 How Many Days to America?
The Greater AntillesThe West Indies are a chain of islands that separate the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. The islands are split into three groups: the Bahamas in the north, the Greater Antilles in the middle, and the Lesser Antilles in the south. The Greater Antilles consist of Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola, beginning the flood of thousands of Spanish colonists who came to the islands in search of gold. In the early 1500s, Spanish colonies were formed in Cuba, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, and the islands’ natives were enslaved and forced to work in gold mines. The native populations were almost completely destroyed by disease and the cruelties of slavery. In the late 1600s sugar became a major commodity, and many Africans were brought to the islands to work as slaves on European-owned sugar plantations. In the 1800s, many of the colonized islands experienced revolutions as the people struggled to gain political independence. By the end of the 1800s, the islands were completely free of slavery. In the first half of the 1900s, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba were all governed by dictatorships. Hispaniola The island of Hispaniola is split politically into two countries, Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east. The Dominican Republic makes up two-thirds of the island and consists of mountainous land and rich agricultural valleys. Haiti takes up a smaller portion of the island and has mostly mountainous land. Santo Domingo is the largest city and the capital of the Dominican Republic. It was the first city in the Western Hemisphere to be discovered by colonizers, and the University of Santo Domingo was the first university in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 75% of Dominicans are biracial (a mix of European and African descent) and all speak Spanish as their native language. Dominicans living in rural environments work on their own farms or work for low wages on a plantation. People in the city work as factory workers, work for the government, or fish for a living. The name Haiti comes from the native word for “high ground” and reflects the small country’s mountainous terrain. Port-au-Prince is Haiti’s capital and largest city. In 1804, Haiti was the second country to gain independence in the Western Hemisphere (the U.S. was first) and the first Black independent nation in the world. Today it is one of the least developed and most densely populated countries in the world. Most Haitians live in the valleys and coastal plains and rely on agriculture. The majority of people are descendants of African slaves, speak Creole (a language derived from French, Portuguese and African languages), and are poor. Five percent are mulattoes, which means a combination of both African and European heritage. The mulattoes make up the small, educated middle and upper classes, and speak both Creole and French. Haiti is known for its colorful artwork and crafts. Cuba Cuba is the largest island in the West Indies and lies only 90 miles from Florida. Havana is Cuba’s largest city as well as its cultural and financial center and capital. Cuba is filled with hills, beaches, and mountains. Two-thirds of Cuba’s population is of Spanish descent while the rest are black or mulatto. The official language of the island is Spanish. Most Cubans live in urban areas and work in factories or work for the government. The rest of the population live in rural areas in bohios (thatched-roofed homes with dirt floors), and work on farms. Refugees Refugees are immigrants who are forced to leave their countries because of persecution and seek safety in other lands. Since the beginning of civilization, people have fled their homelands in search of religious, political, and economic freedom. These migrations have aided in spreading people and cultures all over the world. Large countries such as the United States exist partly because of waves of immigrants and refugees who arrived on their shores and made important contributions to society. Many refugees from the West Indies have sought and continue to seek asylum in the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans who opposed Communist revolution fled Cuba and came to the U.S. Another large wave of Cuban refugees occurred in 1980, when over 125,000 people came to the U.S in an event called the Mariel Boat Lift. In 1994, there was another small wave, and an agreement was reached between the U.S and Cuban governments about admitting legal immigrants and preventing of illegal immigration. Many refugees have also come to the U.S. from Haiti and the Dominican Republic, fleeing political and economic hardship. Refugees from the West Indies have established large communities in Miami, Tampa, and New York City.
Flags
Xochitl and the Flowers by Jorge Argueta
The Memory Coat
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Related Activity
Links
Virtual field trip to Haiti UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency; protecting children refugees Follow immigrants and refugees as they leave their home for America |
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