Shades of the Border

One island, two countries, many skin colors. A history of racial prejudice divides the island of Hispaniola.

More about Shades of the Border from filmmaker Patrick Smith

The racial issues that exist on the island of Hispaniola can hardly be described as "black and white." Perceptions of race among Haitians and Dominicans have been evolving (or devolving) over several centuries of political, military, and social unrest, and can't be consolidated into a brief explanation or short documentary. Thus, as a filmmaker from the United States, the intention for the film was not to create all-encompassing viewpoints, both Haitian and Dominican.

The initial idea for the documentary came from the story of an Austin woman who was unable to adopt two abandoned, Dominican-born, black children because their skin color (and lack of documentation) prevented them from getting Dominican citizenship. After some research, it was clear that this wasn't an isolated incident, but that millions had been denied citizenship (and thus certain human rights), based on how "Haitian" they appeared to be and not based on where they were born.

Faced with the economic burden of providing for an entire population of illegal Haitians crossing the Dominican border, compacted by an already poverty-stricken population of Dominicans, the Dominican Republic strains to find a solution that isn't "color-based." Sadly, the peripheral effects of this issue are much more severe, often leading to violence, destruction of homes, inaccessible education, abusive working conditions, and the list goes on.

Shades of the Border explores a commonly-held notion from the Dominican media that race does not lay a role in the conflict, contrasted with an almost completely-inverse working-class opinion that the shade of someone's skin on the island of Hispaniola speaks volumes about the individual.

Find out how to TAKE ACTION at http://www.mediathatmattersfest.org/films/shades_of_the_border/action

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• family & society
• economic justice
• human rights
• racial justice
• youth
• Haiti
• Dominican Republic
• race
• poverty
• politics
• military
• media

[QFranco1]

Why are the people and country of the Dominican Republic being held responsible for the misery of haiti? Why did Jorge Pineda failed to address the lack of help from the Haitian government to help the Haitian people. Why must Dominicans be held responsible for a poor country that isn't their own?

[yeooPamela]

You see how haiti is now ? And how the area is around the border ? If we merge into one country that is what the entire island is going to look like . DR has its own problems already , we cant take the MILLIONS of haitians into our country , what is that going to do ? Its going to cause More problems . we cant be held responsible for their misery, they made caused the deforestation in haiti, its not our responsibility its theirs to try to improve and progress in their country.

[MFLDEASTCOASTLADIES]

My heart goes out to the poor of both sides of the island. To all the instigators. Spain left us for Peru. We were getting along well until Dessalines killed many Dominicans as Trullijo killed many Haitians n Dominicans. F both governments. I'm black Dominican n my brother's dad was Haitian. We Dominicans gotta stop thinking all Haitians hate us. Haitians gotta stop thinking Dominicans are all the same.

[francisparadis]

Por que no hace un documental del trabajo casi esclavo que realizan los emigrantes mxicanos y centroamericanos en los usa?

[francisparadis]

how much money is mr pineda making by incityng the hate betwen dominicans and haitians?

Hwo has being the only country that realy has responded to the port of prince catastrophy?

Im a black Dominican,To me ,this documentary is bull shit against the Dominican Republic.

The situation of haitian migraants in DR,is not any diferent from other migrants all arround the world.

[takeitfromyavideo]

"Brutal Military Rule" that's bullshit what we did was nothing i mean nothing compared to the brutality, killing, and colonial enslavement the Spanish did to your people once we got independence from the french we went to help the slaves in the DR fight the Spanish for the land and at one point Haiti and DR were the same land before they declared independence from the Hatians Hence the spaniards took over again and that's some of the reasons today Part of DR is rich and the other half is poor.

[FuryoftheSound]

@takeitfromyavideo

I'm guessing you're haitian, but no they didn't invade DR to "help" us. Those 20 years were a period of brutal military rule. Whites weren't allowed to own land, so the white dominicans left, and the haitians took the land. The tables will turn soon my friend.

[takeitfromyavideo]

@FuryoftheSound and stay under the colonial rule of the Spaniards...wow we were the first to gain our independence from the French and we help other nations especially people of Santo Domingo gain their independence, that's why Haitians occupied the island that is the DR today for that period of time, but they ain't want that and kicked the Haitians out and let the Spanish rule again. So go ahead and thank your slave masters.

[FuryoftheSound]

I don't care about Haiti. Since the dawn of time they've tried to start shit, occupying Santo Domingo and a forcing us to speak creole. Back during the Trujillo days this whole illegal haitian immigration would have never even started. We need to kick them out, and focus on ourselves.

[SuperBlackVelvet]

I would like to know what happened to the guy or what the guards did to the guys they were beating on? I want to know if you followed the seen because that was real news developing right in front of the camera. Is this the kind of treatment Haitians are getting from those guards? You have the responsability to report that news as a news man. So, what happened to him?

[GTYmassive]

i don't give a fuck bout them haitians they have always wanted to take over our country people might say that we dominicans racist oh whatever but they they don't understand that most dominicans live in poverty, people in D.R can't even find jobs and to make it worse they get paid very little.

[Pierre4452]

My Heart goes out to my Haitian Friends!!

Dominicans are peace of shit, they are racists to their own kind! Dominicans are just as black as haitians, Mulatto my ass! If you are black then you are black, no big deal, if you can help you friend or stranger out then do it with love! Dominicans go on their Banana boats to PR or USA to find the same thing a stable home and place to live, and a better life for their family!! FUCK YOU DOMINICANS

MY LOVE GOES OUT TO MY HAITAN BROTHERS

FROM MEXICO!