Afrocentricity International comdemns the Dominican Republic for its actions against Haitians

25 November 2013 at 07:34

Afrocentricity International goes on record as rejecting the racist law in Dominican Republic that will strip all people of Haitian ancestry born in the country since l927 of their citizenship. This is an affront not just to Haitian people, but to all people who are proud of their African ancestry.

The fact that the contemporary government of the Dominican Republic has sought to violate the basic principles of international law in an effort to cripple its citizens of Haitian descent is a crime against humanity. Afrocentricity International will fight this law and this attitude everywhere with the intent of imposing a regime of ethics, decency, and justice in the Dominican Republic.

What the actions of the Dominican Republic demonstrate is that the country has lost its way in its own identity confusion. The Dominicans are descendants from the Africans enslaved by the Spanish but have sought for decades to rid themselves of Africa and to claim only Spanish ancestry. Afrocentricity International believes that any Dominican who subscribes to this rewrite of their history is a victim of the most horrible form of enslavement: psychological enslavement. They are willing to forget their grandmothers in an effort to become “white” as opposed to the “blackness” of the Haitians. Long live Haitian love of themselves and their origins!

What is most revealing of the intense hatred that Dominicans have for Haitians and other blacks is that the highest court in the land approved of this law. The implications of the ruling of September 23, 2013 by the Constitutional Tribunal of the Dominican Republic will have far-reaching consequences including causing many African and Caribbean nations to retaliate toward Dominicans and putting Dominican citizens at risk in other nations. The idea that a country could strip citizenship from the offspring of non-resident Haitians born in the Dominican Republic just because they are of Haitian background is more than silly; it is racist to the core. Nationality in the Dominican Republic is conferred by place of birth, jus soli, and to single out the Haitians alone for this treatment must be immediately condemned by the world.

Afrocentricity International calls upon the world to reject this vile and obscene law and to chastise the Dominican Republic for its guile. In addition, all African states, Caribbean states and nationalities, African Americans in South America and North America must immediately create a firestorm of criticism and agitation against this law in the name of our own humanity. Afrocentricity International is calling upon the Organization of American States, the African Union, Amnesty International, and the governments of Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Cuba, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Martinique and all other states or governmental entities to quickly, effectively, and persistently condemn and rebuke the Dominican Republic for this specific violation of human rights.

We are calling upon all international chapters of the Afrocentricity International in Africa, Europe, South America and North America to outright confront this offense to the dignity of Black people.Consequently, our immediate action is to urge all African people and their friends to avoid Dominican Republic Businesses in the Americas, their resorts and hotels and to seek their vacations in historically rich and proud Haiti.

Dr. Ama Mazama, Peraat, Afrocentricity International

Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, International Organizer, AI

November 24, 2013 – [email protected]