Argumentative Essay On The Magic Island

During the history between the United States and Haiti, we have had some first and second hand accounts from numerous people; whether they were writers like William Seabrook, journalists like James Weldon Johnson, or politicians like Frederick Douglass. Using diction, personification and imagery authors have reinforced as well as reshaped previous representations of Haiti culturally, politically and economically during the United States ' occupation in Haiti. Seabrook trough his text, “The Magic Island” reinforced previous representations of Haiti such as the idea that the country is lacking in terms of development and advancement; while Johnson reshaped previous representations of Haiti by showing that Haitians were capable and the Americans …show more content…
We have been pushed to believe that the land is filled with savages and forest. The country itself, through the reading of Frederick Douglass was feminized, and compare to the United States seemed weak. Authors such as Seabrook reinforce such ideas through the words he uses such as forest and through his description of the people living there. He also reinforces the idea that Haiti is primitive by comparing Voodoo, a religion that is culturally practice in Haiti to the early form of Christianity. Furthermore, he also compares what Haitians believe to be Zombies to a brain death dog, belittling the Haitians ' beliefs. On the other hand, Johnson challenges these ideas by portraying Haiti as a country that has been disturbed by the U.S occupation; a country that has been mistreated under false pretenses. Johnson believed Haiti to be a country that was already under construction, but certainly not underdeveloped or primitive. He shone light on the political side of the country by showing that the country was overtook and Haitians had very little say in what was happening and economically he left no room to doubt that the United States government not only took advantage of the country and profited but that Americans whether civilians or military were enjoying themselves more rather than aiding and some were even bullies. The later idea in my opinion, reshaped the representation of …show more content…
The U.S occupation was seen as the United States saving Haiti from self destruction. To Americans, Haiti needed the help because they simply could not govern themselves. But Johnson made it a point to refute that representation of the United States as this loving Fatherly figure to a country like Haiti; this image of paternalism that the United States was portraying, he let readers know that it is simply false. Politically, the United States were profiting from its occupation of Haiti, Americans officials and even civilians living in Haiti were leading a good life compare to the Haitians. They had servants, cars, and were well taken care of. Economically, Americans had no regards to the Haitians, they were well off and cared very little for the impact their actions were taken on the Haitian people. For example, he tells us the story he had heard of an American telling others and laughing that he had run over two animals that a Haitian was walking with, however the American fell to realize or just did not care that those two animals could be the only source of income for that Haitian 's family. He draws this picture of the United States as a bully, forcing his way in the country and mistreating the people of the country. We get this image of Haitians been treated as slaves in order to get roads and other works constructed that the United States took credit for, while the Americans in reality were