Since today is Flag day in Haiti, I decided to write this in our honor.
Unlike most people who travel to the caribbean for vacation, I try to look into the fiber of the society which I'm visiting. As with any vacation, I was excited about my trip to Santo Domingo for the very first time. So many people had told me about the island, I was ready to have the best time of my life once I got there. Soon after my arrival to the island, the driver who picked me up from the airport to take me to my resort started making small talk and we were soon engaged in a conversation, however limited it was, due to his inability to speak english fluently and my inability to understand his spanish. Nevertheless, we managed with my limited spanish and his limited english. It was kind of odd that Sammy Sosa's name came up right away, because of his latest effort to transform himself from a black man to a white man by bleaching his skin and added new green contacts to his eyes. Right away I sensed the lack of pride in Sosa, because of the sarcasm in the driver's voice. This lack of pride also came from a government that reinforced the negativity towards darker skinned people. Not much different from the US, but the Dominican Republic is a nation that's made up of 90% dark skinned people. The driver himself was what I would call a medium brown skinned brother with wavy hair. That small conversation led to bigger conversation on my part with other tourist guides from the island during the rest of my trip. It was ironic that many of them thought I was Dominican, but not black. LMAO!
I was shocked to learn that most of the Dominicans do not want to embrace their African ancestry, even though most of them are brown to dark skinned people. It was disturbing as the days went on and I started to learn more about the Dominican culture. On one of the tours that I went, the tour guide was proud to talk about his Taino ancestry, a tribe that was annihilated hundreds of years ago. Though apparent in his pigmentation, the blackness or darkness that most of the tourists are seeking under the hot Dominican sun, this man was very apprehensive about letting on that he was part African. It was a good thing that I was forewarned about this inferiority complex by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, the Havard professor who made the documentary called Blacks in Latin America. It was a little too late after I watched the tape because the trip was already booked. I damn sure would have saved my money.
I found that most people in the Domincan Republic to be pleasant, however, it is an insult to them to call them black. To take it even further, it's even more insulting to think that they have Haitian blood. The irony about this situation is that there would be no Dominican Republic if they were never liberated from the Spaniards by the Haitians. At one point, the whole island was called Ayiti. So, any person with dark skin in the Dominican Republic most likely has Haitian decendants. I also found out players like Alfonso Soriano, Juan Pierre(obvious last name), Sammy Sosa and many more well-known baseball figures in the USA, all have Haitian forefathers and even parents. However, the Dominican government would not grant them a visa to get a contract with MLB if that information is made public.
Furthermore, the Dominican government's propaganda in the public's eye is that they have the best interest of the Haitian people at heart, especially after the earthquake, but after visiting the shanty town with slave-like quarters where the people of Haitian decent live, I beg to differ. After visiting a sugar cane plantation where migrant workers are paid less than .50 cents a day to work 14 hrs, I would strongly disagree. After learning that Dominican born children of Haitian parents are not recognized by the Dominican government as citizens, and are kept from attending school because of their ancestral background, I was angry. After learning that kids are sometimes picked up on their way home and decapitated and killed for no reason simply because they are black and have Haitian background, I was pissed. After learning that they openly talked about President Obama being less than human on national radio in the Dominican Republic because his father was from Africa, I was ready to kill somebody.
I say all this to say that if you're planning a trip to the Dominican Republic, please go spend your money elsewhere. We do not need to support a government that allows people to be ostracized on a daily basis when all they are looking for is an opportunity to work and provide for their family. Unfortunately, I can't go into too much detail as this is only a blog, but I promise I will follow this up with a detailed book to expose the atrocities going on in the Dominican Republic.
I encourage all people, whether black or white to stop visiting the Dominican Republic because they're still violating all the human rights that most people across the world, in America, South Africa, Europe, South America and Asia are fighting for. The UN has had to beg the Dominican government to allow them to build schools to allow these children to attend. I say to my Haitian brothers and sisters: keep your head up because we will rise again as a nation, and people will once again recognize our achievements as a strong people and the first free black republic in the world.
It's sad.. My grandfather was from Santo Domingo, he used to tell me all the stories..
ReplyDeleteThanks for enlightening me on international affairs. Too often Americans travel to the Caribbean and other countries without doing our homework to understand the history of many places we visit.
ReplyDeleteFrom Michaelle-Well written! So disturbing when I learned a lot of this, mostly because I have many friends who are from the Dominican Republic, and they call themselves Black Latinos. However, I do realize that America forces one to face the fact that they are black, even those with mixed races living in Haiti. That's the reason why they don't like America, because in Haiti the ignorant people are giving the preferential treatment because they have high-yellow skin, but when they come to the U.S., they are treated like all other blacks. It's a shame what slavery has done to all of us. Unfortunately, the Dominican Republic government did an excellent job of brain-washing. I believe this is the same thing that happend to Cape Verdeans. For many years, many of them refused to acknowledge their African heritage, and would always refer to themselves as Portuguese rather than Cape Verdean. It's a matter of education. The more we are educated about our past and our contributions to society, will we all be proud of what we are.
ReplyDeleteI bet u were furious @ everything you saw & experienced! Thank God they didnt do any harm to you! .....smh .....Thank you for sharing this with us,Rich!!! #NoSantoDomingoTripsInMyFuture4Sure!
ReplyDeleteRich you know my sister lived there and those bastards killed her husband.Now we know why.Thanks Rich I was going to go there next year now they can kiss my $#%.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing, Richard.
ReplyDeleteI read an article about how Haitians (especially the children) were being treated in D.R. back in the early 2000's. After reading the article, I said that I would never take my money to that island. I have been there a couple of times as a child, but not as an adult(never will).
Again, thanks for sharing!
Wow, well written! As I read your blog all I can think of is how ignorant people can be. The Dominican people seem to forget that we were the one as Haitian who freed the Island from slavery from the European and than colonize them.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! No words....SMH
ReplyDeleteRichard,
ReplyDeleteI have to say you are misinformed about the Dominican Republic. And seeing things from one perspective rather than taking a look at the real root of the problem which is "Haiti Cherie". Do Dominicans shun their African heritage and glamorize their European and Taino heritage? Yes, but there are also people that recognize their African Heritage and the Museo del Hombre in Santo Domingo has a big statue of an African "Lemba" breaking the chains. Besides who cares what people consider themselves as long as they aren't harming others.
We Haitians (yes I am Haitian) always brag about liberating Dominicans from slavery but we fail to realize that slavery system was not as harsh as ours and many blacks paid for their freedom just as a lot of black in Haiti were not slaves as well. We also tend to forget that we caused their economy to go south and used their resources to pay off our debt to France which started the movement to oust Haitians out of Haiti Español which ironically Haitians were part of that movement also.
90% percent of Dominicans are not dark skin. The majority are mulattos(rainbow of colors) also not all dark skin Dominicans have Haitian ancestry(as they too had African Slaves and also the English speaking neighboring islands went there to work in the sugarcane fields.
I also find it ironic how we bash the slave like condition of Haitians in the DR but in Haiti not one word is uttered about the Slave like condition and culture we have "Restavecs".
Dominicans have shown solidarity with Haitians despite the discrimination and not to positive attitude they have towards our nationality. They literally opened the borders to allow Haitians to receive care without asking for proper documentation. Ne sois pas ingrat, they were the first to come in and help us and continue to do so.
I think if we get our act together and provide to our citizens the mere basics slowly they will tend to respect us and see us as equals. Unfortunately, they consider Haitians as lesser due to the fact that we work for peanuts and even shelter because our incompetent government in Haiti doesn't give our citizens an opportunity. Let's hope this new administration in Haiti give our people an opportunity to live with dignity with mere basics electricity,potable water,health care, and free education for all. We need to treat our people better before expecting others to do so. Also have you gone to Bahamas,Guadeloupe,or Martinique. They treat Haitians bad there too but why aren't we crying racism. Let's get over this black pride and over come discrimination, social disadvantages. We will get respect as blacks if we can self govern and do for ourselves rather than bragging about our past which we have not over come the chain of mental slavery.. I want a better Haiti for all of us so that we can show the world how beauty of our culture. First black republic mentality is not going to overcome our problems. Let's build a new Haiti by changing the Haitian mindset.
Thank you for exploring your roots and sharing with those that don't know... I visited over 20 years ago...and stayed in a mini mansion...a friends estate....there was a maid that lived with her child there and a driver...as a white woman I was not allowed to get on the street... the pride of Dominicans is those that left and have made it here and can find their true self.... a real identity that is of your own....the belligerence of not only Dominican Republic and Cape Verde are not only in their hands the hand me down riots of families long ago... Africa is made of many countries...with populations in all aspects of life language and culture... ie Arabs and French, Indian too...how do they describe them selves...do they agree with the being called black when they are in America...I can tell you they don't.... but each step is a victory Richard... I have to share my children s father s heritage as it is not of my own, but they can only know that they are Arab-French from Morocco if you ask many people from there they may not say I am from Africa... but Caucasian...as even some would say oh yeah thats right....look again...I will wait for your fact following about the West Indies/Carribean... because I don't expect I will ever travel outside of The United States after my last trip...I traveled it is enough...but I will travel through books... not sure how i can add my name ...but Richard you know me as Bea
ReplyDeleteSince this is probably the first time you've ever read anything by me, I guess I can say you're misinformed. I wrote a book that discussed the Restavek issue in Haiti and how appalling it is(Hoodfellas II). You may have some kind of interest in the Domincan Republic or the Dominican people, because you're coming to their defense, and not once have you mentioned that you have visited the island. That was my second time there, but my first time in Santo Domingo. Just like you, I was blind the first time I went because I was a tourist in Puerto Plata. This time, I went as a writer.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, I have have not heard about what's happening on the other islands you mentioned as you have, because I have actually visited every single one of them and I was not appalled by the treatment of Haitians on any of these islands. I write for a living, so when I visit a country, I look at all aspects of it. The number one thing you're forgetting is that The Domincans opened their borders to the Haitians after the earthquake. If they so openly invited them there, why are they mistreating them then? Maybe so the world can see something different? You should probably go to the Dominican Republic to visit and try not to admire the few light skinned folks on the islands as some Haitians with an nferiority complex do. I'm not sure what Dominican Republic you've been to, but I've seen more light skinned people in Jamaica, St. Lucia and even Haiti. The museum that you speak of , the statue was a gift to them. Like I said, I plan on writing a book about the complete history of the island so people can have a better understanding of it. Just so you know , when I was a kid living in Haiti, (yes,I lived there at one point), Dominicans crossed the border daily looking for work and were never treated bad by Haitians. Haiti was the richest island in the caribbean at one point. You need to learn your history before making negative statements about your culture. I understand, though, because knowledge of self is the hardest thing that some black people have a problem grasping.
Haiti's problem are not as deeply rooted in Haitians as many people think . The political lanscape in the US, France and England have a lot to do with the crippling of the Haitian economy. This is the debt we're paying for kicking white people's ass a long time ago and it's their way to remind us that we'll never be their equal. Look into the different US policies towards Haiti so you can have a better understanding why the Haitian economy is so bad. Without the Haitians, the Lousianna purchase would have never happened for the US. It's not in the US history books. You wouldn't know it. It's too bad that people like you have bought into their propaganda. Wake up, sister! Please pick up my book The Most Dangerous Gang in New York: The NYPD. I shed light on many of the misformation that you have about black people and Haiti. As far as your post is concerned, you don't seem to have a history. I would say "Job well done" to the Caucasians because they've managed to fool one more sista.
Well said!!!
DeleteWow!! This is a real eye opener.
ReplyDeleteYes, this is the first time I've read something about you but it has nothing to do with you being misinformed about this topic. So now Jamaicans and St. Lucians are more mixed than Dominicans..En tout cas mon cher..I am not coming to their defense rather I am trying to bring light to this issue. I am a firm believer of taking responsibilities for our actions. You can blame US, France, and others for our failure but at the end of the day it was our political government that allowed foreigners to string us comme une marionnette.
ReplyDeleteI don't condone the mistreatment of our people but these same people were mistreated in Haiti. The problem is in Ayiti mon vieux...We need to provide our people an opportunity today not blah blah of what happened in 1804.
Louisiana Purchase has nothing to do do with Haitians. To be precise due to Napoleons lost of Saint Domingue (Haiti) he sold that territory for a pennies. We had nothing to do with the negotiations of Louisiana Purchase. It would be a strong argument if you told me that a Haitian discovered Chicago or we fought along side of Americans in Savannah, GA against the British. But the Louisiana Purchase, brother come on. Again why are you going back to the past to make a point about the Haitian problem in 2011. Jamaicans sent the Haitian team back due to the cholera outbreak why isn't the media calling them RACIST. It is clear that this team did not have Cholera but for the mere fact of being Haitian was a suspect of this outbreak.
It is funny you claim white man this and that but you're living in his country. He gave you the outlet to study and become a better productive person in society. What we accomplished is great but we didn't know how to play politics and stick together as a nation. We do have a great place in history but let's address TODAY..Aujourd'hui..
When Haiti was the richest colony the Haitians of today ancestors were living "Hell on Earth" toiling in the sun and mistreated by the french colonial masters.
Again let's build a better Haiti for us and make our economy equal or better than our neighbors. Let's give our citizens the mere basics and watch how their view of us change.. BTW, I lived in the Dominican Republic and the Middle Class Haitians in my circle never had a problem. Donc, arrete de parler de ce que tu ne connais pas.
To the poster regarding Indians, Arabs, and others born in Africa. They are indeed Africans as they were born on the African Continent. Aren't Americans from British, German etc..AMERICANS. Actually even Mexicans are N. American and Colombians,Ecuadorians, Bolivians are South Americans. Unfortunately, due to US imperialism they are the ones coined solely Americans.
ReplyDeleteBTW, African doesn't automatically mean sub-Saharan African. Sadly African has a negative connotation due to the Western superiority over a continent they have literally sucked dry of its resources and manipulated the people to fight amongst each other. I am sorry but your child is Caucasian and Arabic African descendant(Berber most likely. There isn't anything wrong with being African.
I am the same person that wrote the comments regarding the Dominican Republic and trying to explain to Mr Jeanty that he needs to open his eyes a bit more and as a Haitian worry about getting our people a chance in Haiti so they wouldn't have to migrate to a 3rd world country like the Dominican Republic looking for better quality of life. Dominicans themselves are mistreated and trying to leave for other countries.
What you know about the Louisiana purchase is wrong my dear. Go back and do your research. If you truly knew your history, and understood that it is a fact that the U.S. played a major role in the destruction of Haiti, you would realize that Richard made some valid points. I am very surprised at your point of view if you did already watch "Black in Latin America". If you have not watched it, please do so. Maybe being middle- class in Haiti and living in th DR has clouded your vision, but living there and speaking French doesn't automatically make you "smarter". You should do some more reading instead of putting your own people down. You obviously have been brainwashed at some point in your life either by who you surround yourself with, or by America. Haiti has so much to be proud of, and people llike Clinton, Sean Penn, etc know this, and that's the real reason they are there. Don't be fooled.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI have done my research and we didn't have nothing to do with the sell of the Louisiana Purchase directly. Was there a Haitian official at the round table? Again we should be proud of our History and heritage but I am going to keep things in perspective of how it was played. I actually saw the Black in Latin America and thought was great but nothing new as anyone with a basic standard education should know this. Unfortunately the majority of people don't have one. I will never put our people down and speaking french or coming from a middle class background doesn't make me better or smarter. It is sad that being Haitian is synonymous to poor and we have allowed NGO's to sell our poverty to the world in the name of helping us.
I am not brainwashed it's perhaps I come from a different background and class. Sad that speaking french to many Haitians is considered a show off or trying to act smart. This isn't Haiti we don't have to allow a simple language which is part of our culture as well make us feel better than others. I am a proud Haitian but we need to put things into perspective and stop blaming others for our own demise. Yes, outside factors and our ideology played a role but at the end of the day we were divided and didn't know how to play politics with the western world.
It is ironic Mr. Bill Clinton gets celebrity status in Haiti but during his presidency his policy was one of the main reason our economy went from bad to worst. The American rice (subsidized by the US government) went into the Haitian market and caused our rice farmers in the L'Artibonite region to plummet as they couldn't compete with a cheaper(although bad quality) rice which our own government didn't provide our rice farmers with any subsidies. But we parade him as if he has our interest at heart more so than a natif natal. I am far from fooled..Wake up please and let's work on building Haiti than blaming a 3rd world country for our internal problems. FYI, I don't condone Dominicans disrespecting us, while living there I had to tell them I was indeed Haitian and teach them that not all Haitians come to DR to work in Construction,Sugar Fields or sell peanuts. Again I am telling you that discrimination towards our nationals is real there but let's fix our home so we can give our children a chance in Haiti... Richard great blog I will pass by from time to time..but before you call for boycott of a country please do your homework..A couple of visits to Bateyes isn't a representation of Haitians living in the DR..If you want to know where middle class and upper Haitians hang and live I will be glad to provide you with information..Just like not all Haitians in the USA are better off
It took 300k dead Haitians for the USA to even consider us for TPS....while Central Americans have had this for years. In order for us to get respect we have to respect our selves....
It's foolish to argue with you, but I'm gonna stoop this low just this once!. Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable and everything that you mentioned, I have written about years ago. The blog is about children being decapitaed for no reason, but you're too ignorant to see the injustice going on, because you're bent on proving that it's the Haitian government's fault that the Dominiican government are mistreating Haitians.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if your immigrant parents would feel they could establish a life here in the US if they were persecuted when they got here? The US has also opened its door to foreigners, but they're not decapitating them because of their complexion.
As much as the US govt talks about illegal immigration changing this country, they also know that the immigrants have contributed to this country in insurmountable ways. The Dominican Republic's economy would crumble if all the Haitians returned home. Just so you know, because you don't know a lot. When I was a kid in Haiti, the Haitian currency was equaled to that of the US. In Lamen's term $1.00 US =$1.00 Haitian dollar(5 gourdes). Back then, Haitians went abroad because they wanted to, not because they had to. You need a history lesson on Haiti and the rest of the world. You spent too much time in DR, they kept you from learning the truth about your people.
If you're ignorant enough to compare the decision made by the Jamaican government to send back a particular group of Haitians because of a particular disease that they carried that could be transmitted during a sports event competition, then I don't need to talk to you. I see the apples, but you're talking about oranges.
You were the "middle class" there. That's quite elistist of you.
you're blind and misguided and have this "historical house Negro" mentality where you take faults for what the master has done and pass it on to the slaves. You haven't the slightest idea aboout Haiti or its government. Do you really think that Haitians destroyeed their own sugarcane, cocoa and coffee fields? You cannot be that dumb. Haiti was one of the world's top producers of these products, how do you think they vanished? Do your research and you will find out the truth. I bet you probably believe there are no mansions in Haiti, just like all black people are shown as thugs, thieves, pimps and prostitutes who all live in run-down buildings as shown on television here. Move away from your television.
Ask your immigrant parents why they left Haiti or why they felt the need to move to the Dominican Republic? Better yet, go ask the white people why they left Europe and came to America? Why do Canadians come across the border to America? Let me not even talk aboout the Mexicans who risk their lives daily to get here. I don't hear about them being decapitated or their children are unable to attend school after they are born here. Whether legal or illegal, they're American born children are US citizens. They all come here for better opportuniities! They're not treated like animals for it. Stop being ignorant and wake the hell up! You're sure as hell not a history teacher, but I was for 5 years. Your history is based on what you hear or see on television. You might want to turn your eyes somewhere else so you can see the light Some people are just lost and I can't blame you. I was treated like a king in the Dominican Republic, but that doesn't negate the fact that people who look like me were being mistreated. I'm supposed to place blame on them because they're not in the same financial position as I am, right? Stop being foolish!
What have you done for Haiti? I think it's befitting that you read Ignorant Souls, a book that I wrote a couple of years ago. Sister, wake up! I'm giving you the privilege of calling you a sister, still!
I think you're completely missing the point. I'm not interested in hanging out with upper or middleclass Haitians in DR. I'm all for fighting for the rights of those being mistreated. No one can tell me what I am, but me. Obviously, you have sucummbed to society's misguided view of you, and in the process you've forgotten the real cause here.
ReplyDeleteEverybody in America knows Haitians are capable. I've written about many capable Haitians in America in my books, that's not my concern. I want to make sure that people do not support a government that allows people to be decapitated just because they are black or Haitian. I really don't give a rat's ass about your middleclass status or your middleclass friends. I've got plenty of those, believe me. I stay away from most of them. Are you going to Haiti to help teach those who can't read? Then your middleclass status means what? My family's last name rings bells in Haiti, what's that got to do with me? I came from a prominent family, so what?
Were they freedom fighters? I don't know. Do I care about what's right? I do. That's all that matters. You need to wake up, my sister! I don't have to imppose my will on the world, but I have to stand up against injustice based on my own principles.
Richard,
ReplyDeleteOk this has gone from a great discussion about a topic you know nothing about to calling me names. Unfortunately, I can muster from your comments what background you come from in Haiti. It really doesn't matter but I can see the "haine" in your rhetoric. You obviously were raised in an urban environment blaming the white man for the negros short coming and the well off negro has to be a house negro. Brother please, please write to the disadvantage negros while the better off one like Obama lead the way.
Just to give you an information my Dad worked as french teacher at a one of the best University in the Dominican Republic for 5 years thus I leaved there sans aucun probleme. We didn't migrate to a poor neighborhood among more poor people. We were among educated Dominicans that aren't blasting loud music and trying to flee DR to Puerto Rico. You claim you lived in Haiti but forgot the classism that exist which we still sadly practice.
It appears you are full of yourself. Who cares how many books you've written you still know nothing of this subject. Ti malheureux finn ekri deux ti bouquin li panse li philosophe. I will write in creole to be less of an elitest. I will not read your books as I am not into this brother sista crap We all bees from da motherland. You sound like an African American hustler selling bean pie in the hood attempting to teach the urban youth some knowledge of self. Mon cher al chita yon kote.. You obviously have an urban American mindset. The privilege of calling me a sistah..mezanmi yo..what is that..we have the same mother?
This is my last post as we have lost the topic at hand and for not agreeing with your rhetoric want to attack me. Very Ayisien of you though..wap ba-m coup d'etat.. I hope you can read creole at least. Passe une bonne journée..that means peace out in urban terms.. Please keep informing yourself..wap vini ti male..
Just as I thought, a wannabe elitist who lived in a third world country where your father taught French for 500. pesos a week, but thought you were better than everybody else.
ReplyDeleteGuess what? I am urban and I do have an African-American mindset with a lot of Haitian pride. I also have more degrees than your whole family combined, but that's not important because the the growth and development of my people is what matters to me. Unlike you, I'm not above them, I'm among them. You can find me at Borders, Barnes and Noble and on 125th street. It's all the same to me. This is exactly the reason why Haiti is backwards. People like you without as much as a high school education, think you're better than the rest.
You are one sorry sister! You're only a sister by heritage and default at this point! You can't hide your blackness no matter how many pesos your dad earns in the Dominiican Republic!
Before you depart, it is so easy to find out what background my family came from in Haiti. Google is at your fingertips and there should be a couple of hospitals in Haiti named after the physicians in my family. Jeanty is still the last name and yes I'm well educated from the streets and one of the best universities. I have to believe that my great grandfather, Oxide Jeanty, the first black classical pianist in the world, was not a fake wannabe elitist. He probably played at Carnegie Hall at 6pm and was back chilling on the block with his buddies by ten, still wearing his tuxedo.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that I'm somewhat like him, because I used to leave Wall Street and go straight to the hood to chill with my boys in Brooklyn. As a matter of fact, I still chill with my friends in the hood. We all remember where we came from, no matter how fat our wallets have gotten. The elitists have tried to recruit us, but we turned them down. The hood needs us. I'm married to the hood so I can change the struggle.
What are you doing?
Richard,
ReplyDeleteI thought we were going to stay on topic but I see you are just a pseudo edumacated Urban Negro. Upset that I am not buying into your propaganda. If my father taught for 500 pesos what did your illiterate father do. Work in a factory in the USA for minimum wage. Thank the lord that public school education you have. And Financial Aid or Loans to get all these degrees. I see they haven't done you any real use.
Now your attacking Haitian people that are better off than you..LOL..Not being into this bean pie 5% gibberish. So what is it? Or are you proud to be Haitian when its convenient? Jumping around Eastern Parkway with a flag can't speak creole nor french and sound like Fuquan. Blackness..what's that..again keep your African American mindset on 125st. We don't need that in our society..but there is a place for all in society. Why are you upset I debunked your weak statements. Now take a 101 book in creole and french..hasta luego..
Wow, it is so obvious by your comments that you are extremely ignorant and snooty at the same time. My family had money and Haiti, and I was born here, it doesn't meant that I think everyone in Haiti is poor. Most educated people know that not everyone in Haiti is poor. I've been reading all of your comments to Richard, and they show your true colors. You totally missed my point. Everyone reading this blog and responding are not Haitian. If you are participating, you might want to stick to english so that EVERYONE can understand. I speak french, but it doesn't mean that the non-haitians reading this blog do, and there is nothing wrong if they don't. You feeling the need to do so speaks volumes. Past presidents of Haiti had the same distorted view as you have, and that's part of the problem. I am happy to see that Haiti is finally coming around to not judging others on appearance or back-ground to elect one president. There were many snooty people who did not want to see Martelly become president because of his back-ground, not for what he can or cannot do for Haiti. People such as yourself are slowly becoming the minority. Less ignorant people in Haiti will slowly make it a better place, just like I believe one day Dominican Republic will change. It is what it is.
ReplyDeleteI see what's going on here...your family was so prominent in Haiti they left Haiti, which is a third world country, to move to another third world country in the Dominican Republic to work for pesos? So because you speak French and Creole, you're better than other Haitians. I've got bad news for you, I speak them both as well, but I'm not ignorant enough to write in either language on a public forum, which is in english. However, you can always go to one of my books to see that, I not only speak creole, but I also write it. Who would've thought an American street hustler could write and speak a different language?
ReplyDeleteYou not only seem ignorant, but you're not too bright either. So atteending public school and then going to complete my college degree makes me less than you because you have done neither? Maybe it's a good thing you don't live in Haiti. Your prominent behind should be on hill sipping wine, but I bet you're at a 9-5 right now trying to duck everytime you boss walks by to avoid getting caught on the computer.
I'm also sorry to tell you that my father retired early from his measly job as a lab technician at a hospital a couple of years ago. The same measly job that helped him purchase two homes to raise his kids. You can say that life was ok and we didn't make anybody else feel less than we were as children. Your professor dad did a great job bringing out the best fictitious elitist attitude that you can fabricate. I thought educators are supposed to teach?
If you were betting on your ability to speak French to make you better than me, sorry to disappoint you. I do too, but only when I'm in Paris visiting. The people of Haiti made a great choice when they decided to vote Martelly into office. People like you are the reason why I hope he abolishes that fake bougie attitude that a lot of broke ass people in Haiti have for no reason towards the poor.
Let's not forget that your father wouldn't have his job as a custodian when he moved here without the hard work of the African-American community to end segregation and their fight for equal rights for all people. I guess being an African American minded Haitian is not bad afterall, I'll take that. I am an American by nationality and a Haitian by blood. The best of both worlds. Give respect where respect is due!
HEY HAITIAN SISTER, THIS IS DIRECTLY FOR YOU!
ReplyDeleteMA CHERE JE SAIS POURQUOI VOUS VERBALISEZ DE
CETTE FACON.
VOUS FAITES PARTIE DE LA CLASSE MOYENNE C'EST POURQUOI VOUS AVEZ LA TETE GONFLEE.
VOUS VOUS PRENEZ POUR UNE AUTRE COMME BEAUCOUP BIEN D'AUTRES QUI FONT PARTIE DE CETTE CLASSE.
ENFIN DE COMPTE JE VOUS CONSIDERE COMME UNE NON-PATRIOTIE.
P.S. YOU SHOULD DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE RUNNING YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE IN MY OPINION YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER WANNA BE WHO JUST DOESN'T BELONG TO THE LOWEST NOR THE HIGHEST CLASS DOWN THERE.
10 years ago, I read an article about a young man, who was born in the DR, both of his parents were Haitians, however even though he was born in the DR, he still has no nationality because the DR government won't recognize him as Dominican because his parents were...The young man has never been to Haiti, does not speak Creole, has no connection to the Haitian Culture...did his schooling in the DR...Now he is a graduate, but will never find a job because he is considered illegal because the DR government will not issue him a birth certificate. He's not Haitian because he was not born there...has no legal bearing there...and the DR will not recognize him as a citizen a human being either.
ReplyDeleteSince that day, I said until the DR government reverse that policy I would never set foot on this land...I will not give any of my money to that racist government.
Someone needs to watch " Black in Latin America" on PBS...
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I even entertained this ignorant chick today was to help her see that these children will pretty much grow up to become slaves to a system that does not treat them as human beings. How can you live in a country where you're not recognized as a citizen when you were born there? These young people have no future and they are at the mercy of the Dominican government, which forces them to work in the sugarcane fields.
ReplyDeleteI hope all the intelligent folks who have read this blog can pass along the word to keep people from visiting the Dominican Republic. Go spend your money on a different island where the people are conscientious of their citizens.
Latin in black america was great! Ive never been to DR however, I know many african americans who were disturbed by the mistreatment of haitians in DR. many of them said they would never return.
ReplyDeleteOk I will stick to the topic since you can't and rather want to talk about your personal achievements as if you are the only one and REAL Haitians in Haiti or those in the Dominican Republic are all out of luck. Yes, there is a problem with mistreatment of our compatriots on the other side of the island due to economic status/social and discrimination/racism but you are not realizing that these people also have suffered the same problem in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteAlso 90% percent of Dominicans are not dark skin. Where did you get these numbers from? Not all dark skin Dominicans have any lineage to Haitians. The Haitian national that was decapitated actually met the same fate as the Dominican national he decapitated first.
Legal Haitians that have children in the Dominican Republic have no problem registering their children as Dominican Nationals. I should know since my baby brother was born there and is Dominican by birth. This isn't the USA where illegals having children are automatically U.S. Americans. France also doesn't grant (legal or illegal) french nationality. You have to apply for it when you turn 18. Also Bahamas have the same problem with our Haitian nationals that aren't given birth rights but have to apply. Why not boycott them..Oh oh they are even darker than us Haitians...This is not the USA so stop enforcing your American ideology and laws onto a sovereign nation.
It is obvious you are mis-informed and even with you travels you are close minded and clueless just like a typical American.
Also please don't apply your American law of what is black onto other countries. In the USA the one drop rule is applicable and even Haiti this isn't applied. So stop with this we all bees black. We have a different experience than the negro and American Haitians who grew up in a still segregated American Society. Blaming the white man and glorifying the hood as if it is a cool place to hang out.
Sir you have no clue and did a terrible job of bringing light to an issue that is delicate and We real Haitians that know the country have to deal with. Lakay se Lakay. Home is Home..and we need to build it so that All Haitians facing discrimination not only in the DR,USA, Bahamas and other countries can return home and live with dignity. You are an African American of Haitian origin that has an urban mindset but still eat rice and beans. So you have the best of both worlds. I am not putting African Americans down as the ones that are educated and the like MLK have given all of us even white immigrants an opportunity. I guess we Haitians are just returning the favor when we took the African Americans in, fleeing from slavery in the USA that we gave land to in the Dominican Republic.
Terrible job from you my friend go back to the drawing board and do your homework. You seem like a bright young man but your arrogance of having written books and beating the odds in an urban environment that unfortunately young black men(of all origins) fall into the vicious system.
Funny how this documentary is an eye opener to some of you. This is common knowledge to us. Like the black Peruvian said "it's not about parading how black and proud we are rather given the opportunity to excel and economic mobility" Just because I am black doesn't mean we will automatically bond and share the same ideas class/language/religion also play an intricate role. To me African Americans have more in common with Anglo-Americans than Blacks in Latin America..you are still considered a Gringo or in creole..Blanc which is white a term for all foreigners regardless if they come from Sub-Saharan Africa. I hope I have given you an outlet to learn and try to understand this complex situation.
First of all, on behalf of all Haitian-Americans, I would like to apologize to all African Americans for this ignorant, confused chick who has no history of self or any nation.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing she must be the last descendant from Trujillo's family, the Dominican dictator who ordered the slaughter of over 30,000 Haitians, even though, he himself had Haitian blood. Self-hatred is dangerous.
Usually, I would leave a dead horse alone, but I had to make one last comment in an effort to beat the stupidity and ignorance out of this woman. Hopefully, she can see the relation to Trujillo and move on.
I do not buy the brain washing concept. I may have been inclined to accept that it that it did happen back then but, that this same level of ignorance to exist, in this day and age, among old and young alike-with all the technology at our fingertips-NO. The stupidity of the Dominicans people is inexcusable and in a class of its own.
ReplyDeleteAlors Et Toi
Great/interesting post. I had a perspective and lost it after reading the comments...I have friends headed to DR tomorrow. *goes back to collect my thoughts
ReplyDeleteRichard
ReplyDeleteale we sa w ka ekri sou peyi nou an ki an kaka wa fe pi byen.paske moun yo pa rele anken ayitien nan peyi yo a.so prochen fwa ou envi fe touris ale ayiti wap jwen anpil pou ekri,problem nan se pa dominican se nou ki pa gen peyi.ou gele pa konen se 2 000 000 ayitien ki nan peyi moun yo san papye.mwen kre kote w ye ou pa ilegal.kom ou di ou tale nan cann mwen kre ke ou rankontre anpil ayitien ki pa men konen laj yo,sa son ront pa vre?si w vle ede ayitien se men w pou w mete nan pat la.komanse pa edike yo,paske repiblik dominiken ap toujou gen touris yo fe anpil efo pou sa.pou infomation yo se 2 eme peyi nan karaib la ki gen plis touris.kom ou di ou ekri 11 liv ,si tout se sou pale repiblik dominiken mal yo ye ou met al rekomanse yo,paske ou pap ede ayitien nan anyen nan kondityon sa.si w pa ka jwen on lot sije pou ekri pou peyi w wap di w renmen anpil la,epi ou menm ou jis etasini,kite metye ekriven an.fe on ti kite lix ou ye a ale fe on 2 mwa ayiti nan fatra ,san kouran msan dlo,san transpo avek on pep ki pa gen anken edicatyone ki extremman malprop wa ban nouvel.
an pasan map viv santo domingo,DR mwen pa janm gen problem rasis so se pa tout ayitien ki gen problem isit.e chefe taxi sa ki te di w ou sanble dominicain an mwen ret kre ou te bal an tikob pou sa oubyen li aveg,ou pa gen anyen pou an domincain.lollllllllllllll
ReplyDeleteTo Richard Jeanty and the Anonymous Haitian Sister,
ReplyDeleteI am appalled that a topic so important was degenerated to name calling. Both of you just lost an awesome opportunity to bring the subject to the next level, that is, to actually take action and help improve the living conditions of Haitians in the Dominican Republic.
Why did you two allow the discussion to revolve around you? Who cares if you wrote books or that your father was a professor at a most prestigious university in the DR? How will you that help the next sister or brother escape the subhuman conditions they are currently living in?
Having being the DR on six or seven occasions, and having seen the best and worst of that country, I beseech you to leave your pettiness behind and bring the support that the suffering Haitians desperately need.
Now, what are you going to do about that?
jajajajaj this just make me laugh ,haitians full of poison ,may be if long ago you do not invade my country things were diferent today ,first of all haitian did not help us liberate from spain , we are brave people who can drive out anybody of our land with out the help of hatians ,remember haiti had more weapons than us ,and they were driven out by our determination .I personally recognize AFRICAN BLOOD AND I BELIEVE THAT MOST DOMINICAN KNOW THIS DEEP INSIDE , BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE THE FACT THAT WE WERE COLONIZED FOR COUPLE OF HUNDREDS YEARS BY SPANISH , AND WE DID NOT LEARN THAT LANGUAGE FROM A SLAVE MASTER ,BUT BY OUR OWN SPANISH ANCESTORS ,WELL THAT IS MY CASE .YOU REALLY HAVE NOT READ THE HISTORY ;AS FRANCE BROUGHT AFRICANS SO DID SPAIN THEREFORE THE BLACK HERE ARE NOT NECESSARY HAITIANS ( MOST BLACK IN SAMANA HAVE ENGLISH LAST NAME COS WE HAD MIGRATION FROM ENGLISH CARIBBEAN BLACKS CALLED COCOLOS WE HAVE SEVERAL ITALIAN LAST NAMES EXAM MARRANZINI MESSINA PIANTINI ETC AROUND 40 DIFFERENT ARAB LAST NAME SUCH AS MAJLUTA ,HASBUN SERULLE ETC ,IN SOSUA WE HAVE JEWS ,WE HAVE FRENCH DESCENDANTS SUCH LAPAIX LEREBOURS SINCLAIR ,SPANISH INDIAN ,AFRICANS AND MORE . WE ARE A MELTED POT VERY DIVERSE , WE CAN NOT CALL OURSELVES BLACK JUST TO PLEASE THE HAITIANS AND THE AMERICAN .WE ARE A VERY MIXED COMPLEX COUNTRY , WE CAN NOT CALL OURSELVES BLACK OR WHITE OR INDIA OR ARAB, WE ARE JUST A PRODUCT OF ALL THOSE RACES .TO FINISH I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT HAITI NEED YOU MONEY MORE THAN US SO YOU CAN GO AND SPEND IT THERE ,AND REMEMBER WHAT WE HAVE IS PRODUCT OF GREAT WORK AND SKILLS THAT MOST HATIANS LACK .WE DO NOT NEED HAITIAN TOURIST BECOUSE THEY ARE FULL OF HATRED . WHY DONT YOU GO AND REBUILD YOUR COUNTRY SO HATINAS MAY LIVE WITH DIGNITY ,AND NOT AS SLAVES AS YOU STATE.AND REMEMBER THIS COUTRY IS MORE BLACK FOR YOUR CONSTANT MIGRATION .REMEMBER THIS , WE CAN GET DARKER AND DARKER BUT OUR CULTURE IS DIFFERENT FROM YOURS AND THAT IS THE BIG DIFFERENCE!!!
ReplyDeleteNONSENSE JAJA NONSENSE , I HAVE SOME HAITIANS FROM WITH WHOM I CAN TALK A REASONS TO A LEVEL .AND THEY RECONGNIZE WHAT THEIR LEADERS HAVE DONE WRONG AND WHY HAITI DO NOT PROGRESS .STOP YOU BITTERNESS .AND BETTER TELL TOURIST THE CONTRARY .SO WE CAN HAVE MORE CASH TO BUILD YOU ANOTHER UNIVERSITY OF 50 MILLIONS DOLAR AND MAYBE ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR HOSPITAL AGAIN FOR HAITIANS .AND ALSO TO HAVE MORE BIG AIRPORT TO ALLOW AIDS TO PASS THROUGH.MONSIER VOUS ETES FOUS IGNORANT!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so GLAD that I saw this Blog, I have a 3 year old who's father is Dominican, but shows NO LOVE for her at all. I also have Dominican neighbors who act as though I kill someone in their family, they are so hateful towards my baby girl, every time she says hi they keep walking. I don't understand why they get into relationship with Black Americans if they HATE US. I've been wondering why all of them have been acting terrible towards us, but I think I just got my answer.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU