Edwidge Danticat, through her scholarly works, presents the Haitian culture in a way that makes her readers relate to Haiti as a remarkable country. She uses literature to highlight its place in dealing with trials, conflict, and challenging moments. That’s why it is noticeable how she figuratively presents the issue of conflict between Haiti and the Dominican Republic in her book, Brother; I’m Dying. Danticat explores the path of conflict resolution in a family faced with political unrest and death. She narrates two brothers and their household responsibilities during a ravaging foreign intervention in Haiti and the oppressive US immigration policy. Her story highlights the strong bonds of family hold and the power it presents in resisting servitude from the colonial masters even in the face of death.
Theme of conflict
Historically, Haiti and the Dominican Republic were under the Hispaniola flagship. However, with the rising divisions among the European settlers, mainly the French and Spanish population, the region was divided into two in 1697 (Taft-Morales, 2019). Foreign dominance with a vested interest in slavery and profiting from the rich resources of both islands contributed mostly to their disputes. The European colonizers justified slavery by undermining people of color and, in the process, enhancing the conflicts between individuals of these two countries. Regardless of the past transgressions, Danticat explores world peace by focusing on hopeful thoughts amid trials and turmoil. She records the prayers of his uncle: “He prayed for a favorable outcome to the American presidential elections, for peace in Haiti and the world in general” (Danticat, 2007, p.g.140). She emphasizes the point of moving on positively when faced with the loss of a loved one. Such that one can still get to live a beautiful life amid death and sorrow. Her memoirs tell of the loss of her father to a chronic illness as well as her uncle: “I found out I was pregnant the same day that my father’s rapid weight loss and chronic shortness of breath were positively diagnosed as end-stage pulmonary fibrosis” (Danticat, 2007, p.g.8). Theoretically, this text could infer the urge for peaceful coexistence between the two states, with the two brothers symbolizing either state. It’s a call for forgiveness and living a purposeful and joyful life in a world filled with death.
Factors behind the Haitian migration to the Dominican Republic
Since the division, the eastern hemisphere comprising mostly the Dominican Republic has continually flourished compared to the Haitians’ “brothers” in the western hemisphere. Haitians are needed for their cheap labor by the Dominican employers and widely disparaged as a migrant minority. They are viewed as uncivilized, inferior, and blacker than the Dominicans’ counterparts (Taft-Morales, 2019). Haiti has had to reckon with long years of poor leadership, human rights violation crisis, and underdevelopment which has further propelled its poverty levels. However, its progression is limited by frequent natural catastrophes and widespread corruption by the governing bodies (Taft-Morales, 2019). These factors make Haiti the poorest country in Western Hemisphere, with approximately 60% of its population living below a daily national extreme poverty line of $1.23 (Taft-Morales, 2019). These unfortunate circumstances have forced many Haitians to seek better livelihoods elsewhere, with the neighboring Dominican Republic coming into mind. Even though it is never the ultimate choice for most individuals, the Dominican Republic offers a much better political stability and economic status.
Moreover, its closeness and unstrict migration regulations make it more advantageous for those extremely frustrated with economic structural deficiencies and political woes attributed to the government’s failure to address the corruption menace (Taft-Morales, 2019). The eventual desire for individuals from both countries is to get an opportunity to migrate to the United States for self-advancement. As Danticat reveals in her book, many people have migrated to foreign countries, especially the USA, just like her parents, searching for peace and better living conditions. Although the migration hasn’t always been smooth, like in the case of Danticat’s uncle, who was forced to endure the humiliating US domestic policies on immigration because he was from a lower class of immigrants.
Danticat details historical events that resulted in the current high poverty levels in Haiti in one way or another. Haiti’s occupation by France and the United States led to the violations of its sovereignty and exacerbated its internal problems. The livelihoods of the Haitians were left in a deplorable state, while the foreign powers’ move was only geared towards the enhancement of their colonial dominance as well as business-related interests. Socially, Danticat presents Haitians as likable and familiar individuals who are just but victims of a corrupted and foreign-invested economy. In the name of peace, their heavy military deployment has only resulted in a destabilized political system in Haiti, which is now heavily dependent on foreign aid. Consequently, the Haitian economy has equally been negatively affected, necessitating its population to look for greener pastures in other regions.
As Danticat points out, the historically frequent changes in the foreign leadership of Haiti contributed to constant disruptions in their daily lives. These drastic changes disrupted their lives socially, politically, and economically by dealing with an unstable political landscape now and then pushed most Haitians to seek stability and new settlements elsewhere. Unfortunately, for others like Uncle Joseph, luck never seemed to be on their side. He flees Haiti to the US, searching for peace after his church is destroyed in the battle between the United Nations peacekeepers and gang members. During his interview with the US immigration officers, he records, “Because I fear for my life in Haiti. And they burned down my church” (Danticat, 2007, p.g.192). Unluckily, the officers from Homeland Security handle his case in an inhumane matter resulting in his demise at a Florida hospital. As depicted from the text, there are lots of missed opportunities for the Haitian population due to foreign exploitation. For example, in Joseph Dantica, he could have probably avoided his woes if at all he could have cut deals and remained in his initial political standing. As Danticat notes,” Before Fignolé’s fall, my uncle had briefly contemplated running for political office, either as a deputy from Bel-Air or as mayor of Port-au-Prince. After Fignolé’s ouster, he realized how precarious political power could be and abandoned all notions of being part of it” (Danticat, 2007, p.g.33). Joseph’s decisions are an unforeseeable build-up to his downfall.
High unemployment rates and a stagnant economy associated with unmet massive debts owed to international financial institutions further demotivates Haitians (Labrador & Roy, 2018). Failed government efforts to tackle human rights abuses and frequent political turmoil discourage foreign investment, especially from international donors. Both parties feel their investments will go to drain given the prevalent political instability and unpredictable natural disasters. With the promise of work, peace, and security, Haitians opt to migrate to their neighbors. Most migrants get absorbed into the informal sectors working mainly in agricultural enterprises or domestic services (Labrador & Roy, 2018). Persecution, prejudice, and ill-treatment from local political bosses have also contributed to the involuntary migration to the Dominican state (Labrador & Roy, 2018). Although they are usually viewed as a threat, both demographically and culturally, Haitians gradually integrate into their newfound environments with the hope that fortune will follow them. However, the paradox of this migration is associated with the fact that some Dominicans are also migrating from their country for better livelihoods in Europe or the US. Still ironic is that the Haitians also migrate with some certainty of experiencing similar injustices and other forms of deprivation.
Works Cited
Danticat, Edwidge. Brother, I’m Dying. Knopf, 2007.
Labrador, Rocio C., and Diana Roy. “Haiti’s Troubled Path to Development.” Council on Foreign Relations, 12 Mar. 2018, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development.
Taft-Morales, Maureen. “Haiti’s Political and Economic Conditions.” Every CRS Report – EveryCRSReport.com,1 July 2019, www.everycrsreport.com/files/20190701_R45034_fd84e9910b29413f4602daa1fa96183634bb3e9e.pdf.
