Other Fan Fiction ❯ Racism in the Dominican republic ❯ chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Racism is known around the world to be one of the worst ways to treat people of different skin coloring than yourself. It is a form of hostility and malice shown to degrade or mistreat a human being; it is illegal and even frowned upon nowadays. It is sad to know that it still exist nowadays even though it goes unnoticed and denied by most countries, such is proven in the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic there are many different forms of racism though those who live there or are natives of the country deny it by saying: “No hay Racismo aqui” or “There is no racism here”. Many ask themselves why is there racism in such a small country? Well, that has to do with the shared past with Haiti. There is also a problem with the immigration and the jobs to be found as well as the benefit of learning the importance of the social understanding of both the nation and ethnicity in the Dominican Republic.

 

Many Haitians who come to Dominican Republic come to the country with fake papers, making it hard to tell which are legally residents in the country, some have said that the count goes up to one million and even over that number (including those who are domenico-haitian inheritance). Both in the Dominican Republic and Haiti are a third world countries, which brings a lot of problems to the jobs offered because it only enhances poverty and also brings a little bit of problems for both of the governments economical and social status. Though Haitians do help with the sugar industry and so on, there are many Dominicans who are poor causing pressure on the low income. Many a time there has been a problem with the denouncing of haitians for anything so that the dominicans can find a job. It happens a lot even though those who come from Haiti to work in the sugar crops, which helps the country economically. Every day there are more and more immigrants to the Dominican Republic from their neighboring country. It also creates competition for those Dominicans who come from the lower class families trying to find work. Which also concludes to them looking elsewhere for a job that could pay well (many in the USA, or Mexico, or even Argentina).

 

To add to the economical value of both sides of Hispaniola, there are quite a few differences in landscape. On the Dominican half of the country is more of an agricultural area and the Haitian half is rather rocky and mountaineous area. This causes Haiti to have little to no tourism, which also greatly affects the economy for the Haitian government and people. It also proves to not help in the agricultural side either. On the other hand, the Dominican side of Hispaniola, there is beautiful beaches and also well-known resorts of the sort making it easy on them with tourism from all over the world. It also had many agricultural advantages to make up for being a third world country. This also makes the immigration rates multiply, from Haiti.

 

 

Ever since the colonial era there has been a difference in language, culture, and landscape between both countries, thus emphasizing on the racial aspects from the natives of the whole island. Haitians being descendants from African slaves brought in by the French are considered “blacker” than the spanish speaking Dominicans who claim to have come from European or Spanish decent though many do have African decent as well. The Dominicans also use the word “indio” instead of “mulatto” to describe their ancestry since they do not want accept their African ancestry. However Haitians and Dominicans have a common history and that is that Christopher Columbus discovered the island and had called it by the name of Hispaniola, though since then, there was a dividing of the island, which became tense since it was divided between the French and the Spanish. The Dominicans are often criticized for the use of color-coded names they claim themselves to be which, by the way, is seen as a racial mentality towards all those who do acknowledge their heritage of being from African heritage.

 

There is also the aspect of a troubled history between both countries, such as the twenty-two-year Haitian rule over the Dominicans (barely having gained freedom from the spanish). It was only in 1844, when the Dominicans gained their freedom back, with the help of their hero Juan Pablo Duarte, and then peace was gained in the mid 19th century. Ever since General Rafael Trujillo, there was a politically and historically modified version of the history in the Dominican Republic, for he emphasized the teachings of racist propaganda and added racist problems to the schools, thus causing some Dominicans to be quick at responding that Hatians were (and still sometimes are thought to be…) a “threat” to their territory and culture by all means. Even though Haiti has not much of a military force and some other improvements there is still a strong anti-haitian sentiment in the Dominican Republic.

 

One of the examples of the quick racist thoughts or actions of Dominicans is when there was an incident of a burning flag during a national celebration, in April 2001. It was mentioned, both loudly and clearly, that a Haitian group had been at the source of the disturbance giving a sudden uproar to the Dominican officials. Some politicians even said that this was a reminder of the Haitian “threat” and that now hatians were becoming more and more organized at causing trouble. Only that the alleged charges were untrue and were proved so by those officials and civilians in attendance at the celebrations. Even the mayor, who also helped organize the festival, agreed that the hatians in attendance did not organize such chaos or for that matter initiate the disturbance in the first place, the Haitians, on the contrary, treated the Dominican flag with care and respect, this was known as “The Burning Flag Scare”, which isn't so surprising. Another example of discrimination in the Dominican Republic is “El Museo del Hombre Dominicano”, which is the history only portraying the Dominican man. There is no including of the Haitian population. They have several statues of important men in the Dominican Republic, including Bartholome de las Casas. These examples, given above, point out the Dominican anti-blackness or anti-Haitian way of thinking, and also their way of being.

 

The Dominican Republic has disrespected all the Human rights treaties both regional and international made by the United Nations (Human Rights and Protection Sector), thus causing trouble, because of the denying of their national problem with racism. It stands out to those who are experts on the case and on many occasions they could see the hostility in both countries. The United Nations has been trying (and is still trying) to get the Dominican Republic to admit to racism and then to improve their treatment toward the Haitian inhabitants of the country. But not much has happened in the past efforts and it seems the process gets slower and slower each time the want to make the progress speed up and also try to get the country to see what is right infront of their own noses.

 

There is a famous writer by the name of David Howard, who wrote on the Dominican Republic, he stated his many opinions on how the racism directed to the Hatians and their country. He was appalled at the self-characterization of the Dominicans of being European. He also mentioned the status of the museums, which are only dedicated to Dominicans having the whole island, which is partly not true because they share a past with the Haitians. He showed also opinions on how the Dominicans do not use certain words to describe themselves when they should. Howard also makes it clear that he is not happy at the education that many lower class Dominicans show because they seem to still develop the racist thinking quite early.

 

In end, it can be concluded that there is still racism in the world though many do not wish to admit it to themselves or to others surrounding them. Similar to the Dominican Republic, many countries will say they are the perfect country when they do have many problems. Though hidden in the shadows of greater and more powerful countries that could set a good example to others there is people who suffer and are even on their deathbeds from how bad the racism gets and how horrible the working conditions are. Hopefully I will be able to see the day when the world will finally achieve the peace it has been long waiting for; it would be the day that there is no more crime, no more racism, wars, or any other form of human mutiny. Life should be precious in every way and not treated as dirt on our shoes. As hard as it is to see his clearly, it may have made things clearer to the future readers of this essay on which can be said is calling out for some sort of solution for those who suffer the consequences of racism. Unfortunately, I know the countless efforts will not take place without the consent and acceptance in those people and countries that close their eyes to the racism still existent infront of them.

 

 

Bibliography:

 

-http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/domrep/domrep0402-02.htm

Indio= from Indian ancestry of the island

Mulatto= Basically from African/Black decendance.

General Rafael Trujillo: Dominican Dictator and clearly having racist thoughts against Haitians.

The Museum of the Dominican Man

 

 

 

 

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