True, but the reader should understand that the colonial masters, the French and their small allied elite in Haiti, controlled that wealth, and few resources, other than those needed for the continuation of the horrible slave trade, were extended to the poorer populations of the colony.

"In Haiti, a larger population of slaves existed in the eastern part of the country than its western counterpart, to which L’Overture had extended his revolution in order to encompass Spanish-controlled Santo Dominigo in 1801."

The above statement is incorrect: In 1801 Haiti had a far, by many factors, greater population than the Spanish EASTERN PORTION of the island. Also, the fact that the Spanish eastern sector was far greater in size than the French section gave many Haitian leaders incentive to continually invade the eastern border lands; as these incursions multiplied over the course of the 1800s-11 invasions in all-the Spanish sector took up arms to repel the Haitians time and time again. In fact, the Dominican Republic gave-up claims to a massive portion of its Spanish inheritance with the towns of San Miguel de la Atalaya, San Rafael, Las Caobas, and Hincha falling to the Haitians. These wounds still reverberate today amongst dominican nationalists. [page 211, Moya Pons, The D.R. A National History]

"While there has been no direct and open conflict between the two nations since then[ February 27, 1844] tension and bitterness mounted amongst Dominicans for having once been under Haiti’s heel."

The above statement is factually incorrect. In fact, many incursions and invasions beginning in Haiti, occurred after the Dominican Republic gained her independence from Haiti in 1844. Some Haitian leaders never lost their aspirations to regain control of the entire island as Toussaint L’Overture, Dessalines, and Boyer had done during and after the Haitian Revolution. And some Dominicans believe that what's changed in Haiti is not the desire for reunification but the tactics and strategy: instead of force, a slow persistent migration of poor Haitians until overwhelming numbers make any attempt at preserving any Dominican nation futile.

Please fact check this article again as it contains many inaccuracies. And while the fact that racism is a fact of life between Haitians and Dominicans, the larger and more salient issues of national homeland or country, past grievances, and the incredibly inapt governments of Haiti-sadly not investigated in this article-play a great role in explaining the explosive situation on the island of Hispaniola. A final point on race in Latin America. Almost every nation faces sever problems with their minority/majority populations. For instance, Colombia is a nation where vast differences and racism are alive and well. Yet very little is known about this fact.

Ms. Kaitlin Porter might find it worth her time to get a copy of historian Frank Moya-Pons' "The Dominican Republic: A National History." Updated January 28, 2010.