When watching both of the videos I gained a better understanding of Haiti. I had very minute information on Haiti at that the reason on why there is such tension between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. After watching both sources, I see a completely different depiction of Haiti. If I were to just watch "Divided Island: How Haiti and the DR Became Two Worlds." I would've had that same Americanized version of Haiti in my head. I mean how are you able to have the only successful revolution and literally cause white fear to plunge across the world, then be one of the poorest nations in the world. A lot of the clips were taken in the poorer, lower classed areas of the nation. Almost speaking down on Haiti's beauty as they attempt to explain the animosity between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Even when people consider traveling, you hear more people traveling to the DR compared to Haiti all because of the Americanized image that is painted in our head about Haiti. In the "Haiti: A Side the Media Won't Show You." its more so of a vlog that shows a more vibrant depiction of Haiti. You see a side of the country that many don't immediately think about. You see the culture, the vivacious islands, and a more touristic depiction.
I will say though, reading the background and even watching the "Divided Island: How Haiti and the DR Became Two Worlds." video I had a very distasteful taste left. Seeing how cruel and inhumane the people of Haiti was and is currently treated is beyond appalling. I got a little emotional looking at some of the images in the New York Times article "Invade Haiti, Wall Street Urged. The U.S. Obliged.". Specifically in the portion titled "Claiming the Gold", there was an image of an American taking pictures proudly with the dead bodies of the Haitians killed in 1915.
I may not be Haitian but in this case, you don't even have to. Me being an African American mourn looking at that image. I know that frustration of your people being killed, and people are proudly flaunting their death. To be honest this whole reading just frustrated me. I feel like the world just turned its face from Haiti and its absolutely disgusting.
Article: Gebrekidan , Selam, et al. “Invade Haiti, Wall Street Urged. The U.S. Obliged.” New York Times, 26 May 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/05/20/world/haiti-wall-street-us-banks.html.
Hi Paige.
Yes, these videos helped me to get a better view of Haiti and Dominican Republic. There is so much beauty and we got to see the pain and sufferings as well. You are correct we do not have to be Haitian, but we can feel the pain of our people. We connect with the people because of humanity that lives in all of us. I do hate the way Haiti is treated, the world is afraid of what could be and therefore they suppress the people and the land. Everybody turns their back on Haiti, and it hurts...
The DR is most definitely a beautiful island and many travel there. But what the world doesn't know is that Haiti is a beautiful island as well. The media displays the ugly poor side of Haiti but never the beautiful side that was in the documentary.