Latino festivals vs Caribbean festivals

[diable410]

Its that time of year when cultural festivals are happening in ever city in the US. One of the interesting things I've noticed throughout the years is the representation (or lack thereof) of Dominicans at Caribbean fesivals. At Latino Festivals, you can find many Dominican Flags and folks represeting DR; however, Caribbean carnivals have more Haitians little to no Dominicans.

What say you?

 

[Viajero]

What say you?

I see Dominicans all the time in NYC so I don't look for them at festivals. In fact, I usually have some in my crew, whether family or friends.

Where are you talking about? You can go to festivals in Miami, for instance, and see Haitians and Latinos together. Calle Ocho would be a good example, since people like Wyclef have performed there many times.

 

[diable410]

I see Dominicans all the time in NYC so I don't look for them at festivals. In fact, I usually have some in my crew, whether family or friends.

Where are you talking about? You can go to festivals in Miami, for instance, and see Haitians and Latinos together. Calle Ocho would be a good example, since people like Wyclef have performed there many times.

Seeing Dominicans on a day to day basis vs seeing them at festivals wasnt the question. The thread implies Dominicans are more common at Latino Festivals representing the island and hardly at CARIBBEAN festivals. Just wondering what makes one favored over the other.

Same can be said for PR. I only saw one person (and myself) waving a PR flag the DC/ Baltimore Carib Fest. However, Haitian flags where everywhere.

Since NY have its own seperate DR and PR pride parades, it may make sense for that particular area but not for other cities.

 

[pollogringo]

Simple demographics. Large concentrations of Dominicans and Boricuas in NYC. In Baltimore, more Caribbeans from the non-Spanish-speaking islands(Haitians and Jamaicans).

 

[bermyboy]

I think because really the other Carribean countries are different from the DR and PR different music culture musice and food even different sports. In other Carribean countries Jamaica, Barbadoes, Trinidad etc etc all mostly play Cricket and Soccer listen to Reggae, Dancehall and Soca music thier food is genuily more spicy more rich in flavor (I love Jamiaican food) and most speak English. You see more haitians because the other Carribean countrues are prodomintly black and Haitains relate with them easier. Remember the DR,PR and Cuba are really the only islands in the Carribbean that are of Spanish culture. So if you really look at it they have nothing in common with the other Carribbean countires. IMHO

 

[diable410]

I think because really the other Carribean countries are different from the DR and PR different music culture musice and food even different sports. In other Carribean countries Jamaica, Barbadoes, Trinidad etc etc all mostly play Cricket and Soccer listen to Reggae, Dancehall and Soca music thier food is genuily more spicy more rich in flavor (I love Jamiaican food) and most speak English. You see more haitians because the other Carribean countrues are prodomintly black and Haitains relate with them easier. Remember the DR,PR and Cuba are really the only islands in the Carribbean that are of Spanish culture. So if you really look at it they have nothing in common with the other Carribbean countires. IMHO

Makes perfect sense. Just odd there wasn't at least one or two flags in the mix.

 

[diable410]

Simple demographics. Large concentrations of Dominicans and Boricuas in NYC. In Baltimore, more Caribbeans from the non-Spanish-speaking islands(Haitians and Jamaicans).

Right, pollogringo! Using that logic you would think DR/PR would use the opportunity to represent at more festivals - especially one that relates to the caribbean.

 

[pollogringo]

Right, pollogringo! Using that logic you would think DR/PR would use the opportunity to represent at more festivals - especially one that relates to the caribbean.

Another factor to consider. As there is generally a large Haitian representation at the Caribbean Festivals, could Dominican-Haitian tension play a role in what you've observed?

 

[Givadogahome]

What, you think Dominicans would back off because of the Haitian presence? If it was a factor I would think the opposite would occur.

But is there much tension between the two abroad? I would think they just get on with it when they don't have to share an island.

 

[bermyboy]

The cultures are just different man when I used to drive around in my Civic when I first moved here I would be blasting dancehall and reggae (even though Bermuda is not in the Carribean I grew up on reggae and dancehall music cricket and soccer) the Domincans would look at me like I am crazy and be like what is that music I would then go on to say well this is where your reggaetton comes from now the Haitians would like the music because they knew more about it than Domincans. You ask a domincan about raggae music they know Bob Marey thats about it and of course 50 cent for hip hop. They know nothing of Dancehall music (which is very popular all over the world) they do not know Vybez kartel. beenie man, Bounty killa Movado etc etc. Its like a Jamaican listening to bacahata or mambo just not going to happen! 2 different cultures just like I rarely see a Domincan playing soccer or cricket its like seeing a Jamaican or Trinidadian playing Baseball. While the DR PR and Cuba may well be in the Carribbean that is about all they share with the other Carribbean Islands. Mind you I am starting to see more of a cross over music wise as more dancehall artists are starting to do more soings with latin artists.

 

[bermyboy]

Also as i have found out that most Domincans do not really consider themselves black or of African decent it is ingrained in them. Even of a guy is dark skinned he takes it as an insult if you call him negro most guys cinsider them selves Moreno Why? bercause being black is considred being Haitian. I have seen a dark skinned Dominican be racist towards an equally dark Haitian. In saying that the Haitians kind of levitate to the other prodominatly black Carribbean islands and can relate to them more than Domincans can . Thats my opinion nothing else from my observations. Its like me I look like a Light Skinned Domincan or Puerto Rican and get mistaken for both all the time in fact when I tell people I am from Bermuda they do not belive me and I ask why they say only black people live in Bermuda LOL
Also its like Dominicans love the Danchall artist Sean Paul but when I tell them he is Jamaican they do not belive it!

 

[pollogringo]

Also as i have found out that most Domincans do not really consider themselves black or of African decent it is ingrained in them. Even of a guy is dark skinned he takes it as an insult if you call him negro most guys cinsider them selves Moreno Why? bercause being black is considred being Haitian. I have seen a dark skinned Dominican be racist towards an equally dark Haitian. In saying that the Haitians kind of levitate to the other prodominatly black Carribbean islands and can relate to them more than Domincans can . Thats my opinion nothing else from my observations. Its like me I look like a Light Skinned Domincan or Puerto Rican and get mistaken for both all the time in fact when I tell people I am from Bermuda they do not belive me and I ask why they say only black people live in Bermuda LOL
Also its like Dominicans love the Danchall artist Sean Paul but when I tell them he is Jamaican they do not belive it!

I remember my ex-MIL remarking that an African bushman on a television program was a Haitian. I laughed and told her he lived in a place called Africa and that's where all black people come from. Be they Haitian or Dominican. She looked at me in disbelief as she had been taught that black people come from Haiti.

 

[pollogringo]

What, you think Dominicans would back off because of the Haitian presence? If it was a factor I would think the opposite would occur.

But is there much tension between the two abroad? I would think they just get on with it when they don't have to share an island.

Is this sarcasm, Giva? Hard to be sure in this medium of communication.

 

[Viajero]

Same can be said for PR. I only saw one person (and myself) waving a PR flag the DC/ Baltimore Carib Fest. However, Haitian flags where everywhere.

Since NY have its own seperate DR and PR pride parades, it may make sense for that particular area but not for other cities.

First of all, anything in the DC area is wack as it pertains to caribbean latinos and afro-latinos. DC has no real Boricua or Dominican populations, although a few more Dominicans have trickled in recently. I've seen the festivals in Bmore and the one on Georgia Avenue and they are a waste of time compared to hanging out in Washington Hts on a normal day. In NYC, you don't need a festival to see your peeps, even though you have numerous ones every day during the summer.

A lot of the community doesn't even go to the PR and DR festivals so why should they go to a "caribbean" festival? What's the appeal? I gave you an example of Calle Ocho were you see latinos and Haitians. What specific cities are you talking about??

 

[bronzeallspice]

The carribbean festivals represent the non spanish speaking islands and for the most part have
similarities in culture and the latino festivals likewise.

 

[Givadogahome]

I laughed and told her he lived in a place called Africa and that's where all black people come from.

Africa where all people originated from.
Not only as good as fact as you can get without being 100%, If you tell a Dom this, one who finds colour significant, then in the long run it broadens the mind to know we are all from the same origin. I find Dominicans to be the perfect example of a xenophobic race, I've had conversations with Dominican people on race and it seems many do not know why they show dislike to Haitians, so it can not be racism, I think they are phobic of their identity.

 

[pollogringo]

First of all, anything in the DC area is wack as it pertains to caribbean latinos and afro-latinos. DC has no real Boricua or Dominican populations, although a few more Dominicans have trickled in recently. I've seen the festivals in Bmore and the one on Georgia Avenue and they are a waste of time compared to hanging out in Washington Hts on a normal day. In NYC, you don't need a festival to see your peeps, even though you have numerous ones every day during the summer.

A lot of the community doesn't even go to the PR and DR festivals so why should they go to a "caribbean" festival? What's the appeal? I gave you an example of Calle Ocho were you see latinos and Haitians. What specific cities are you talking about??

More Boricuas in Baltimore than Dominicans, and not many, as you note. There is a concentration in suburban DC(Gaithersburg/Germantown) but they're way outnumbered by the many Central Americans so they're easy to miss.

For a lot of Dominicans outside of NYC, visit Hazleton, PA.

Dominican presidential candidate tours Hazleton - News - Citizens Voice

 

[Givadogahome]

Is this sarcasm, Giva? Hard to be sure in this medium of communication.

No it is a legit question, I know little of Dominicans abroad, and so I don't understand the reality of life outside Hispanola. Like I said I would imagine since they aren't sharing an island, then there is little reason for tension between the two. But maybe it does spill over even outside of Hispanola, I don't know, someone can tell me, hopefully.

 

[Viajero]

Also as i have found out that most Domincans do not really consider themselves black

Some of your points are right, but this topic is like beating a dead horse. There are numerous documentaries on youtube about this as well as ones like the series from the Harvard U professor that explain how all of this came about. There are even other threads in this forum that have already dealt with this issue extensively.

Afro Colombians and the Cubans I encountered in Santiago, for instance, felt a strong sense of the African diaspora. Dominicans feel differently for reasons delineated in thousands of sources. This is like the discussion about why black Americans or Dominicans straighten their hair or why certain types of guys in American walk around with their pants hanging off their asses.

I understand when people asked for the 5,000th time how much is a cab from STI to Sosua, but how many times must the black/race/latino issue be recapitulated?

 

[pollogringo]

No it is a legit question, I know little of Dominicans abroad, and so I don't understand the reality of life outside Hispanola. Like I said I would imagine since they aren't sharing an island, then there is little reason for tension between the two. But maybe it does spill over even outside of Hispanola, I don't know, someone can tell me, hopefully.

I have some experience with Dominicans living abroad. I've heard from them that Haitians are ugly and that they smell bad. They are the butt of many jokes told by Dominicans.