I can somewhat relate to the first post here, in regards to what it is like being a "white" Dominican (I really don't classify myself as "white" Dominican, just straight-up Dominican). There are no dark people in my Dominican family, and it is always insulting to hear someone insinuate that Dominicans are black or whatever ignorant comment they are dishing out.
Being half-Cuban, one of my favorites is that I am light-skinned only because I am Cuban. Or, my overall personal favorite, as I was told just a few weeks ago - "you were born in New York. That's why you're white. If you were born in DR, you would be black." And they were dead serious.
So I do know what it is like to experience the ignorance - but from outsiders. It has never been my experience to have a fellow Dominican tell me I was not Dominican because of my skin tone, because we all know what the truth is. Nor has it ever been an issue that I am half-Cuban, likely because I was raised with all Dominicans and thus have a much heavier Dominican influence.
[And, for clarification purposes, my Dominican family is lighter than my Cuban family. Both are light, but comparatively speaking, the Dominican side is lighter.]
Being half-Cuban, one of my favorites is that I am light-skinned only because I am Cuban. Or, my overall personal favorite, as I was told just a few weeks ago - "you were born in New York. That's why you're white. If you were born in DR, you would be black." And they were dead serious.
So I do know what it is like to experience the ignorance - but from outsiders. It has never been my experience to have a fellow Dominican tell me I was not Dominican because of my skin tone, because we all know what the truth is. Nor has it ever been an issue that I am half-Cuban, likely because I was raised with all Dominicans and thus have a much heavier Dominican influence.
[And, for clarification purposes, my Dominican family is lighter than my Cuban family. Both are light, but comparatively speaking, the Dominican side is lighter.]