What is the History of Dominicans in Louisiana? I have to do a report on the demographics of Louisiana, I noticed there was a good population of Dominicans, & cubans there. So does anyone know the History of the immigration there?
Kidd Creole said:I got a pretty good Grade on my Report :classic: So would you consider those who Migrated from Santo Domingo to Louisiana before the Creation of the Dominican Republic, Dominican?
deelt said:Congratulations on the good grade. Well I'll answer your question with two questions:
Do you consider the wealthy free Blacks that moved to Samana from Philadelphia in the 19th Century? African-Americans or Dominicans?
What do you call the first people of color to arrive in Chicago, IL in the 19th century, who happen to come from the Dominican Republic? African-Americans or Dominicans?
How you answer this will pigeon hole you into taking a side of thinking... LOL
On my end, I find the self-perception that many Dominicans have quite ironic and right down hilarious.
Again, congrats. Keep up the good work.
D
Tordok said:The most demographically important "pre-modern" migration from the Island is not Dominican and, to be precise, not properly Haitian either; it was St. Dominguean, a distinct society to that of the Haiti we know. Several thousand migrants -free and slave, of all 'colors' and classes- went to Louisiana in the late 18th and early 19th century from the late colonial period of St. Domingue (today's Haiti).
Times of revolution in Paris, the rise of Napoleon, but also of the formidable Toussaint Louverture in St. Domingue.
Many plantation owners, servants, administrators, doctors, bureucrats, farmers, slaves, soldiers, architechts, merchants, skilled workers, etc.. left SD for LA during the period encapsulated within 1793-1804. The actual DR did not exist then. New Orleans actually has libraries with records of these waves of newcomers from those 'ungovernable' territories. New Orleans has a very rich and diverse history.
great questions!!!
- Tordok