Mulatto Haitians

Mulatto Haitians

Total population
c. 500,000
Languages
French, Haitian Creole
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Afro-Haitian, White Haitian, Marabou

Mulatto (French: mulâtre, Haitian Creole: milat) is a term in Haiti that is historically linked to Haitians who are born to one white parent and one black parent, or to two mulatto parents. Contemporary usage of the term in Haiti is also applied to the bourgeoisie, pertaining to high social and economic stature.

People of mulatto and white descent constitute a minority of 5 percent of the Haitian population.

History

Historically, Haitian mulattos have been looked negatively upon, and used by both black and minority white elite when best suited. Blacks regarded them as no better or worse than their unmixed French progenitors. Indeed, many mulattos did align themselves and identify with the ruling French and their culture. Not only were they regarded as a class of their own, but they were also free, highly educated, and wealthy. Being part of their time, many Saint Dominican mulattos were also slaveholders and often actively participated in the oppression of the black majority.

Nevertheless, many mulattos were consequently slaughtered by furious black Haitians during the Haitian Revolution in order to secure black political power over the island. Some black volunteers had even aligned themselves with the French against the mulattos during the Ogé Rebellion.

In Saint-Domingue, mulattos initially possessed certain legal equality, which provided them with many benefits, including inheritance. In the 18th century, however, Europeans fearful of slave revolts had restricted their rights, but they were successfully reclaimed in 1791.

See also

• Affranchi
• Gens de couleur
• Free people of color
• Afro-Haitians
• White Haitians
• Marabou
• Mulatto
• Passing (racial identity)
• Creole peoples