Discourse from Haitian migrants

We draw from authors whose work focuses on the processes of assigning meaning and value to experience (Mendonça and Moriceau, 2017; Pessoa, Mantovani, and Sousa, 2019), as well as on tensions related to social imaginaries (Charaudeau, 2007; Abril, 2013; Pessoa, 2015; 2018) and critiques of racism (Mbembe, 2018). The empirical material consists of accounts from Haitians combined with excerpts from migrant testimonies published by the newspaper O Tempo. This research proposes a qualitative approach based on the analysis of these accounts, a review of the literature, and a theoretical debate based on an analytical triangulation articulating three dimensions: affects, imaginaries, and racism. These dimensions contribute to shaping scenarios of prejudice and, consequently, increase the difficulties of adaptation for these immigrants in Brazil, where they are trying to build a new life.