Transcending imaginations through football participation and narratives of the other: Haitian national identity in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

Reflexive narratives aim to produce new knowledge regarding some social or cultural phenomena. This paper explores the Haitian national identity from the perspective of a volunteer tourist and football participant. Although football first arrived to the Dominican Republic prior to World War II, the game's influence increased as Haitians moved across the national border that divides the island of Hispaniola. For Haitians, football distracts participants from feared social inequalities, while the field gives them presence, belonging, and a sense of being in place. Many Haitians reference football as their connection with home – and this connection unites the community. This work engages with notions of staging and performing identity to identify and acknowledge themes relative to being the other and out of place.

Keywords:

• National identity
• Haitians
• Football
• Dominican Republic
• Reflexive narrative

Notes

Sylvio Cator Stadium was partly destroyed by the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January 2010. The field is being used a place of refuge for those left homeless.

I discuss football and soccer as the same sport. When I refer to Haitians and interactions with Haitians, I use football. When referring to the sport and reflections of the sport in the USA I use soccer.