In Danticat’s Children of the Sea, the reader is lead through an autobiographic narrative of Haitians immigrating to the US. The creative non-fiction story consists of letter communications between a couple that was separated by immigration. These letters recount the horrific conditions that the immigrants were willing to endure in order to reach American shores. Utilizing the Push/Pull Theory, allow me to examine the factors that both forced Haitians and Cubans citizens out of their country and attracted the immigrants to America.

                Perhaps the most compelling factor that pushed the Haitians immigrants from their country was the aggressive Haiti military state that constantly inflicted violence upon people. As eloquently remarked by the woman letter writer when describing home, there was “Bullets day and night and everywhere” (Danticat, p. 4). The powerful military state patrolled soldiers on the streets who often performed massive demonstration of genocide (p. 22, & 28). If one was suspected of being associated with the underground or were to express resentment toward the state, soldiers would instantly execute the person within their houses or streets (p. 17-18, & 24). Despite the fact that immigrants’ motives for abandoning Haiti and Cuba were tangible, the question remains: Were the immigrant’s American dreams also pulling them through the harsh voyage?

                The pull factors that drove the Haitian immigrants to endure the hardships of the voyage were abstract. Probably the most clearly defined factor pulling the immigrants to the US is best exemplified by the motives of Celienne, “papa,” and the refugee with the broken leg. All three of these immigrants seek asylum in America. Celienna wanted to bury her humiliating past (Danticat, p. 23). Papa, or the father of the young lady, only wanted to live and protect his family (p. 16-17, 19, & 24). And the refugee wished to escape from the Haitian government (p. 8). In addition to these dreams, the immigrants were perhaps attracted to America’s work, and educational opportunities (p. 31). According to the immigrants, the benefits of safely arriving in America exceeded the cost of either dying or suffering at sea.

                Despite the uncertainties of migrating to America, the Haitian immigrants pressed forward to the US because they were pushed by political oppression and pulled by American liberty.

Work Count: 350

References

Danticat, E. (1995). Children of the sea. In Krik? krak! New York: Soho Press.