Instructor Spotlight: Katherine Lopez and Barbara Pierre

What inspired you to teach this course?

Barbara: Sak Pase! Growing up, I didn’t have access to Caribbean or Latin American history in school. Most don’t. Haitian and Dominican history especially were never part of the curriculum, and that gap stayed with me. When I started teaching, I realized how many of my students—many of them first-gen too—had never had the chance to learn about their own histories either.

That’s what inspired me. I wanted to build a classroom where those stories could live, where students could connect with their roots and see themselves reflected in the material even if they didn’t have ancestral ties to the island. It’s not just about content—it’s about connection. And for me, that’s where the real learning begins.

Katherine: Que lo Que! Growing up Dominican has always been something I’ve carried with a lot of pride; it’s a big part of who I am. But as I got older and started learning more about Dominican history, and seeing different events unfold on the island, I became more curious. This curiosity led me to reflect on and begin decolonizing the biases and stigmas I had internalized growing up. In many ways, this class was born from that personal journey, a desire to learn more about my own roots, my culture, and where I come from. I wanted to dig deeper and start unpacking some of the biases and stigmas I grew up with and create a space for others with stories like mine to explore their identities, ask questions, and learn about our shared history in a meaningful way.

What are a couple of ways in which two nations sharing an island can differ? What could they share?

Barbara: Even though Haitians and Dominicans share the same island, there are real differences. Language is one! How it’s spoken, how it’s used, even the slang. Spirituality and religious practices can vary too, along with customs around birth, marriage, and funerals. Politics and national identity especially shape things differently on each side.

But there’s also so much that connects us. Music is a huge one. There’s rhythm, movement, and storytelling in both traditions that speak to shared roots. Food, of course. And even when the dishes are different, there’s overlap in ingredients, techniques, and the way meals bring people together. There’s also a shared sense of resilience and pride in culture that shows up in everyday life. It’s just that these stories aren’t always taught or talked about, especially in schools. So when we get to explore them together, it opens up something powerful—for us and for our students.

Katherine: One of the biggest differences between the Dominican Republic and Haiti is how they were colonized and by whom. The Dominican Republic was colonized by Spain, while Haiti was colonized by France, and those different colonial powers left lasting influences on each nation’s language, religion, and racial identities. Another major difference is in economic development and tourism. While the Dominican Republic has built much of its economy around tourism and foreign investment, Haiti has faced greater economic challenges due to political instability, foreign intervention, and limited infrastructure.

However, when we look beyond those differences, we start to see how much the two nations actually share. Both countries have strong African roots that show up in their music, dance, and food—like the rhythms of merengue and kompa, or the way both use plantains and rice in everyday meals. They also share similar spiritual traditions that mix African and European influences. Despite the history that has divided them, people from both sides of the island share a deep sense of pride, resilience, and love for their culture that connects them more than most realize.

What do you hope that students will take away from your course?

We hope students leave the course with a deeper sense of belonging, especially those who identify as Haitian or Dominican. It’s important to us that they feel seen, valued, and connected to the textured histories that shape their identities. We also want to spark curiosity. The dialogue between Haitians and Dominicans is ongoing, layered, and often complex. And we want students to understand the grit of it all the nuance, the tension, the pain, the discomfort. Because that discomfort isn’t a bad thing. It means they’re growing, asking questions, and engaging in a way that’s necessary. Our hope is that they carry these conversations beyond the classroom—into their communities, friendships, and families. Whether it’s unpacking tough topics or simply sharing stories, we want them to feel confident navigating those moments with understanding, appreciation, and respect.