Quisqueya La Bella 150-190

Summary:
Dominican Republic's southern zone was where the large landowners accompanied with their slave labor predominated. In the island's southern zone was where the great sugarmills, the ingenios, and immense sugarcane fields reigned. The North of the Dominican Republic or the Cibao had a paucity of slaves. El Cibao however had a great cultivation of tobacco. Cibao soil was very fertile and lush particularly because of Santo Domingo's climate. By 1763, the tobacco planters del Cibao had almost doubled and so did the tobacco. The famous Tabaco Cibaeno was the island's main economic base and staple. It became Espanola's chief export since everyone wanted tobacco at the time. Hispaniola's neighbor Saint-Domingue was also prospering with its sugar plantations and success. The sugarmill production in Martinique and Guadeloupe placed France at the top of the export line. Hispaniola and Santo- Domingue created tight economic ties trading meats for manufactured goods. Saint-Domingue was ruled by Whites at the time. The grands blancs or the great Whites controlled the entire Hatian economy. The sugar production profit went directly to this small group. The petit blancs or the little Whites who were the street venders, store clerks, shopkeepers, and overseers were not part of the colonies elite class. Eventhough the petit blancs were not labeled as the inferior class or the gens de couleur, they still were not to be compared with the elite class. They were considered  normal Whites eventhough Hatians or the gens de couleur wanted to be in their place.
Quote:
"Here this category of gens de couleur greatly surpassed the Whites in numbers, also often in formal education, and frequently, even in wealth" (Cambeira 151).

Summary:
This here quote refers to the Hatians of Saint-Domingue. Eventhough the Europeans controlled Haiti, the biggest group were the people of color. It is a little shocking how these Europeans were able to control this country although they were the minority. Then it makes me feel sad when I read that these Hatians were better educated and sometimes wealthier then these Whites but were not given the respect or place they deserved. This proves to show how not everything in the world or in life is fair, but with perseverance and struggle one can endure. Years after, these Hatians were able to free themselves from European bondage and became independent.