“Dominicans celebrate a day in which they supposedly freed themselves from the Haitians. What everyone seems to forget is that the Haitians abolished slavery in DR, these actions enabled the lower class to own land. Spain tried to re establish slavery in DR during 1822 but Haitian President Jean-Pierre Boyer sent an army to fight Spain's attempts to recolonize DR. The Haitians were successful and once again abolished slavery (for the second time). Dominicans (as a whole) lack confidence and pride in their African ancestry. This fact is the only reason why DR submitted itself to Spain's rule for 72 years during the 19th century (Ya would rather face colonization and enslavement AGAIN than be associated with your black side?). You guys are begging for the attention of a step parent who doesn't even want you unless its for physical labor purposes. Nothing about DR's culture says Spain except the language. The food, music, and spirituality are all African based, with the exception of a few Taino (who for the most part were killed by disease or murder) influences on the whole island. Know some history the next time you pop open that Brugal and celebrate "freedom". ”
—my boy droppin knowledge on the history of Dominican Independence
yourparentsjust asked: Do you know why there is tention between many Haitians and Dominicans ?
there’s a history of tension between DR and Haiti that isn’t so pretty, and the division is more complex than i had originally thought. it’s more than saying that dominicans are anti black. to say this is to ignore the notion of nationalism that took place in the development of the DR.
scholar Eugenio Matibag in Haitian-Dominican Counterpoint states five time periods that contributed to the island division:
- the colonial immigration of French settlers and Spanish colonizers and the delivery of enslaved Africans into a space already inhabited by indigenous ppl
- the Haitian Revolution in 1801 after which Haiti controlled the entire island of Espaniola/Hayti for 22 yrs
- Dominican independence from Haiti in 1844 in which Dominicans developed their own national identity
- Dominican Dictator Rafael Trujillo’s and his antihaitianismo until 1961, and Haitian Dictator Francois Duvalier until 1971
- the post dictatorship period
so basically, the tension grew out of many different factors. i think the main one is that, after Haitians won independence and controlled the island between 1822-1844, Dominicans, particularly those lighter skinned, felt they were being dominated by free blacks and wanted to have their own nation separate from black people. <this is my assumption.
another scholar, Dominican/Haitian Silvio Torres-Saillant in “Introduction to Dominican Blackness”, argues that the racial dynamics in DR is complex and distinct from the one we find here in the U.S. where racism is clearcut between white and black/people of color (poc),.but in DR it’s very complicated.
due to the history of slavery and the interracial rape and marriage between colonizers and the enslaved, a larger brown/mulatto class grew and moved up the ranks. this is why Dominicans are so racially mixed. Torres-Saillant calls this a “deracialized black consciousness” in which Dominicans do not necessarily identify so much as black as they do as nationally Dominican distinct from Haitians.
it’s interestin to note tho that Hispaniola/Hayti is the only island in the Caribbean to be divided into two nations.
also, it was Haiti that abolished slavery in DR. so why do many Dominicans want to hold onto an elitist, colonizer white European identity? somethin to think about. read the above linked publications for more info.
Why the US Owes Haiti Billions by Bill Quigley (Plus, the $22B France Owes Haiti)
hondurasoye.wordpress.comThe reparation money that Haiti was forced to pay France after the revolution to gain its independence ($1 billion then, $22 billion today) destabilized the Haitian economy during the 19th century. During this time, Haiti had political and economic control of the island. This opened an opportunity for Dominicans to fight Haiti for their independence.
When it comes down to it, the whole drive for Dominicans independence came from the open window of opportunity for them to establish their own nation away from Haitians. This doesn’t mean that Dominicans didn’t have a right to have their own nation; Dominicans did have a distinct culture which was different from that of Haitians. However, this history sheds some light on the reality of the situation and the real driving force for Dominican independence.
So if Haitians didn’t have to pay all that money to France, I coulda been Haitian!!!
You know you're haitian,
YOU KNOW YOUR HAITIAN WHEN……..
1.) When your parents use L’huile Mascreti to cure fever, cold, toothache, stomach ache… pou tout bagaye’
2.) when your parents call all gum “chiclets”
3.) your parents would keep a bucket in the tub to take a twalet.
4.) your parents are talking loud on the phone when their talking to people in Haiti.
5.) When u say, “wap kon George”, but don’t who the hell George is and why u need to know him….
6.) When your parents got a “bokite pipi” in their room for the night
7.) When u drink “soup joumou” on New Year’s day-all day!
8.) On Sunday and you’ve done or will do at least 2 of these: Manje diri ak sos pwa ak on ti poul, Bwe soup, Bwe chokola, Manje pate, Al legliz, Al vizite fanmi’w yo, Fe on ti zin duri blanc avec sause pwa on Sundays!!..lol
9.) your Mom would comb your hair with barrett, boul gogo or ribbons in your head.
10.) when you would ask too many questions and your mom would gets pissed and say “pas amered’m” lol.
11.) when your parents at least told you once ” ” map voye-ou ale Haiti
12.) when u tell your parents there is someone at your school/job with the same last name and they say, “oh se vwe?, sa se cuzem.”
13.)when you still have a plastic cover over your furniture..
14.) when your at a funeral and have at least two family members yelling “AMWEY” throughout the entire service.
15.) when u would ask your parents for the latest clothing or sneaker they would tell you that they don’t send you to school for “fashion”,lol
16.)when you eat spaghetti and hot dogs and put ketchup on it.
17.)when your parents think getting your hair braided are for vacabons, lmao.
18.) when you eat deree (rice) with every meal
19.) when you come back from Haiti with the yellow box (5 Star Barboncourt).
20.) when you take pictures you always have to stand next to flowers or tree lol
21.) when your thru eating off a chicken bone, you still keep licking and sucking the bone , and try to suck some marrow out.
22.) when people find out you’re going to Haiti, they give you a shit load of things to bring to people you don’t even know..and when you come back, you bring people all kinds of herbs,food,materials…
23.) if your first name is : Vladimir,Dimitri,Tatiana,Katiana,Jimmy, Jerry, Steve(n), Rodney, Cassandra,Fritz,Jean,Emmanuel,Hervey,Pharah,Joel, Edwidge, Jean, Timothy,Gabriel,Marie, Martine,MiMi, Michelle, Nadege, Junior,Joseph,Jhoanne, Guerline, Yolande, Astride, Natasha,Peter,Fred,Jonathan, Rachelle,Mirlande,James, Judy, Alexis, Felicia, Pierre, Donald, if u got a ROSE in your name
24.) when you have a bunch in bilblos (figurines) in their living room
25.) If you think you’re going to call Child Services after your parents beat that @$$, they will beat that @$$ again in front of the cops and child Services. Pran baton is not child abuse for Haitians, it’s discipline
Haitian Food = The Best
haitian-recipes.comFellow Haitians! I found this awesome site that provides Haitian recipes! So ladies if your wanna expand your cooking skill and try and make some food you’ve never made before this site has some delicious recipies. Fellas if you dont cook now, at least try a recipe. Many of us are away at college or have our own place I know you’re sick of noodles and cereal and fastfood. Check it out! Click the title or go to www.haitian-recipes.com
