The 1937 Haitian Massacre: A Dark Chapter in History

When reflecting on the atrocities of the 20th century, events surrounding the World Wars often dominate our thoughts. However, a horrific act of ethnic cleansing occurred in 1937 on the island of Hispaniola, a year before Kristallnacht and just months before the Rape of Nanking. This is the story of the 1937 Haitian Massacre.

A Divided Island: Seeds of Conflict

The roots of this tragedy stretch back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola, initiating European colonization. The island's indigenous Taíno population was decimated by violence and disease, paving the way for the import of enslaved Africans to work on sugar plantations. By 1777, Hispaniola was divided, with France controlling the west and Spain the east.

Independence and Division

• In 1804, Haiti gained independence from France, becoming the world's first Black republic. However, this freedom came at a steep price, as the new nation faced economic isolation and crippling debt.
• The Dominican Republic later declared independence, first overthrowing Haitian rule and then Spanish and American colonialism.
• Despite a shared history, many Dominican elites viewed Haiti as a racial threat, fearing it would jeopardize relations with white western nations.

The U.S. Occupation: Fueling the Flames

Following World War I, the United States occupied both Haiti and the Dominican Republic to secure its power in the Western Hemisphere. This involved suppressing local opposition and installing governments favorable to U.S. interests. The brutal and racist nature of the U.S. occupation, particularly along the Dominican-Haitian border, created an environment ripe for future atrocities.

Trujillo's Rise and the Massacre

In 1930, Rafael Trujillo, the army chief, overthrew Dominican President Horacio Vásquez. Despite having Haitian ancestry himself, Trujillo viewed the bicultural borderland as a threat to his power and a potential escape route for revolutionaries. On October 2, 1937, Trujillo delivered a chilling speech, outlining his intentions for the region.

The "Parsley Test" and the Slaughter

Claiming to protect Dominican farmers, Trujillo ordered the killing of Haitians along the border. Over the next few weeks, the Dominican military murdered thousands of Haitian men, women, and children. The victims were targeted based on their Black skin, even though many Dominicans shared similar complexions.

Some accounts describe the use of a "parsley test" to distinguish Haitians from Dominicans. Victims were forced to pronounce the Spanish word for parsley, "perejil." Dominicans, with their trilled "r," could pronounce it correctly, while Haitians, speaking Kreyol (which lacks this sound), could not. Those who failed the test were immediately killed. However, recent research suggests that other factors were also considered, as many border residents were bilingual.

Covering Up the Carnage

The Dominican government censored news of the massacre, disposing of bodies in ravines, rivers, and through burning. The exact number of victims remains unknown, with estimates ranging from 4,000 to 15,000. The U.S. Ambassador at the time noted that the Dominican side of the border was "absolutely devoid of Haitians."

Aftermath and Legacy

While the government attempted to blame the killings on vigilantes, Trujillo faced international condemnation. The Dominican government was eventually forced to pay reparations to Haiti, but corruption meant that little of this money reached the survivors or their families. Neither Trujillo nor anyone in his government was ever punished for this crime against humanity.

The legacy of the Haitian massacre continues to strain relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. While activists on both sides have sought reconciliation, the Dominican state has done little to officially commemorate the massacre or its victims. The event serves as a chilling reminder of how power can be used to manipulate people into turning against their neighbors.

This tragic event underscores the importance of remembering and learning from history to prevent such atrocities from happening again. It highlights the dangers of unchecked power, ethnic prejudice, and the devastating consequences of political manipulation.