in Miami
• Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, founder of the city of Chicago
• Fred Staten, Haitian-born nightclub performer and infamous Voodoo King of New Orleans, known as Chicken Man
• Charles Terres Weymann, racing pilot; flew for Nieuport during World War I as a test pilot; was awarded the rank of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour

Lawyers

• Combat Jack, hip hop music attorney and executive
• Edwin Warren Moïse, lawyer, physician and Confederate States of America
• Karl Racine, first elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia
• Mildred Trouillot, lawyer who married Jean-Bertrand Aristide

Literature

• Yamiche Alcindor, journalist
• Lylah M. Alphonse, news editor
• Elsie Augustave, author
• Dean Baquet, Pulitzer Prize-winning American journalist and the executive editor of The New York Times
• Steve Canal, author
• Jacqueline Charles, journalist
• Anne-Christine d'Adesky, journalist and activist
• Edwidge Danticat, author
• Donna Denizé, poet and award-winning teacher
• Joel Dreyfuss, journalist, editor, and writer
• Roxane Gay, writer
• Fabrice Guerrier, writer
• Nathalie Handal, award-winning poet, writer, and playwright
• Sacha Jenkins, journalist
• James Weldon Johnson, author, and civil rights activist
• Peniel E. Joseph, historian
• Josaphat-Robert Large, writer
• Dimitry Elias Léger, novelist and essayist
• Roland Martin, journalist and syndicated columnist
• Marilene Phipps, poet, painter, and short story writer
• Alvin Francis Poussaint, author
• Victor Séjour, writer
• Luisah Teish, author
• Gina Athena Ulysse, poet

Science

• Gerard A. Alphonse, electrical engineer, physicist and research scientist; 2005 president of the United States division of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Louis Gustave De Russy, engineer and U.S. army officer
• John James Audubon, naturalist
• Jean Charles Faget, physician
• Henri Ford, pediatric surgeon
• Linda Marc, public health researcher
• David Malebranche, physician working in the field of HIV/AIDS
• Hermanie Pierre, civil and environmental engineer

Political figures

• Mack Bernard, member of the Florida House of Representatives
• Rodneyse Bichotte, first Haitian American elected in New York City, representing 42nd District of the New York State Assembly
• André Birotte Jr., United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California
• Ronald Brise, Florida House of Representatives
• Eugene Bullard, first black American military pilot
• Daphne Campbell, Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives
• Josaphat Celestin, former Mayor of North Miami, Florida, and first Haitian American elected mayor of a sizable U.S. city
• Woody R. Clermont, First Haitian-American male, to be elected Judge to the Broward County Court
• Auguste Davezac, diplomat who served twice as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
• Rodolphe Desdunes, civil rights activist and militiaman involved in the Battle of Liberty Place
• René Edward De Russy, Brevet Brigadier General in the United States Army
• Jules DeMun, aristocrat
• Philippe Derose, North Miami Beach councilman
• Mathieu Eugene, New York City councilman
• Phara Souffrant Forrest, New York Assemblywoman-elect and member of the Democratic Socialists of America
• Linda Dorcena Forry, Massachusetts State Senator
• M. Rony Francois, public health director of Georgia
• Patrick Gaspard, Director of the White House Office of Political Affairs (2009–2012), United States Ambassador to South Africa (2013–2016)
• Richard Howell Gleaves, 55th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
• Lody Jean, First Haitian-American woman to be appointed to and serve on Florida's 11th Circuit Court
• Karine Jean-Pierre, 35th White House Press Secretary
• Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Member of the New York Assembly from the 11th District
• Jean Jeudy, New Hampshire State Representative
• Ruthzee Louijeune, Member of the Boston City Council at-large
• Jacques Jiha, New York City Commissioner of Finance
• John Joël Joseph, member of the Senate of Haiti
• Rita Joseph, member of the New York City Council
• Smith Joseph, mayor of North Miami
• Harry LaRosiliere, 38th mayor of Plano, Texas
• Raymond Lohier, became the first Haitian American to be confirmed (unanimously) by the United States Senate as a Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit in New York
• Mia Love, first Haitian-American and first black Republican woman in Congress; U.S. House of Representative for Utah's 4th district and former mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah
• Farah Louis, member of the New York City Council
• Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, first Haitian-American Democratic woman in Congress; U.S. House of Representative for Florida's 20th district
• Rudy Moise, retired Colonel of the United States Air Force, and politician
• Jean Monestime, first Haitian American to serve on the Miami-Dade County Commission
• Andre Pierre, former Democratic mayor of North Miami, Florida
• Pierre-Richard Prosper, ambassador, lawyer, prosecutor and government official
• Karl Racine, first elected Attorney General of the District of Columbia
• Joseph Rainey, Republican member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
• Alonzo J. Ransier, 54th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
• Kwame Raoul, 42nd Attorney General of Illinois
• Yolly Roberson, Florida State Representative
• Marie St. Fleur, former Massachusetts State Representative
• Michaelle C. Solages, represents the 22nd district in the New York State Assembly
• Brandon Tatum, former police officer, former/undrafted football player and conservative commentator

Religion

• John J. Chanche, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Natchez, 1841–1852
• Mother Mary Lange, foundress of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, Servant of God
• Mama Lola, Vodou priestess
• Pierre Toussaint, beatified candidate for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church

Others

• Stanley Barbot, radio personality based in New York City
• Jean-Robert Bellande, professional poker player, reality TV contestant, nightclub owner and promoter
• Patrick Dorismond, police abuse victim; brother of reggae artist Bigga Haitian
• Jeff Gardere, talk show host, psychiatrist and author
• Alix Idrache – Haitian–American US Army helicopter pilot
• Karine Jean-Pierre, senior advisor and national spokesperson for MoveOn.org
• Jean Paul Laurent, humanitarian
• Abner Louima, police brutality survivor
• Frantzdy Pierrot, soccer player for Maccabi Haifa

See also

• List of Haitians
• List of Haitian Canadians
• List of Louisiana Creoles
• Haitian diaspora

References