Summary:
In the following pages of the book, a large amount of historical background information has been given. Readers learn about cruel dictator Rafael Trujillo, and his goal of practically destroying all Haitians that dared disrupt "his country". Following that, readers also learn about the rise and fall of Haiti, and their never-ending struggle for them to become a strong independent country. In the next chapter, Wucker explains both the rise and fall of Columbus and Toussaint, and how it negatively affected both countries as a result of their failures. Also, the complete history on how the Dominican Republic came to be is carefully and thoroughly explained, including all the religious background of the country and their most important saints, such as La Virgen de la Altagracia and Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (the Virgin of Highest Grace and Our Lady of Mercy, respectively).
Following the background information of the Dominican Republic, Haiti's complete historical background is also told, starting from the legendary Toussaint L'Ouverture. Following all the history, it is explained how the Haitians escaped to Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic's capital) to escape violence and hunger (84). Although they looked for an escape, life in Santo Domingo was not any easier, simply because they had to pay for "hotels" that merely even deserved to be called hotels, and Haitians still fear danger following them.
Quote:
"To try to escape, they once again are running to the center of Hispaniola, fleeing across the border in hopes of finding a means to survive" (Wucker 59).
Reaction:
Proceeding with the book, readers truly learn a lot more on the history and fight for independence of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Starting with Hispaniola, Wucker breaks down the history of the island as a whole, then elaborates on how Haiti and the Dominican fought for their independence (respectively). Since the chapter was called "Massacre River", Wucker elaborates on the history of this river, as well as the dangers and legends of the border that separate the two countries. Moving through the book, Wucker uses third person point of view and allusions to retell the past of this island, and the immense struggles they had to endure. Wucker lets readers know that while everybody may have an image of both the Dominican Republic and Haiti as countries that get along and help out one another (or rather, the Dominican Republic gives a lending hand to Haiti), these countries share a cruel past that separate them rather than bring them together. Through this, Wucker has done a great job thus far in depicting the reality of these two countries.
I chose this quote because it portrays the image of bonding between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Repeatedly, the book states everything that tears these two countries apart. This quote gives some positive light because, no matter how hard a situation, Haitians do have the ability to go to their neighbor country to find a better life for themselves. No matter how deep the scars, they still help each other out, which is a strange but strong bond these countries share to this day.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Why the Cocks (Roosters) Fight (Pages 1-51)
Summary:
Why the Cocks Fight is a historical book that author Michele Wucker retells about the history behind the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and how although these two countries share the same island of Hispaniola, many things tear them apart. In the opening chapter, the author recounts the entire story behind a rooster fight: from the bets made to the winning roosters, the humiliation the owners face when their roosters lose, to their more "professional" rooster fights in arenas called "coliseum" (16). Throughout this chapter, Wucker intertwines the history and current rooster fights with political figures that have fought for Hispaniola and for the independence of each individual country. In this first chapter, Wucker brings up famous political figures such as Rafael Trujillo, who dictated in the Dominican Republic for more than thirty years. He was not exactly shed in a positive light because of all the tragic and horrific events that he made suffer not only to Dominicans, but also to the Haitians. Because of him, the relationship between these two countries was immensely affected.
In the following chapter, Wucker goes way deeper into the connection of these two countries and their individual fight for independence. She started by mentioning the Massacre River (27). This river separates Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the border. This is the core of the chapter because here the author builds up for the rest of the historical information. Here, the author really digs into the essential
details of Hispaniola's history. Going back to the Haitian Revolution, Haiti struggled to gain their independence. They had to fight off mother countries such as Spain, France, Britain, and even the United States to keep obtaining their freedom. They had revolutionary leaders that tried to do good, but things still stayed bad. The Dominican Republic became a separate country from Haiti when the island of Hispaniola was separated by mother countries Spain and France. They gained their independence when revolutionary leaders such as Juan Pablo Duarte Francisco de Rosario Sanchez fought for their country's indepence through forming a group called La Trinitaria.This Massacre River as previously stated has been the grief of many Haitians when they were massacred and thrown into this river by orders of Trujillo. The irony was that Trujillo's grandmother was Haitian, yet he continously offended them due to the color of their skin. The tensions and struggles of these two countries has injured their relationship due to this constant struggle for power and the never-ending discrimination.
Quote:
"The rooster has come to represent all aspects of daily life in Hispaniola: politics, home, territory, courtship, healing, sustenance, the passage of time, and brotherhood. The cockfight is a symbol of both division and community, opposite sides of the same coin" (Wucker 12).
Reaction:
While reading the beginning pages of this book, a lot of background history is given page by page. The first chapter mainly related to cockfights, and the connection this shared with both the Dominican Republic. For one part of the chapter, the author does a great job in explaining all the lingo that is said during these fight, such as a criador, which is someone who has, "Bred, brought up, and overseen the training of a rooster" (Wucker 18). The author has done a great job thus far in connecting how these rooster fights relate to the strained relationship between Dominicans and Haitians. They have also connected it to other events in Haiti's and the Dominican Republic's history, such as the fight for independence for both these countries. It's simplified to a form that is understood by everyone, and all Spanish words are translated.
I chose this quote because it shows the strange relationship Haiti and the Dominican Republic share. This quote shares how, although these two countries have been separated by a lot of things men have done, at the same time they are brought together. For example, politics is something that majorly separates Hispaniola. At the same time, they are brought together because they bond over a rooster fight, which symbolically represents politics in the sense that they always go for the one that wins, or represents them well. I found it very interesting that these countries can be so strained, but at the same time, simple things make them bond and bring them together.
Why the Cocks Fight is a historical book that author Michele Wucker retells about the history behind the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and how although these two countries share the same island of Hispaniola, many things tear them apart. In the opening chapter, the author recounts the entire story behind a rooster fight: from the bets made to the winning roosters, the humiliation the owners face when their roosters lose, to their more "professional" rooster fights in arenas called "coliseum" (16). Throughout this chapter, Wucker intertwines the history and current rooster fights with political figures that have fought for Hispaniola and for the independence of each individual country. In this first chapter, Wucker brings up famous political figures such as Rafael Trujillo, who dictated in the Dominican Republic for more than thirty years. He was not exactly shed in a positive light because of all the tragic and horrific events that he made suffer not only to Dominicans, but also to the Haitians. Because of him, the relationship between these two countries was immensely affected.
In the following chapter, Wucker goes way deeper into the connection of these two countries and their individual fight for independence. She started by mentioning the Massacre River (27). This river separates Haiti and the Dominican Republic in the border. This is the core of the chapter because here the author builds up for the rest of the historical information. Here, the author really digs into the essential
details of Hispaniola's history. Going back to the Haitian Revolution, Haiti struggled to gain their independence. They had to fight off mother countries such as Spain, France, Britain, and even the United States to keep obtaining their freedom. They had revolutionary leaders that tried to do good, but things still stayed bad. The Dominican Republic became a separate country from Haiti when the island of Hispaniola was separated by mother countries Spain and France. They gained their independence when revolutionary leaders such as Juan Pablo Duarte Francisco de Rosario Sanchez fought for their country's indepence through forming a group called La Trinitaria.This Massacre River as previously stated has been the grief of many Haitians when they were massacred and thrown into this river by orders of Trujillo. The irony was that Trujillo's grandmother was Haitian, yet he continously offended them due to the color of their skin. The tensions and struggles of these two countries has injured their relationship due to this constant struggle for power and the never-ending discrimination.
Quote:
"The rooster has come to represent all aspects of daily life in Hispaniola: politics, home, territory, courtship, healing, sustenance, the passage of time, and brotherhood. The cockfight is a symbol of both division and community, opposite sides of the same coin" (Wucker 12).
Reaction:
While reading the beginning pages of this book, a lot of background history is given page by page. The first chapter mainly related to cockfights, and the connection this shared with both the Dominican Republic. For one part of the chapter, the author does a great job in explaining all the lingo that is said during these fight, such as a criador, which is someone who has, "Bred, brought up, and overseen the training of a rooster" (Wucker 18). The author has done a great job thus far in connecting how these rooster fights relate to the strained relationship between Dominicans and Haitians. They have also connected it to other events in Haiti's and the Dominican Republic's history, such as the fight for independence for both these countries. It's simplified to a form that is understood by everyone, and all Spanish words are translated.
I chose this quote because it shows the strange relationship Haiti and the Dominican Republic share. This quote shares how, although these two countries have been separated by a lot of things men have done, at the same time they are brought together. For example, politics is something that majorly separates Hispaniola. At the same time, they are brought together because they bond over a rooster fight, which symbolically represents politics in the sense that they always go for the one that wins, or represents them well. I found it very interesting that these countries can be so strained, but at the same time, simple things make them bond and bring them together.
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