- Father of Racism
Father of Racism is a controversial film by producer
Taina Mirabal about the life ofJuan Pablo Duarte and members ofLa Trinitaria the founders of theDominican Republic . The films promotion caused some controversy inNew York City and in the Dominican Republic by claiming that Duarte was a "white devil" [http://poopcity.typepad.com/inwoodite/2007/09/anti-duarte-fli.html] and aracist that was an influence on the formation of theKu Klux Klan . [http://www.primicias.com.do/index.php?format=html&module=displaystory&story_id=5408] Posters for the film caused an uproar and outrage when they were placed on subways [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/nyregion/thecity/02flie.html?ex=1346385600&en=1452bbfae160ddd9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss] in theWashington Heights neighborhood which is home to many Dominicans. [http://www.eldiariony.com/noticias/detail.aspx?section=17&&id=1708240] [http://www.primicias.com.do/index.php?format=html&module=displaystory&story_id=5408] “There’s no element that I remember once reading, in anything Duarte said or wrote, that could be interpreted remotely as racism,” said Anthony Stevens, assistant director of the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute. “It’s one of those things that you see and you wonder, ‘Is this somebody nuts, who took Duarte’s name out of a bag in a raffle and decided to use it?’ ” [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/nyregion/thecity/02flie.html?ex=1346385600&en=1452bbfae160ddd9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss] Mirabal has stated that she has evidence to back up her claims. Her film is currently in production inCalifornia .Links
Taina Mirabal Juan Pablo Duarte
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