Gwo Divize an

Haitian system of racial segregation

**Gwo Divize an** (English: The Great Divide) are a series of policies of racial segregation that began during the First and Second and continuing into the present day. From 1971 to 2021, it was characterized by authoritarian policies enacted by the ruling Haitian National Congress to separte the Afro-Creoles and Creole-speaking population from the White and Asian Haitians. Under the Gwo Divize an, non-Black Haitians were only permitted Haitian National status, rather than citizenship and were required to pass a citizenship test to vote in elections. The use of other languages, especially French as well as English and Spanish were also prohibited in all government work and from being taught in schools. Non-Black Haitians were prohibited from marrying or co-habitating with Afro-Haitians. The policies also attempted to establish Creole as a uniquely Afro-Haitian identity alongside the practice of Haitian voodoo.

## History

The system of racial segregation was established in Haiti shortly after the 1971 revolution that ousted the Duvalier government and put the Haitian National Congress into power. Louis Mathieu, the leader of the KND and now the acting President of Haiti, established a curfew system that was supposed to only last a few weeks. The system of curfews were

## Institution

### Legislation

* The Separation Act of 1971 – Established the segregation of Haitian society based on race; created racial categories of Afro-Creole, Coloureds, and Blan.
* The Unity Act of 1971 – Prohibited all languages except for Haitian Creole to be taught in schools, and from being used in all official documents.
* The Citizenship and Election Protection Act of 1971 – Prohibited all non-Creoles from voting without proper documentation and proof of literacy.
* The National Order Act of 1971 – Allowed the Haitian National Police to arrest those suspected of harboring anti-Creole sentiments and established curfews for non-Creole communities.
* The Cinema and Media Act of 1971 – Prohibited all radio and movies that were not in Haitian Creole. Prohibited all Western media and created a national movie rating system.
* The National Education Act of 1971 – Mandated the Oath to Louis in all primary, secondary, and teritary schools; as well as nationally-funded universities.
* The Creole Peoeples' Protection Act of 1971 – Established Haitian Voodoo as a national religion and placed restrictions on Christian practices, mandated Haitian Creole eduction in schools, and prohibited marriages, co-mingling and co-habitation of Creoles with non-Creoles.
* The Universities Act of 1972 – Established segregation of universities.
* The Fair Housing Act of 1972 – Mandated that housing preferences would be given first to Creole citizens before others.
* The Women's Rights Act of 1972 – Mandated benefits to Afro-Creole women
* The Fair Housing Act of 1973 – Prohibited Creole and non-Creoles from living within 5 miles of one another.
* The Zoning Act of 1974 – Designated specific communes for each of the three classifications.

## Internal resistance

Opposition towards the racial segregation system was strongly opposed by left-wing and pro-democracy elements of Haitian society. The Haitian Communist Party, the Communist Party of Haiti, Socialist Party of Haiti, Workers' Party of Haiti were among the various left-wing socialist and communist organizations opposed to the system. The Democratic Legaue of Haiti was the most vocal pro-democracy moderate factions opposed to the segregation system.

## Active pro-segregation groups

The Louis Mathieu Institute was founded on October 17, 2023 and seeks to re-establish Gwo Divize an in Haiti, falsely promoting benefits of the system to non-Creole peoples.