Hispaniola: An Island Divided

After watching the second segment of the video, I was struck greatly. Hispaniola, a relatively small island, is culturally very divided. The people of the Dominican Republic cling to their Spanish and European roots, while the Haitians cling to their African roots. The truth is that the people of both countries are equally tied to both cultures. But why is their such a disparity? I believe this disparity exists due to the dichotomy between political formation. Haiti was founded by former slaves, who demanded a revolution. The Dominican Republic had a different formation, and had a dictator who believed in clinging to his European heritage. It made me think of the United States and Canada. The two countries are neighbors, but have their cultural differences. Some people in Canada, such as the people of Newfoundland, cling to their British founding and Heritage. People in the United States believe that they are purely American, and have a certain disregard for their ancestry.