ForgottenFaces/white Biracial Haitians (Part 4)

Directed by David Ritter

Forgotten Faces is a video documentary project that raises awareness of and celebrates the minority ethnic groups of the West Indies. Many people are unaware of the existence of populations of Jamaicans and Haitians of white European, Chinese, East Indian, and Middle Eastern descent, living in Jamaica and Haiti. These ethnic groups are diminishing in the West Indies, but have played very important roles in the history of these countries and their culture. People interviewed are from diverse backgrounds, including: celebrity, middle class, those with political goals, those who wish to affect their country in massive ways, and those who simply want to live their lives in the country they love. General reactions to white Jamaicans and white Haitians range from amazement to shock and disbelief, and, even to hostility. These reactions are followed by questions: Who are these people? How did they get here? What is their "story"? How do other Jamaicans and Haitians feel about them? Forgotten Faces addresses these questions.

some of these minority groups have experienced racism and discrimination from both their governments and the general populace. Many of these incidents have gone unreported and have, in some cases, been renumbered in the history books of Jamaica, Haiti, and the United States. These people have a story to tell about their hardships and about their accomplishments.


Aesthetic treatment and artistic voice:
Through interviews with Jamaicans of white European, Chinese, East Indian, and Middle Eastern descent, and Haitians of similar descent, Forgotten Faces raises awareness to the existence of these minority groups and tells some of the history of how they migrated to Jamaica and Haiti. Those interviewed span generations, providing a contemporary and historical context. The interviews take place in the homes and businesses owned by those being interviewed, or in public places, such as a café. Touching on subjects, including race, politics, and culture, the interviews reveal the way in which these minority groups are woven into the fabric of West Indian life. Historic and contemporary images of Haiti and Jamaica, as well as Haitian and Jamaican historical figures, supplement the interview footage, helping to tell the stories of migration and the forming of the minority communities.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Haiti
• White
• Caribbean
• west
• indies
• minority
• Arab
• Caucasian
• History
• Forgotten
• Faces
• Haitian
• white
• Cap
• Haitien
• PAP
• Port
• au
• Prince
• Petionville
• mixed
• race
• earthquake
• earth
• quake
• poor
• orphans
• poverty
• political
• vice
• tvice
• roberto
• mission
• work
• medical
• missions
• documentary
• music
• de
• dominican
• republic
• latin
• america
• worker
• NGO

[bigfatbadcat]

@ForgottenFaces001 I understand the point of view of your film which highlights being basically forced to leave your homeland due to unfavorable conditions. I also understand the point you make about being considered less Haitian due to skin color/ethnicity, which is wrong!

I'm glad I found your film, as I had been looking for footage of modern day Haitian mulattoes/creoles/whites still living in Haiti. I've never actually seen a white Haitian...don't laugh!

[ForgottenFaces001]

@bigfatbadcat i understand and it is nothing anyone should feel strange about the minorities are very few and small within Haiti i am glad this is something that helps provide knowledge and some understanding to people abroad and i am very happy you find it to be of worth.

[bigfatbadcat]

Thanks for shedding light on unknown migrant populations in West Indian countries. I grew up in Barbados with Syrians, lebanese, south americans, and had friends from every corner of the globe. This is a very interesting series. On another note, I cannot help but be a bit cynical about the 'plight', and 'racist' experiences of these immigrant groups, who for the most part have enjoyed significant economic advantage over the masses of any island to which they migrated. Great video series!

[ForgottenFaces001]

@bigfatbadcat thank you for watching but i do not feel that this project has made any false claims it simply states that a large portion of the populace does not see people of non black lineage as Haitian and we focused on how that makes people of european and middle eastern background feel. yes the majority of migrants and their families who remain in Haiti as citizens are prosperous and wealthy but there is a story of many who had to leave because their future was not as bright

[ForgottenFaces001]

@MixChick4ever the documentary was not asking or demanding for mulatto or mixed race or white or middle eastern descended Haitians to rule over anyone the documentary was about who they are as people and how they identify as Haitian. i suggest you watch it and then make up your mind about what rights a mulatto or biracial person from Haiti should or should not have.

[ForgottenFaces001]

@thugishism sure thank you for your very ((educated and insightful feedback))

[thugishism]

@ForgottenFaces001 it is complete crap

go back to the root of the problem first

[ForgottenFaces001]

@thugishism most likely the reason you find it to be ((crap)) is because you have never heard the story of migrations of european and middle eastern descended people in Haiti. if you watch the documentary it could help you learn a side of Haitian culture you that you are unaware of.

[thugishism]

@ForgottenFaces001

go study Haitian history before you put crap on the internet

[cosa545]

@ForgottenFaces001 well, I respect that, so do I, but on a different side. Help the government to make economic reforms that can help and take the country out of mass poverty, and make sure haiti is not only the good life, beaches, mountains but also a country that needs schools, universities, hospitals, roads and so on, and all these things cost money and where we gonna find the money ? from taxes, from rich, poor,middle class, and goods that we sell abroad, just like everywhere else.