• DOI:10.1086/218523
• Corpus ID: 144100302

Caste and Class in Haiti

@article{Lobb1940CasteAC,
  title={Caste and Class in Haiti},
  author={John Lobb},
  journal={American Journal of Sociology},
  year={1940},
  volume={46},
  pages={23 - 34}
}

• John Lobb
• Published 1 July 1940
• Economics
• American Journal of Sociology

The stratification of Haitian society is, in pattern, that of a caste system surviving from the country's early history as a French colony, while in function it forms a class structure. It is composed of two clearly delineated classes, the Elite ad the Noirs. They are definable and separated in the following criteria: size, place of residence, physical stigmata, and, most important, cultural differences. Movement between them takes place according to certain general requirements which determine Elite class status: physical characteristics, family position, economic success, political and professional prominance, and intellectuality. Ascent on the class ladder is hindered by many unsolved social problems, despite definite trends toward the improvement of the condition of the lower class. Present observations indicate that the former caste demarcations are in the process of being replaced with more flexible class distinctions.