Class Line in Haiti

Several years ago I fell upon an article authored by Michell Tauber and Greg Adkinsissue of“People Magazine” dated, January 30, 2006. Embedded in that story was the picture of Angelina Jolie, Wyclef Jean, and Brad Pitt on their humanitarian trip to Haiti. In front of them were two children standing and holding a painting. I didn’t pay too much attention to the hidden meaning of that picture until I browsed over the next page. My attention was captured by the following statements, “—they (i.e., Jolie and Pitt) noticed that the kids have segregated themselves along class lines at the Jan. 13 party in Port-au-Prince. But then, Angelina began leading one group of kids in a canga line, and Brad began leading another…” The writer continued, “—suddenly the whole place was dancing, and everyone forgot their class. It was a really beautiful thing to see.”

The above statement certainly surmises a Haitian reality that most people choose to either ignore or deny.

It is no secretthat Haiti is deeply divided and socially torn apart by class structure, skin complexion, wealth, and socio-political struggles. That situation has been ingrained within Haiti’s social fabric ever since the foundation of this nation over 200 years ago. Many national and international foes have been taking advantage of this brutal reality that exists in Haiti in a very inexplicable and deceitful way.

Divided to conquer has been one of the instruments of choice used in Haiti for more than two centuries. That strategy has enabled ill-intentioned individuals to accumulate wealth and power from the ignorance of some and the miseducation of others.

Maintaining the status quo, reinforcing the political instability, and keeping the socio-economic condition are very lucrative enterprises that benefit invisible forces that systematically prey on Haiti. During his 1893 speech of the Haitian pavilion in Chicago, Frederic Douglass stated, “It so happens that we have men in this country who, to accomplish their personal and selfish ends, will fan the flame of passion between the factions in Haiti and will otherwise assist in setting revolutions afoot.”

Furthermore, many vicious politicians have used the color card in Haitian politics for personal gains rather than addressing this deep-ceded issue that has been damaging this country for generations. One ought to take a closer look at the real societal picture to understand how segregation between classes has established itself in the minds of young Haitians at a very early age.

At the January 13th2006 party hosted by Mr. Jean, I believe that no one told those children to stay away from each other. However, consciously or subconsciously they knew the learned and imposed differences between themselves in terms of class and skin tone. Overtly or covertly, they may have been taught that they were not of the same “breed.” Although veiled and unspoken, everybody knows the unwritten rules of class and color in Haiti. People tend to keep this particular issue away from their consciousness, because if acknowledged, it may create very uncomfortable feelings. Therefore, it is easier and even safer to pretend that such apartheid does not exist in a country that stood for freedom over two centuries ago. Should someone is brave enough to bring such an issue to the surface; he or she may quickly be labeled as being divisive or extremist.

One of my college mates shared with me her painful memories of being prejudiced and segregated against in her school simply because she was of dark complexion. The socio-economic ascendance of her parents that did not prevent her from being picked on by both her peers and other adults as a result of her skin color. Not too long ago, a journalist wrote an extensive article about her painful experience when she went to a store at Pétionville. She explained how she had faced with great level of prejudice because of her dark complexion.

From the street to the classroom, prejudice has been rampant in Haiti. For example, it won’t be a surprise if inside of a classroom one observes “upper class and lower class” students socialize and interact with each other without problem. However, during break time they may act as total strangers in the schoolyard. The same scenario may reoccur, should those same students who may seem to be good friends inside the classroom encounter each other in another social setting, like a sporting event or a movie theater.

We ought to face and admit that prejudice related to social class and color does exist in Haiti. It is a crucial problem that the Haitian society ought to address head on. We must work together to alleviate the excruciating pain and suffering that prejudice between class lines has brought to our country since its birth.

Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the father of the Haitian nation understood the complexity and the impact that such a social division might have on the development of the country. In an attempt to palliate this problem he had proposed for his dark skin daughter,Célimène to wed, Alexandre Pétion, who was light skin whom later became Haiti’s first president. Dessalines had made that proposition to symbolize the union between the blacks and the mullatoes. Unfortunately, Dessalines was unsuccessful in his quest to unify the Haitian social tissue through that symbolic proposed nuptial union. Needless to say, this social division remains like a cancer that is ruining the foundation of this beautiful country.

The notion of social class exists in almost every society. The financial wealth of the citizens is one of the elements by which the success or affluence of a country is measured. However, when the gap between the haves and the haves not is too wide it would inevitably lead tosocial ostracism. As a result, violence would become an epidemic that could ruin the social fabric and even the foundation of an entire nation. Such a situation could bring resentment because of the social exclusion that it may create. Sadly, for countless years this social problematic has been one of Haiti’s most devastating plagues.

Rather than creating a “country within a country,” we should finally realize that the time has come to build one nation under one flag. Haiti may start to breathe a nicer and fresher air if and only if we could eradicate the epidemic of prejudice, social division, and class and color line, which is one of the causes of our socio-economic downfall.

It can be easily understood why “Jolie and Pitt looked like they wanted to adopt all the kids,” said Wyclef Jean (People Magazine Jan. 30, 2006). I have the same feeling when I saw the pictures of those children, full of live with a genuine love that shined in their eyes.

Nonetheless, I continue to keep the faith that one day my beloved homeland would take is rightful place among the concert of stable and prosperous nations. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I also have a dream. I dream that one day, all Haitians, lighter and darker skin alike, the upper and lower class, the poor and rich could unite under the flag of patriotism to reclaim our country and build our nation. I dream that we would finally work together as one to make Haiti,our beautiful land, the true “Perle des Antilles.” Like Angelina Jolie said to the Associated Press: “Given just a little chance, and given a little help, this is going to be a great country.”