Dominican students don't often learn about the 1937 Parsley Massacre in which approximately 30,000 Haitians and Black Dominicans were massacred by Trujillos military and their own neighbors. What's even more disturbing is that it’s not uncommon for many who do to do mental gymnastics to justify a genocide ( you can see examples here in the comments)… You really have to stop and wonder how one can lose their humanity and become pro-genocide because it's suits their Dominican nationalism.
Now more than ever, we are grateful for the testimonies of the survivors of the Massacre. They force us all to confront the ugliness of the past and how easy it is for the oppressed to become oppressors even today.
On October 2, 2022, 85 years after the Parsley Massacre, a Dominican mob set the homes of Haitian residents in Puerto Plata on fire, causing hundreds to flee- all because allegations spread that "a Haitian" was suspected of murdering 3 men. They deemed all Haitians guilty until proven innocent for the alleged crimes of one.
This serves as a reminder that a people that haven’t confronted their past are destined to repeat it.
Listen to a testimony from a survivor of the Parsley Massacre here.
It is no exaggeration to say that news from the island these days can fill you with despair: Caught between illegal guns flowing from the US, the gangs armed by those guns to protect the interests of corrupt politicians and the elite, the illicit drug trade from South America, a fuel crisis, and an ongoing political deadlock, it is hard to see where Haiti goes from here.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Fiona left much of the East and Samana in DR flooded, homes damaged, and communities without power yet the government has focused much of its efforts on the international stage on repeatedly calling for foreign intervention into Haiti (rather than asking for assistance for the people of Samana), and increasingly anti-Haitian posturing and rhetoric on the national stage. Dominicans also continue to make the dangerous journey from DR to Puerto Rico by boat, seeking a better life as the economic situation in DR for the average Dominican deteriorate.
This cycle of disasters- both natural and man-made- can cause one to give up home for the future.
Instead, we have chosen to remain hopeful in the vision our ancestors had for our future, in the courage of the Haitian people facing down an ambivalent government, and in the strength of the Dominican communities that pulled themselves out from under rubble rather than wait to be saved.
We invite you to join us in a celebration of hope for our future on October 30th in NYC. It’s obvious now more than ever that the work of In Cultured Company is essential- join us at our fundraising happy hour as we center Black joy as a radical act of resistance.
Can’t make it to Starr Bar? We invite you to make a donation to ICC here to help us meet our fundraising goals.