Conversation Bridges Gap between Dominicans and Haitians
By Robert Waddell, March 7, 2010
 Whether race, history or politics, it cannot be denied that there’s a real friction between Haitian and Dominican cultures. These two great nations, who share the same island, live worlds apart. Could it be a denial of African ancestry that keeps Dominicans and Haitians at arms length?
Issues of race, identity and history will be discussed in depth at the conference “Half and Half” at the Longwood Arts Gallery, located in Hostos Community College, in the Bronx on Friday March 11th at 6 p.m.
“There is always need for a dialogue between the two republics, the Dominican and the Haitian, which have so much and so little in common,” said Nicolas Dumit Estevez, director of the Longwood Arts Gallery. “I dream of seeing the day when the younger generation from either side can talk in their own language yet have some sort communication with each other.”
Diógenes Abreu, author of Perejil will speak along with Sandy Plácido, a Dominican scholar who works with La Pequeña Quisqueya in Washington Heights. Also appearing, are Miriam Neptune and Vladimir Cybil Charlier who has created works of Haitian art that deal with rethinking traditional forms within a contemporary context.
“I am on the mainland, so this limits the experiential knowledge that I have regarding the crisis and which I would need in order to assess its impact on the Dominican-Haitian relationship,” said Estevez. “The Dominican Republic has shown solidarity with its neighbor. Here in New York, I hear of more and more Dominicans who empathize with the need to help their brothers and sisters on the other side of the island….Natural catastrophes do not know of national boundaries or borders.”
Questions of race and identity are rampant in Central America. Guesnerth Josue Perea has been involved with finding recognition for his African heritage in his native Colombia, which led him to co-found Afrocolombiany.org.
“There’s an Afro-phobia that happens in the Latin world,” said Perea.“
These types of conferences, exchanges, deal with this black phobia that happens in Latin American circles. We need a more inclusive idea of what Latin America is.”
 Soon, the documentary series “Afro Latinos: The Untaught Story” by Renzo Devia and Alicia Anabel Santos will be released. The documentary explores the dimensions of African influences on Latin America and self-racism amongst Latinos.
Estevez, said via email, that the situation in the Dominican Republic has changed drastically. He said that Dominicans, on the island and in New York City, have work to transcend the perception of anything Haitian as “poor and backward,” he said.
“It would be helpful to hear what Haitians think of us Dominicans. Do we face a similar treatment in that country as that we dispense to our neighbors?,” said Estevez.
Estevez looks forward to opening an honest and direct dialogue in the artistic environment of Longwood Arts Gallery and the educational surroundings of Hostos Community College. He could not stress more the importance of dialogue as a means of understanding, peace and the closing of historical gaps between Dominicans and Haitians.
“Half and Half”
Time: 6:00pm sharp
Date: Thursday, March 11, 2010
Location: Longwood Arts Gallery at Hostos Community College
450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street
Admission is free and all are welcome.
Presented by: Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture and the Bronx Council on the Arts |
