[katespepach]

I know quite a few white Haitians.
Most are from European families from waaaaay back who did not marry out of their race - so they remained white. That is cultural. That is what I got from the first 2 episodes of this film. I will watch the rest when I have competent internet.

For me, the more curious phenomenon is genetic.
There is a valley called Fond de Blanc whence the wife hails which keeps producing more than its fair share of "throwbacks".

Now understand that Haiti, since the revolution and civil war - and hence when new slaves stopped being imported from Africa, is a mere 10-12 generations old.

Think about that for a moment.

That means that somebody that your granny knew, knew somebody that knew the grandchild of the last generation of imported Africans.

And the wife's family seat is a place called Fond de Blanc that took its name from a time when the valley concerned was full of hapless Europeans on the lam from an overenthusiastic Desallines.
This area of Haiti, near Aquin, until recently has remained isolated. In fact people still do not travel too much from these parts.
The influence remains.

My brother in law is a black guy with light skin.
I say again - he is unmistakably black but he has light skin. He burns in the sun. His son, Myson, is the same. His grandmother, father, mother and wife are classic black Haitians - of an almost Senegalese hew.
He is not the product of an interracial marriage.

My daughter is white. Her mother is black. In fact when she was born I cracked the joke to the surgeon who performed the C-section - "Are you sure she is the mother?"
He gave me a horrific look.
No sense of humour some people....

I was looking forward to a little brown baby but she turned out whiter than I am.
I wonder how she will see herself in her context.

It is a real eye-opener how colour and race can be so confused - especially in a country as "black" as Haiti.

I am curious to see how the next one pops out....