The Haiti and The Dominican Republic Documentary

Table of Contents

Introduction
History of The Dominican Republic and the Haiti Influence
Cultural Differences between The Dominican Republic and Haiti
Current Situation
Personal Opinion
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The Caribbean Island of Hispaniola has a unique history as the transitioning point for enslaved people to the American coasts, Spanish colonization, occupation by the French army, and the United States. Today, Haiti and The Dominican Republic share the land, and the difference in their cultural, social, and economic conditions is startling. In the documentary Haiti and The Dominican Republic: An Island Divided, Professor Gates visits both countries, explores these significant distinctions, and discusses their reasons and the outcomes with experts. This paper aims to reflect on the film, identify the meaning of the situation in the history of the Dominican Republic, and share personal opinions.

History of The Dominican Republic and the Haiti Influence

The documentary starts with telling the Republics history by describing merengue, the national music of Dominicans, as a mixture of African rhythms with Spanish language and musical instruments. The countrys capital, Santo Domingo, was founded in 1496 by Bartholomew Columbus and became the point where the enslaved Black Africans were transitioned by Spanish colonial rule and where the two cultures met and blended (Read365, 2013). The Dominican Republic had a unique experience where the inhabitants felt equal and close to their Spanish colonists despite the slavery. Indeed, as the countrys main economic value was cattle ranching, the enslaved peoples labor differed from the plantation-based one.

The Dominican Republic existed in peace under the broad Spanish colonial rule yet claimed its independence from a piece of the island Haiti. In 1822, the French occupied a part of Santo Domingo, forcing the Dominicans to change their social and economic regulations; their culture, religion, and skin color were under pressure (Read365, 2013). Reflecting on the film, it is clear that after the Republic won its independence, the negative perception of Haitians, their closest neighbors, became a part of the national identity.

Moreover, during the United States Island occupation, Haiti became a sugar plantation area. Its inhabitants were under the strict rule of masters, and the Dominicans who witnessed it started feeling themselves superior to their neighbors (Read365, 2013). As the documentary showed, Dominican Republic tried to become a part of the global world, finding Haitis devastation as an argument that attempts to get complete freedom and save the unique cultural code are not worthy. Indeed, the frames of Professor Gates traveling to poor Haitian cities make the audience question if it is a fair price for the independence.

Cultural Differences between The Dominican Republic and Haiti

Culture has evolved throughout history, and how the Dominican Republic and Haiti are different can be viewed from its perspective. The documentary is relatively old, and it can be noticed by how freely the host and the characters use the word black and discuss racial differences. Furthermore, the anthropologist in the film claimed that Dominicans are in complete denial of who they are, emphasizing how this perception determined the nations culture (Read365, 2013). In contrast, Haitians are portrayed as a population that respects their African roots through the music, language, voodoo religion, and values. In the documentary, Haitis nation is represented as people who considered freedom and unique identity more important than prosperity, were the first to defeat slavery in their country, yet struggled to develop economically.

Current Situation

According to Professor Gates conversations with experts in the documentary, despite the same location and shared history, todays Haiti and the Dominican Republic have significant economic, cultural, and social differences. Reflecting on what is filmed, the former drowns in poverty, while the latter participates in the global economy and builds prosperity on their territory. The Dominican Republic is a valuable influencer in the Caribbean trading, and its inhabitants do not associate themselves with past slavery (Glotzer, 2021). The documentary describes Haitis path to freedom and consequent international blockade, enabling the audience to think about the importance of being adaptive rather than standing out and fighting for uniqueness. The frames of tents instead of houses in the countrys capital are opposite the thriving Santo Domingo streets.

Personal Opinion

The DajabÃ³n River, a border between the countries, shown at the beginning of the documentary, is a crucial element because it reflects the closeness and the distinction between the two nations. Then, Professor Gates travel displayed how prosperous the Republics capital Santo Domingo, and contrastingly devastating is Port-au-Prince, the Haitian city (Read365, 2013). In my opinion, the confrontation with Haiti has a cultural and economic impact on Dominican history. The Haitian occupation and their fight against slavery which led to poverty showed the neighbors that association with African roots does more harm than good.

I think that the Dominican Republic benefitted from their striving to be Spanish because it helped them adapt to the changing world. The current expanse of globalization should weaken the tension between Haitians and Dominicans as they are part of the same land with similar resources. I found the documentary interesting because of Professor Gates unusual approach to exploring the countries culture through inhabitants perceptions of their ancestry and historical events (Read365, 2013). In my opinion, the situation on the island should be changed as Haiti is struggling to address the earthquakes consequences and improving the relationship with Dominican Republic can help enforce both economies.

Conclusion

Documentary Haiti and The Dominican Republic: An Island Divided explored the unique development of the two parts of the same island. As the film studied the history and culture of both countries with the shared African roots, the audience understood how the Dominicans attempts to blend with the Spanish colonists benefited the nation. Haitis poverty, devastation, and occupation of Santo Domingo land enforced the Republics tendency to deny their common ancestry.