Haiti held the Miss Haiti beauty pageant on May 16. But the winner reflects more White hope than Black beauty.
I published the blog post “Black Is Beautiful! Just Not in South Africa” a few months ago. In it, I referenced a high schooler who repeated the famous Kenneth Clarke experiment. Clarke’s experiment in 1954 found that Black schoolgirls preferred White dolls. This high schooler’s 50 years later found they still do.
I used that experiment as a preamble to express dismay over the results of a similar one. Except this experiment involved Black adults. It asked them to name the ten most beautiful celebrities in the world. Only one Black woman, Thandie Newton, made the list. She was last, at number 10. And she’s half-white.
Miss Haiti beauty pageant
This year’s Miss Haiti beauty pageant manifested this self-loathing pathology. Except it was even more disheartening. Judges crowned 24-year-old Sarodj Bertin. But she looks even whiter than half-White Thandie Newton.
That puts a cynical spin on the Snow White line: “Mirror, Mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” Of all the beautiful, dark-skinned women in Haiti, why her?
Even worse, Bertin lives in the Dominican Republic, the mulatto capital of the world. Which only adds insult to this racial injury.
Yes, there are a few mulattos still living in Haiti. But 95 percent of Haitians are dark-skinned people. They are the ones you see in news reports wallowing in despair. That is, as they try to recover from the latest natural or man-made disaster.
The latest, of course, is January’s earthquake. How many light-skinned faces have you seen toiling in the streets or sheltering in tents?
Miss Haiti and Black pride
Representation matters. That’s why the Haitians wandering the streets might’ve felt a little pride if this pageant crowned someone who looked like them. But Eurocentric notions of beauty prevailed.
Hell, I doubt the judges gave a moment’s thought to the plight of those Black folks. That’s why they had no compunction about crowning a beauty queen to represent Haiti who looks more White than Black.
Even worse, TV will broadcast this national self-loathing for the world to see. And this “exotic” beauty will only reinforce it when she competes in the Miss Universe pageant in August.
Incidentally, Haiti will participate for the first time in over two decades. Imagine that.
To clarify, it would not reflect racial national self-loathing if a White nation like Sweden crowned a half-Black beauty queen. That would only reflect a quaint exception to the rule. By contrast, the legacy of slavery makes a Black nation crowning a half-White beauty queen insidiously self-loathing.
And don’t get me started on the legacy of Black-on-Black racism. Instead, I’ll refer you to the Spike Lee film School Daze. It deals with this controversial issue with biting humor.
Business mogul Donald Trump owns the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. And reports are that he handpicks the winners to serve his PR purposes.
So here’s to him picking Miss Haiti for Miss Universe this year – even though she’s half-White. Because that at least would generate millions in publicity and goodwill for that ravaged country. That, even though she’s half-White.
Finally, I gather Miss Bertin was whisked into exile in the DR at age nine. That was after someone assassinated her mother. But that does not entitle her to be crowned Miss Haiti. No more than the assassination of JFK entitled his daughter Caroline to serve as a US Senator.
Besides, many dark-skinned contestants could have cited even worse childhood tragedies. Except that, unlike Bertin, nobody whisked them from their dire circumstances to live a charmed life elsewhere.
Pat says
How dare you talk about Haiti and self loathing. I don’t know any other black people who are as proud of their heritage as Haitians. 99% of Miss Haiti winners have been of brown to very dark complexion. This fact alone discredits your baseless rant about the so-called self hate that you claim is common among Haitians. Have you ever been there? I doubt it. Moreover Haiti has long history of sending beautiful black women to these pageants. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant. So get over yourself and realize that note everyone is caught up in the African American color issue!Not true.99% of Miss Haiti winners are dark-skinned. Furthermore, Haiti has a long history of winnign pageants with beautiful black women. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant. So get over yourself and realize that note everyone is caught up in the African American color issue!
Not true.99% of Miss Haiti winners are dark-skinned. Furthermore, Haiti has a long history of winnign pageants with beautiful black women. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant.
You owe Haitians an apology, Mr. Hall!
Pat says
YOU ARE WRONG!.99% of Miss Haiti winners are dark-skinned. Furthermore, Haiti has a long history of winnign pageants with beautiful black women. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant
Dianne says
Sir, your article is irresponsible. You know nothing about Haiti. First black country to win its independence and very proud of it. Even when they call us “poorest country in the western hemisphere” we hold our heads up because we know that our ancestors defeated Napoleon’s army, the British and the Spaniards over 200 years ago to win our independence and we have been paying a price ever since. We are proud of our blackness. Miss Haiti is 100 percent Haitian, her mother is not white and neither is her father. She represents us and we are proud of her and of all our brave sisters who are suffering daily in dear Haiti!
pat says
I noticed that you removed my comment about your claim that this beatiful Haitian woman was chosen because of self-loathing among Haitians. You can’t handle facts. 99% of Miss Haiti winners have been brown to dark brown in complexion. Haiti has a long history of sendign beautiful black women to these pageants. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant. So get over yourself and realize that note everyone is caught up in the African American color issue!Not true.99% of Miss Haiti winners are dark-skinned. Furthermore, Haiti has a long history of winnign pageants with beautiful black women. In 1975, Gerthie David Miss Haiti was the second black woman to become first runner-up in the history of Miss Universe Pageant. Joelle Apollon, Miss Haiti-World, came in sixth place at Miss World 1975 a few months later. Sixteen years later, Marjorie Vincent, formerly Miss Illinois 1991, won the title of Miss America Pageant. This was the first Miss America to originate from the Caribbean with Haitian roots, and the second black woman to win the pageant.
You are ignorant and you owe Haitians an apology!
Darren says
I can assure you that Haitians are one proud people. I have seen a lot in Haiti but self-loathing because of skin color is not one of them. There are beautiful haitian women of all shades. The only one raising the color issue is you and I bet you have a white girlfriend or wife. So get the chip off your shoulder, Sir.
Gael says
You should get fired. This is a very racist article. And it wasn’t even done in an objective manner because I am sure you have never been to Haiti and you know nothing about Haitians.
Jamie says
He is summaril correct about the self loathing. there are a few channels on youtube dedicated to listing peoples of haitian descent who look white…funny thing is those people don’t make it a point to call themselves haitian. I’m sick and tired of haitians who try to make everyone a haitian in hope of raising self esteem and pride in being haitian. I’m haitian 1000% and I understand exactly what this piece is talking about. Get over yourself…something is wrong with the crowning of Ms. Bertin – educated and beautiful as she is…her winning is symptomatic of all the ills in haiti. the less than 1% of the population who own all the land and have access to all of the money coming into haiti are black elites, mulattos and non-blacks from Mideast and elsewhere. During the duvalier regime, you never saw a dark skinned journalist on tv. For a country where illiteracy is over 95% the majority of the citizenry speak creole, yet all business insist on speaking french to keep the classes separate. it’s ridiculous haitians who can’t see the truth
Patrick says
Haiti is not 95% dark skin. You are a moron.
hc says
Congratulations to Ms. Bertin. She seems proud to call herself Haitian and seems to want to represent the country well.
Nevertheless, I agree with Jamie! I don’t know about self-loathing, but there is definitely a belief system in many black communities that it’s safer to place our bets towards success with the lightest among us.
I say take a braver route. Dark men and women can achieve.
Our appearance is often held against us – or simply less preferred by some. But when whole people have a chance to present themselves – it’s worth it to watch what happens. Give us that chance, dark skin and all.
Da truth says
I agree with the writer. Most dark-skinned blacks would rather have a light-skinned woman represent them because the white man told them that’s the beautiful black woman. It’s sad but true and these people on here are in that skin complexion isn’t a factor. If so why do black women bleach their skin?
Da truth says
I agree with the writer. Most dark-skinned blacks would rather have a light-skinned woman represent them because the white man told them that’s the beautiful black woman. It’s sad but true and these people on here are in denial that skin complexion isn’t a factor. If so why do black women bleach their skin?
F says
Mr. Hall
Obviously you don’t know anything about Haiti, nerveless on Sarodj Bertin,
For your information, Bertin’s mother Mireille Durocher Bertin was assassinated and for safety her family had no choice but to flee to the Dominican Republic. This was neither an easy choice nor an insult to my country Haiti. You are the insult to the injury!
Earl says
Folks this just shows you the psychosis of “black Americans”. They are a beatdown lot who do not have very high intellect.
Think about it. Wouldn’t the first thing someone would do is just simply look up the past Miss Haitis? That is what someone with common sense and intelligence would do.
But in this particular case you have this “black American” flying off the handle because his belief in some crazy nonexistent color system his mind has dreamed up because of his victim complex.
Da truth says
@Earl
You are in denial just like the so many other blacks. Are you telling me that skin color doesn’t matter in Haiti among dark-skinned and dark skinned people?
You must be either an uncle Tom or an ignorant white man.
chris says
i am from haiti and living in haiti listen and listen good : haitians are a bunch of sicially and racially motivated people i agree tht mrs bertin is beautiful but you know just as well as i do that she had a huge advantage over the others just by the color of her skin. when your rich and/or light skin in haiti you get away with anything as a black man who took advantage of his more or less good social status in haiti i have seen the worst of both worlds. these ”white” haitians dont give a rats but about the darker ones most of those i know agreed to get to know me just because of my name and not because they liked my face and if it was up to my color they wouldnt ake a step towards me im not being cruel just realistic. even though i well enough financially i still get enormous prejudice from the light skinned. i was there when they revealed mrs bertin every body around me was saying how she had won in advance and they werent the people voting. all you haitians living in the US STOP THINKING YOU KNOW HAITI U DOONNNTTTT. we haitians are a failing country in every sense possible we cant even get over our own selves. that haitian pride you talk about is BS thst same pride is consuming haiti all the way down to its bowels. to proud to seek help but not proud enough to say no to a mullato YOU ARE NOT THE ONES WHO HAS HAD TO GET UP FROM A TABLE AT A RESTAURANT WHERE U WERE PAYING AS MUCH OR MORE MONEY THAN THE MULATTOS THEY GAVE THE TABLE TOO AND IM NOT TALKING ABOUT STUFF THAT HAPPENED 50 YEARS IM ONLY 18 YEARS OLD. get your facts right 99 % of our contestants the guy is trying to denounce the main probleme we suffer from but ur puny insignificant haitian pride doesnt let you see the message. yes it is sad you do not know how many haitians ive seen curse their color or refuking it like it wasent oobvious or like it was some deep dark secret. get a life people say smart things for a change.
Whit says
Wow! You are the very reason that there is still black on black racism today! I am light skinned and I think dark skin is very beautiful. I always have. As a matter of fact, I have never dated a light skinned black man. I’m not saying I never would, but I just wanted to point that out to you. You just assume that all light blacks hate darker blacks. You are SO wrong! I think the different colors that we are is what makes us unique and beautiful. I have never met a lighter black person who has made fun of dark skin or thought they were better than dark skin people. You are still acting like a slave because you are doing what slave owners wanted to do. They wanted to seperate and divide us because they knew that if we came together, we would be a force to reckon with. Stop pointing out the fact that she is light skinned. It only makes you look like the racist one.
Da truth says
@ Whit
He’s not assuming. He’s telling the truth that you and many others are ignoring and pretending as if it doesn’t exist. The same problem faces black people all across the globe, not just Haiti. Don’t run from it…let’s talk about it.
MAKANDAL says
Haitians are so ignorants. I’m haitian myself 100% And we all know that their is 2 type of people in Haiti.95% are black and the other 5% are mulatto and arabs descent(lebanon,syria).Since the independance of haiti there was a Fight between the 2 classes.The first one the majority are dark skinned proud of their african heritage and creol speaking the other type are proud of their european heritage and french speaking.The national self-loathing is the heritage of 400 years of humiliation of black people.Not only in Haiti but everyehwre in the world.For 400 years black were threats as animals as half man.That idea still persist in every black nation .To them the success is to look like the white man.We all know in Haiti the lighter you are the higher you are in the society because we still have that dumb colonial education. What we need is an afrocentrist education to let them know how the black man was ruling the world before slavery. Most of those poeple even in Haiti dont even know what is the history of black people before slavery so they are brainwashed with that european colonial education From egypto-nubians kingdoms to Mali they don’t know .Those black people can talk if they want but the lighter you are the cuter you are in the mentality of a lot of people in haiti. Important thing to know that there is at least 5% of mulatos in Haiti and the independance was the unity of black and mulato .So Miss haiti can be mulato even if they are a minority they still have the same Haitian spirit.But that contest of the miss haiti 2010 was a big MASCARADE a non sens and the father of Miss Bertin was the highest member of the Jury «helllooo». That girl is living in the Dominican republic looks and act like a Dominican .Another thing a lot of mulato dont consider themselves as black people lets be honest and it is normal because of the self loathing.Why sould i consider myself as black if the black himself is using whitening soap and perm to look whither???????Self loathing is everywhere because black people don’t know themselves their history their heritage to the world. Why the first black republic don’t even teach their African heritage to their people??We are still slave in our mentality be honest we have to change the education of the black people how come the 5% of mulato in haiti still persit after all theses years?? Because they don’t consider themselves as the 95%. There is a social problem in Haiti but it is to hard to say it.