Dominican and Haitian Relations PDF

Preview

Summary

Download Dominican and Haitian Relations PDF

Description

Dominican and Haitian Relations

Throughout history tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic have caused a great divide between the two countries, but where did this antihaitianismo even come from? People often think that it came from Rafael Trujillo and his dictatorial reign over the Dominican Republic, however, the problem is more deeply rooted than that. One of the problems was that under Haitian rule the Dominican people were being stripped of their land and money. The belief that lighter colored people were superior to those of darker skin because of their ability to reign is what set forth the great divide between Haiti and the Dominican Republic even before Trujillo. The Caribbean island was first settled on by Christopher Columbus in 1492-1493 and named La Hispaniola. The native people living there were known as the Arawak Taino, but with the new settlers came various new diseases that killed most of the Taino people as well as the cruelty that came with slavery. In the end, about 95% of the Taino population had disappeared. In 1665, France then came and occupied what is now Haiti and by 1697 the island was divided between the French and the Spanish. However, by 1804, Haiti led a rebellion and successfully gained independence from France. The Dominican Republic soon followed and by 1821 declared its independence from Spain, however, the freedom was short-lived when Haiti came into the DR and took over the entire island in 1822. Haiti, however, was going into an economic crisis and owed a lot of money to both the US and France and so when they took over the DR they “[confiscated] all church land and property, and [set] heavy taxes” on the people (Lamb et al 2). This could have been one of the main reason as to why the Dominican Republic resented Haiti. Because of the oppressive rule Haiti had over them that caused people to lose property and have to pay such high taxes that they couldn't afford. In 1844, Dominican gained its independence

from Haiti and “ tensions remained high as [the Dominican Republic] thwarted various attempted Haitian invasions over the next 12 years” (Mayes, Lamb et al 2). Dominicans felt that under Haitian rule their economy was failing instead of thriving, and the longer they obeyed them the more economically unstable the country would become. Dominicans believe that they are nothing like Haitians and believe that they are closely related to the Europeans that settled on their land. “Dominicans use a variety of words to self-identify, such as moreno, trigueno, and blanco-oscuro, indicating different colors or different types of mixed racial origins. But not many will choose the term black” ( Woolf 1). Since the idea of slavery was based on the fact that those with darker skin were inferior, Dominicans believed that since they were colonized by Spain they weren't African American, and were instead predominantly white. This suggests that “Dominicans’ [are in] denial of their blackness” (Lamb et al 3), and using these terms helps them maintain a Spanish identity. Thus excluding them from being closely related to Haitians to whom they have a deeply set resentment towards. The cause of Dominican resentment began during the 22-year-old rule under Haiti. “In fact, Dominican Independence Day does not celebrate independence from Spain, but rather from Haiti” (Lamb 3). Under Haitian rule the Dominicans were being stripped of their land and money, thus feeling that Haiti instead of uniting both countries to make a power and unified Hispaniola was making a poorly economised island. Dominicans and Haitians also don't get along because of the way each country views itself. Haiti is proud to come from a lineage of African American people. “Haitians pride themselves on their liberation from the French in the Haitian Revolution (1804), the only slave uprising that led to the founding of a state free from

slavery and ruled by non-whites” (Lamb et al, 4). While the Dominican Republic prides itself in celebrating the lineage of the white settlers that came onto their land and Christopher Columbus. Dominican identity is different to that of Haitian identity. Haitians believe that their skin color does not make them inferior to anyone, while Dominicans believe that those of darker skin tones are threatening and are “capable of casting spells” (Lamb et al, 9). Dominicans do not identify with their black heritage because the belief that those with darker skin should be enslaved and treated terribly is permanently engraved in their minds. They have come up so many different terms as a way to push themselves away from that negative identity. Trujillo enforced this idea during his reign, and even used white powder makeup to appear of a lighter skin tone. This shows how they were so disgusted with people of darker that when they had darker skin they tried to appear lighter by using makeup. There were also times where people who were darker than the average Dominican blamed their skin tone on the fact that someone in their lineage had been raped by a Haitian. All these negative feelings towards Haiti starts with Dominicans and their ignorance to accept that they are of African descent....