This article quoted in another thread aptly describes my experiences and the curiosity I have about my own background. Commentary: 'But what's a Latino?' - CNN.com
For Americans, it seems they are so used to picking a neat little box, that they cannot fathom that in our country, its totally normal for people in a family to all have the same blood and appear to be of several different races and all the inbetweens.
I would say maybe Brazil and Cape Verde are the only countries with comparable history and even then we are all different.
Black Americans are often offended if you don't claim "just black". They say "there are people of different colors in my family too" but really theyre just talking about different tones of black. Its not different races like with us. Yet I can honestly say that apart from other Dominicans its black Americans who have taken me in...I think because they know even if I'm hispanic I still look black and we are thus on the same boat. Were it not for them I wouldve never come to terms with myself as a whole. As an Afro-Latina, not just an "Indian" or a "Spaniard".
White Americans try to make me give them a complete rundown of my ancestors and any Dominican knows how difficult that can be, being that we just don't usually keep track of it. To us mixing is just what people do and we dont give it any thought (obvious colorism issues aside).
Its like people here are baffled that you can be 8 different things and all come out different and still all feel that you are the SAME culturally. I know American History explains why these feelings exist but it makes for an interesting experience.
Then, Central and South Americans feel so free to talk crap about me right to my face, thinking I dont speak spanish since I dont fit the "stereotypical" Latin look that they are used to and that the media pushes.
This has made me think of my origins in a way that I know I wouldnt have if I had been raised entirely in the DR. The segregation and polarization I encountered in the U.S. made me think of this in much more depth and what it means for us culturally. How misunderstood we sometimes are because of it.
How has it been for you as a Dominican in the U.S....for those Dominicans who dont pass as white and who are black and/or ambiguous looking? I have noticed that many people who remain in Dominican neighborhoods rarely even see what I mean, but I know there are others who have.
Its not a woe, either. Its just interesting and unique to people like us who dont fit into neat little boxes.
For Americans, it seems they are so used to picking a neat little box, that they cannot fathom that in our country, its totally normal for people in a family to all have the same blood and appear to be of several different races and all the inbetweens.
I would say maybe Brazil and Cape Verde are the only countries with comparable history and even then we are all different.
Black Americans are often offended if you don't claim "just black". They say "there are people of different colors in my family too" but really theyre just talking about different tones of black. Its not different races like with us. Yet I can honestly say that apart from other Dominicans its black Americans who have taken me in...I think because they know even if I'm hispanic I still look black and we are thus on the same boat. Were it not for them I wouldve never come to terms with myself as a whole. As an Afro-Latina, not just an "Indian" or a "Spaniard".
White Americans try to make me give them a complete rundown of my ancestors and any Dominican knows how difficult that can be, being that we just don't usually keep track of it. To us mixing is just what people do and we dont give it any thought (obvious colorism issues aside).
Its like people here are baffled that you can be 8 different things and all come out different and still all feel that you are the SAME culturally. I know American History explains why these feelings exist but it makes for an interesting experience.
Then, Central and South Americans feel so free to talk crap about me right to my face, thinking I dont speak spanish since I dont fit the "stereotypical" Latin look that they are used to and that the media pushes.
This has made me think of my origins in a way that I know I wouldnt have if I had been raised entirely in the DR. The segregation and polarization I encountered in the U.S. made me think of this in much more depth and what it means for us culturally. How misunderstood we sometimes are because of it.
How has it been for you as a Dominican in the U.S....for those Dominicans who dont pass as white and who are black and/or ambiguous looking? I have noticed that many people who remain in Dominican neighborhoods rarely even see what I mean, but I know there are others who have.
Its not a woe, either. Its just interesting and unique to people like us who dont fit into neat little boxes.