December 2025 - The Farming of Bones, by Edwidge Danticat

The Farming of Bones, historical fiction by Edwidge Danticat

Post Composed by Ralph Edwards

The S.U.R.E. Diversity Book Club provides opportunities to explore and learn the multiple expressions and cultural dynamics of Diversity and acknowledge international days or months dedicated to illuminating the challenges and experiences of a particular population.  Both HUMAN RIGHTS DAY and INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN occur in December.

The Farming of Bones centers on the experiences of Haitians and Dominicans in the1937 massacre of thousands of Haitian sugarcane and domestic workers living the Dominican Republic. Though they inhabit the same island with similar histories of enslavement, the Dominicans have a higher standard of living corroded by a sense of ethnic superiority. This historical fiction uses individual and family histories to show the universality and commonalities of their lives.  Loss of a loved one – parent, infant – or maintaining a romantic relationship or marriage evokes similar human responses regardless of ethnicity or wealth.  Moreover, an external observer, like a North American gringo, probably could not distinguish the Haitian from the Dominican by appearance.  Language was a certain distinguisher.  In the story, a flawless, accurate pronunciation of the Spanish word “perejil” was the determinant between life or murder since Haitians generally had difficulty rolling the “R”.

The massacre was a culmination of President Trujillo’s scapegoating Haitians to shore up his political power. In 1937, an abhorrent, dehumanizing lie, “They’re eating our pets. They’re eating the cats and dogs!”, was repeated in a 2024 U S Presidential debate with a similar purpose.  Raising awareness of this atrocity is a primary reason for composing the fictional narrative.  These ethnic conflicts occur with sufficient frequency to warrant a common descriptor, “ethnic cleaning”, genocide.  Awareness of the courageous individuals and organizations who resist and assist the victims may inspire others when confronted with similar circumstances.

The descriptions of the socio-cultural- political-economic dynamics preceding these conflicts may provide forewarning to some, a template to others.   None of the reading group participants were aware of the 1937 massacre.  Many felt that comparable conditions exist in many parts of the world contributing to “ethnic cleansing,” genocide.