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Black in Latin America, Haiti on PBS

Haiti is the first black republic, a curse or a blessing? Did slavery generate the friction between Haiti and Dominican Republic?

More in PBS, Henry Louis Gates, Black in Latin America, Dominican Republic, Haitian Television, Haitian Diaspora News

I just found out about a great show airing on PBS tonight, April 19, called Black In Latin America.

Tonight's episode focuses on Haiti...

"Black in Latin America," is a four-part series hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates that visits six Latin American countries and finds each in its own way still struggling to resolve that 'poisonous legacy of slavery,' the New York Daily New says...

Just on the island of Hispaniola... slavery left far different imprints on the two nations that uncomfortably share the land, Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Black in Latin America shows the lingering aspects of 'Middle Passage' slave history

Did you know this?

Of the estimated 11 million Africans who survived the notorious "Middle Passage," only about 450,000 ended up in the United States. The other 10.55 million went to Brazil, Haiti, Cuba, Mexico and the rest of the Americas. Anywhere plantation owners or farmers needed free labor, there was a market for slaves.

So take the lingering toxicity of slavery in the U.S., multiply that more than 20 times, spread it over many nations, and Gates finds that being of black ancestry in Latin America can present challenges both common to the hemisphere and unique to countries or communities.

Will/did you watch it?

What is your opinion about this poisonous legacy of slavery and how do you see it's effect on Haiti's evolution as a nation?

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All Comments (5)

Kenold says...

I did watch the program .thanks .It was sad, Come from Terrier-Rouge, grew up in Cap-Haitien, Living in Maryland for 31 years.

I had problem looking at some of the pictures because Haiti is also where I had my education, I left when I was 25, but nothing will take away the love for Her {Haiti }I have one question: why they never take the camera to place like Petionville?, no matter what we always ticketed with bad publicities.

Ir's like a < no way out > situatoin, I wish Haiti the best, because it does not matter what ;this is where I will spend my retirement and my final

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Lyne says...

I agree it's a must see episode again.

I really like that Mr. Gates wanted to talk about how rich Haiti is and what had happened in history.

It was very much a revealing

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Jj says...

Glack in caribbean can't be compare with the black in Usa they were slave but free in Usa the were slave discrminaate abuse deprive of education in america USA it was crime against humanity beside of slavery That why we always to distinguish the black from the carribbean brazil cuba puerto-rico trinidad martinique mexico france and elsewhere these black do not suffer what the black in america usa went thru Santo Domingo and Haiti it is another subjectHaiti governe Santo Domingofor 21 years then the Dominican woman was use as pleasure for the rich the prostitution was introduce to Haiti by the Dominican they have to set a distirct for them in haiti nnow the Domnican was fortunate the have the leadders who have vision for their country and able to keep other country buy then and manuplilate their govervnment their leadders the take charge of their election they establish their rules and make all people respect it now the bring the haitian to cut sugar cane they treat them as slave no respect these poor people have no right no advocate these all about black no curse only misfortunate in the hands of people who do not have soul no heart no compassion only MONEY MONEY any which

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Jacques L says...

Saw it on pbs.org. It is really good and very informative.

Learned alot aboud Dominicanie that I hadn't heard

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Nancy says...

Hi Everyone,
I'm sure we can learn something about Haiti.

It's a must see

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