Racism has resided within the Dominican Republic for centuries after the defeat of the Haitian Empire. Yet, the profuse racism came from the Presidency of Rafael Trujillo. Rafael Trujillo yearned to withhold the prevalence of white skin-tone in Dominican individuals. Trujillo initiated an anti-Haitian regime as he was determined to whiten his country. To present himself as a white Dominican, Trujillo wore makeup to lighten his appearance, to uphold his standards. Yet, the horrific, defining moment of his presidency was the Parsley Massacre. Trujillo started the massacre in 1937, as he sought to deceive his people by claiming the Haitians were practicing witchety, while claiming they kept a Dominican opponent in hiding. Dominican troops slaughtered …show more content…
They urged their citizens to marry light-skinned members to flourish a race of whiteness. The presence of such behaviors has divided the populous, creating a barrier of wealthy whites and poverty-stricken blacks. This ideology spurred the denial of Haitian-descent for majority of Dominicans, as they desired to retain a seemingly white origin. More than 90% of the Dominican population possess a degree of African-Haitian descent, while only 4% of the population recognize their original heritage in their census. To further the lack of their heritage, they claim themselves as “indio”, referring to their skin color instead of their actual race. To demonstrate their disgust of Haitian citizens, in 2014, during the Dominican Carnival, groups from the 31 provinces chose to dress in attire, which resembled the Ku Klux Klan to emphasise the dominance of lighter-skinned citizens; numerous Haitians filed complaints, yet the Ministry of Culture stated that “every group is free to choose their themes, whether using elements of the Dominican identity or universal culture in their costumes”, as they uphold the idea of the Dominican Republic being a “free country”, which allows their citizens “to express their creativity”. Whether it be racist or prejudice, such ideals are allowed to prosper
The Parsley Massacre was the first instance where the world realized that Rafael Trujillo was a ruthless dictator. Rafael Trujillo's 1937 massacre of the Haitians, was his first time committing mass murder. This massacre killed more than 20,000 Haitians and even some Dominicans (“Dominican Republic and the Parsley Massacre”). Even though Trujillo committed this treacherous act, he still defended himself with, “He who does not know how to deceive does not know how to rule” (1 “Rafael Trujillo”). It is crazy that even when he went extremely public with his terror, he still tried to defend himself. The Parsley Massacre symbolized that the man who was supposed to lead and benefit the Dominican Republic was actually ruining their country one treacherous act at a
Through the study of the Peruvian society using articles like “The “Problem of the Indian...” and the Problem of the Land” by Jose Carlos Mariátegui and the Peruvian film La Boca del Lobo directed by Francisco Lombardi, it is learned that the identity of Peru is expressed through the Spanish descendants that live in cities or urban areas of Peru. In his essay, Mariátegui expresses that the creation of modern Peru was due to the tenure system in Peru and its Indigenous population. With the analyzation of La Boca del Lobo we will describe the native identity in Peru due to the Spanish treatment of Indians, power in the tenure system of Peru, the Indian Problem expressed by Mariátegui, and the implementation of Benedict Andersons “Imagined Communities”.
In the novel Breaking Through, by Francisco Jimenez, Francisco tells the story of how he illegally immigrated from Mexico to the United States. At the age of four, he, his parents, and his older brother, Roberto, crossed underneath the barbed-wire fence on the United States-Mexico border. However, after ten years they were reported by one of their own people and were forced to go back to Mexico. The three literary elements addressed in this captivating book are symbol, conflict, and characterization.
It was another tough case for Rafael. One he put his heart and soul into to win but lost because of an old photo that resurfaced of the victim in a similar situation. Defence claimed it was a pattern and that the victim was blackmailing a "hero cop". A ONE time photo clearly indicates a pattern. Right. How could the jury be so gullible? It was these cases that always got to him and now a rapist walks free and that “not guilty” verdict ran through his head. Goddammit. Rafael was fuming as he grabs a cup of coffee.
Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina is without a doubt one of the most known figures within the Dominican history. The “Era de Trujillo” (The Trujillo Era) occupied the Dominican Republic for the long period of thirty-one years. His dictatorship started in 1930 and ended with his assassination on May 30, 1961. Trujillo’s Career began with the occupation of the United States in 1916. During this time he was trained in a military school, and became part of the National Police, a military group made by the Unites States to maintain order in the Dominican Republic . Trujillo stood out during his military career and rapidly ascended within the military ranges. Under the government of Horatio Vasquez Trujillo received the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and was put in charge of chiefs and assistant commanders of the National Police . This new position gave him the opportunity to be part of the overthrowing of Horatio Vasquez. Trujillo was sworn into presidency on August 16, 1930. Marking the beginning of what is known as the cruel, violent and controversial part of history in the Dominican Republic.
I view Dominicans and Afro-Americans similarly because I am a person of these two ethnic groups. Most of the time people perceive me as Black and other time’s people call me Puerto Rican. I know I shouldn’t get angry, but I feel like others don’t respect me and are trying to label me. My mother is Black and my father is Dominican. Most Dominicans think that it is an odd mixture, but they don’t realize that they have the same origins from Africa. In a way it is hard to be a part of two ethnic groups, but it is very interesting. In my life, I had a lot of criticism from both sides of my family. My mother doesn’t like my father’s family and the feeling is mutual. So, I have many problems with my race, but I am still very proud. I always try to unite my family to become equal.
Once assuming the presidency, Trujillo took some of his most loyal men and created a small military force called the Servicio de Inteligencia Militar, or SIM. Their job was to control the public and eliminate any opposition, no matter how big. One of the biggest jobs SIM was ordered to perform was the Parsley Massacre of 1937. A year after a political compromise between the two nations, thousands of Haitians were illegally immigrated into the Dominican Republic. Many Dominicans were complaining about the settlements growing exponentially on the border, as it hindered trade. Trujillo responded with, “We have already begun to remedy the situation. Three hundred Haitians are now dead in [the city of] Bánica. This remedy will continue.” Trujillo had ordered his men to get rid of the Haitians occupying the borderlands. Approximately 20,000 Haitians and some dark Dominicans were killed. If you couldn 't pronounce "perejil" or parsley with a roll of the "r", it entailed you spoke French and as a Haitian you were killed. Women and children were as mercilessly killed as the men by bayonets, machetes, and rifles. Dominicans that tried to help were killed as well. The bodies were dumped in a body of water running between the two countries, as if to send a message. SIM was so effective that horrible genocide occurred during only five days. It was an event that tarnished the Haitian-Dominican
The novel ‘The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao’, by Junot Diaz gives a very entertaining insight towards many social dynamics that are relevant to Dominican culture, and it fits very well within the scope of the course; and, although it is a work of fiction, this novel is set in New Jersey, and deals specifically with the Dominican Republic experience under the Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo. From what I’ve learned after reading the first half of this book, there is certainly a lot that can be discussed. Thankfully the book’s versatile portrayal of vivid topics that are seldom discussed shine light upon these many issues that face such an overlooked culture, especially for the American audience.
Steven Gregory’s The Devil behind the Mirror is a strong book in the field. It offers real and resourceful information on economic, gender and racial oppression and inequality in the Dominican Republic. Although more research should be done on his topics of discussion, Gregory has set in motion a fundamental understanding of the effects globalization has had on specific
Covers of songs have existed for decades, and have exceptionally increased in popularity throughout the years. In result, many classics have been manipulated and transformed to create a new perspective of a song using the artist’s musical styles and abilities. However, for many the original piece from the legendary icons are much more preferred. Selena Quintanilla, who goes by “Selena,” only completed four LP’s before her death, but has sold well over 60 million albums worldwide since her passing. In addition, Billboard named her the “Artist of the Decade” in the 1990s, despite her passing in 1995. Specifically for "Si Una Vez,” Selena won the BMI Pop Music Award in 1994 for "Song of The Year", and considered a signature Selena Song. It is evident that Selena was a true legend, who opened many doors for other
“We are never more truly and profoundly human than when we dance.” Jose Arcadio Limon was a dancer and choreographer born and raised in Mexico. He was inspired to begin his studies in modern dance when he saw a performance of Harald Krutzberg and Yvone Georgi. Limon enrolled at the dance school of Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. He continued to work with Humphrey until 1946, when he founded the José Limón Dance Company. His most successful work is called The Moor's Pavane and it is based on Shakespeare's Othello. The Limón Dance Company still exists and is part of the Jose Limon Dance Foundation, an institution dedicated to preserve and disseminate his artistic dance work and technique. Jose Limon is important in the American Dance History
de Besault, Lawrence. President Trujillo: His work and the Dominican Republic. Santiago: Editorial El Diario, 1941.
Many countries have the pleasure of celebrating Independence Days. These historic holidays are filled with nationalistic celebrations and delicious traditional food. In Chile, the natives celebrate their break from Spain with Fiestas Patrias. In Mexico, the president begins the celebration by ringing a bell and reciting the “Grito de Dolores” and he ends his speech by saying “Viva Mexico” three times.
The novel Pedro Paramo, by Juan Rulfo, presents a situation where the reader is not being told something in a straightforward, linear manner, but rather is provoked with questions from many points of view in order to bring the reader into the story. Though the novel begins with a traditional first-person narrative from the protagonist’s point of view, this frame story is soon overcome with other voices, memories, and associations that progresses into a timeless, fragmentary collection of viewpoints by the novel’s end. This development of many different points of view, rather than relying on a single narrative arc, provides an open perspective of not just one protagonist’s personal journey, but a shared experience; a collective experience in
Race is one of the obstacles presented, and it drives a Dominican’s reaction in “How to Date a Brown Girl (Black girl, White girl, or Halfie)” into a state of confusion and difficulty as a minority. The author commands the reader to do a bunch of things before going to a date; he says, “Clear the government cheese from the refrigerator…Hide the pictures of yourself with an Afro” (Diaz). The images of the government cheese and the pictures of the guy that he has to hide present poverty, inferior status of the narrator, and his origin. He does not want the girls that he tries to date to see his racial markers. He is not confident in accepting his race. This action may indicate that he values other people’s races more than his own race. Furthermore, the narrator complies with another instruction when he meets with a black girl , which states, “Run a hand through your hair like the whitebo...