Why the Cocks Fight: Dominicans, Haitians, and the Struggle for Hispaniola
Product ID: 1977488
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Like two roosters in a fighting arena, Haiti and the Dominican Republic are encircled by barriers of geography and poverty. They co-inhabit the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, but their histories are as deeply divided as their cultures: one French-speaking and black, one Spanish-speaking and mulatto. Yet, despite their antagonism, the two countries share a national symbol in the rooster--and a fundamental activity and favorite sport in the cockfight. In this book, Michele Wucker asks: "If the symbols that dominate a culture accurately express a nation's character, what kind of a country draws so heavily on images of cockfighting and roosters, birds bred to be aggressive? What does it mean when not one but two countries that are neighbors choose these symbols? Why do the cocks fight, and why do humans watch and glorify them?" Wucker studies the cockfight ritual in considerable detail, focusing as much on the customs and histories of these two nations as on their contemporary lifestyles and politics. Her well-cited and comprehensive volume also explores the relations of each nation toward the United States, which twice invaded both Haiti (in 1915 and 1994) and the Dominican Republic (in 1916 and 1965) during the twentieth century. Just as the owners of gamecocks contrive battles between their birds as a way of playing out human conflicts, Wucker argues, Haitian and Dominican leaders often stir up nationalist disputes and exaggerate their cultural and racial differences as a way of deflecting other kinds of turmoil. Thus Why the Cocks Fight highlights the factors in Caribbean history that still affect Hispaniola today, including the often contradictory policies of the U.S. Review: A readable and informative social history - As a high school teacher who leads extended service immersion programs in the Dominican Republic, I've placed this book on my regular reading list for our students. It is sophisticated but readable. The chapters are informative and interesting, and the anecdotal method of conveying important historical events is very effective. The book effectively dispels many of the misunderstandings and myths about Haiti, the DR, and the relationship between the two countries while clearly and objectively depicting several of the political and social upheavals that have defined the island's identity over the centuries. Review: An Eye Opening experience - In reading this book, I learned many more things that I have not known. The island with all of it inhabitants shares a rich and tortured history. There seem to be many uncovered facts in this book, such as the Dominican Republic actually obtained it's Independence from Haiti, that Haiti actually took the steps that eventually liberated the entire island. Though much of the time seems to have been spent in the Dominican Republic with many oblique references to Haiti, a fair amount of that time illuminating the perverse dislike each has for the other, in some ways the idea of blaming the party that for obvious reasons is unable to counteract the argument. For the most part this book illuminates much more of the history between the Haitians and the Dominicans, more and more about the immigration issues that seem to rear its erstwhile head in many places, and why folks seem to be driven to improve upon their personal life spaces. How some of these enclaves come to be, and remain that way. Little is discussed about Arristede and many of his predecessors, the wasting of the land itself and how it came to be that many Haitians would eventually choose to live in the Dominican Republic or the United States, or why Haiti is the most impoverished country in this hemisphere by far.
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,156,282 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #29 in Dominican Republic History #91 in Haiti Caribbean & West Indies History #416 in Comparative Politics |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 96 Reviews |
P**O
A readable and informative social history
As a high school teacher who leads extended service immersion programs in the Dominican Republic, I've placed this book on my regular reading list for our students. It is sophisticated but readable. The chapters are informative and interesting, and the anecdotal method of conveying important historical events is very effective. The book effectively dispels many of the misunderstandings and myths about Haiti, the DR, and the relationship between the two countries while clearly and objectively depicting several of the political and social upheavals that have defined the island's identity over the centuries.
O**N
An Eye Opening experience
In reading this book, I learned many more things that I have not known. The island with all of it inhabitants shares a rich and tortured history. There seem to be many uncovered facts in this book, such as the Dominican Republic actually obtained it's Independence from Haiti, that Haiti actually took the steps that eventually liberated the entire island. Though much of the time seems to have been spent in the Dominican Republic with many oblique references to Haiti, a fair amount of that time illuminating the perverse dislike each has for the other, in some ways the idea of blaming the party that for obvious reasons is unable to counteract the argument. For the most part this book illuminates much more of the history between the Haitians and the Dominicans, more and more about the immigration issues that seem to rear its erstwhile head in many places, and why folks seem to be driven to improve upon their personal life spaces. How some of these enclaves come to be, and remain that way. Little is discussed about Arristede and many of his predecessors, the wasting of the land itself and how it came to be that many Haitians would eventually choose to live in the Dominican Republic or the United States, or why Haiti is the most impoverished country in this hemisphere by far.
R**R
Researched and written well.
Geertz symbolic views used. Sociocultural angles. Most new to me. No jargon. A plus.
C**.
Interesting and informative but disjointed
I learned a great deal about the fractious, complicated history and cultures if the Dominican Republic and Haiti but was often frustrated by the authors’s disjointed jumping around in time and subject.
J**R
Ringside seats
East vs West---Or a real life Westside story. The author did a superb job enhancing the two countries history as well as explaining how one country relied on the other for goods and services....Her background warrants why she writes so well on such a niche subject, a minuscule island with two countries. Michele used the strength of the Cock, to represent the many. She enhances the metaphor of cockfights to allow us the reader to see how societies still love to show power over another, a Machiavellian style still alive today. The ring, is the battle field. Like the Romans, the cocks wage war against another civilization. She also brings to the top the city of New York--How three countries forge into one. A terrific book, on a topic I was very unfamiliar with.
E**M
One island, two peoples in an never ending tragic embrace
Excellent! Well written account of the "original sin" (slavery) and its consequences on those two countries with two cultures/two histories (Spanish and French/African) bound together by geography - one island. Unfortunately, these two peoples are bound in a never ending struggle to change the unchangeable - geography. I wonder if Bartolome de las Casas, the Spanish Catholic Priest who brought in the Africans to the Hispaniola as slaves to "save" the original inhabitants, the Tainos, anticipated the mess he created.
N**S
An indepth analysis on the conflict between Haiti and Dominican republic
A detailed history of the conflict on Hispaniola and the history of the two countries. This book gives an in depth analysis on sugar and history determined the fate of an entire island
J**L
Intriguing book!
Great book! Well-written and full of metaphore, this books describes even-handedly and captivatingly the sometimes-tenuous relationship between Haiti and the Dominican Republic as compared to two roosters in a cockfight. Book arrived quickly and is in good shape. Thank you for a great transaction!
A**R
Five Stars
excellent thanks
A**S
Well written, very thoughtful
Really enjoyed this book a learned a lot about the history and it's effects. A well considered approach to the conflicts of Hispaniola.
A**H
Five Stars
Great book!
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