Hi Marie, thank you for that poignant analogy of Haitian culturual aspects.
I am an West Indian American married to an Haitian and I am well aware of the "Class" paradign.
Wow!
I posted this topic a couple of years ago and I'm still getting feedback from it. Well, we all know that time and things change.
I realize that in Haiti the race issue is not seen as a problem.
Unfortunately, it can be a problem in the United states.
America's historical pass is severely strident compared to Haiti when it comes to people of color.
The majority of White Americans clump all West Indians in one melting pot and so do some African Amnericans.
White Americans don't see you as an Haitian woman any different than they do a Jamaican, trinidadian or kittian woman.
You are a black woman with a black culture, we're all the same to White Americans, and you will suffer the indignities that we as Blacks do here in America.
My husband realized that his respect toward Whites was not reciprocated when he came to America.
So when in America you have to show more respect for your African American brothers and sisters, because in the long run they will have your back. I find that Haitians can only uphold that class status among themselves when here in America, but basically that too is eliminated when in America.
People will not accept those labels here in America - those identities of not having the right name or being the right color dissapates in America.
Unfortunately, you've adapted the white colonialistic idealogies of the white slave masters of the 1700's which turned out to be a detriment to the Haitian's in the long run. It worked in the early days circa 1940's - 1950's late until a selfish family known as the Duvalier's came into power and took all of Haiti's resourses for themselves.
Now there is nothing left of Haiti and the populace is fleeing to America for a fresh start - free of "classism" and all the negative labels, now only to face another series of set backs.
Only the strong shall survive, everyone on their own. Many whites might seem to be your friend, but when they talk amongst themselves they will refer to you as the black lady (not Marie).
They are basically born with the genes that make them think they are better than Black people, they can not help themselves.
Associate with caution at all times.
Peace
Lavie
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