Dominicans in the U.S. Can you identify?

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.

My bad. I just realized this thread was moved from where I posted it. I had intended it to be mostly towards other Dominicans in the U.S. but I see why it may be of interest generally, I guess?

Bienamor, White immigrants to the U.S. are also just accepted as "All American" as soon as they learn english or when their 1st generation kids are born. With other races it doesnt occur that way. You can have roots in the u.s. for 97967857543 years back and assimilate fully from day 1 and still be labeled with a hyphen. Apples and Oranges. You are correct about that.

Oh, human is by far the best label of all. Our society hasnt come that far yet, however.

I guess what I was getting at was that I now want to know where in Africa my ancestors came from. What my Lebanese great grandparents were like. What my great great grandad's Chinese surname was. That kind of deal. If I were solely in the DR I might have never cared but in the U.S., you are kind of forced to look at yourself more in that sense when you not polarized towards one race or another.

So now I want to get DNA tests done. And I feel pangs of shame and guilt for how much we hide our blackness as if its not clear as day anyway. I would probably not feel this way if not for the influence of the U.S.

lol koredjk, excuse me if the fact that i have been looking in the mirror at a black woman my whole life, while having everyone around me tell me "black is terrible. never say you are in any way black" was bothersome and confusing. you dont think thats a little.....weird? unless you have been in my place its probably difficult to identify.

While at this point in my life its no longer an issue as I have learned and adjusted to live between worlds just fine, it was still a factor in forming my identity and thats what my thread is about. Unless you have been a Dominican in that situation it may be hard to fathom. Its difficult to fathom for Dominicans who have never lived away from other Dominicans in the U.S. as well.

Its more about a comparison and clash of cultures and views than insecurities.

korejdk said:

))) I crossed the iron courtain as a teen and when they seen me with my long hair, "clothes" and attitude the border guards were shocked...When I went for my first (real) job interview my english was really really bad ( as it is now ) but I got the job because of my math...


it's all down to who you are and what you want, it's easy to blame the environment.

Click to expand...

but blame for what? at no point in time was any blame placed on anything or anyone. there werent any complaints made.

this was about experiences in the us for dominican americans. no problems were noted. simply comparisons on cultures, views and experiences that are unique to dominicans attempting to assimilate into american society. you seem to have misunderstood somewhere along the line.

Basically, for me, accepting that I am part African and being proud of it, is part of my assimilation into Americanness. Its something that I preferred to drop from my Dominican upbringing because I found it hurtful. There are also aspects that I will never pick up from American culture for the same reasons.

Immigrants all have their own take on assimilation or lack thereof. We all pick and choose what we want to keep....or if we want to just start with a fresh slate as those of european descent have been more prone to do for what i deem to be cultural reasons too.

As Latinos we are often taught to be very deeply tied to our culture in a way that other cultures are not all as stringent about. I think that makes us look as if we just dont care or dont want to fit in. When in reality statistics show by the time the 1st gen comes along we have already assimilated for the most part. Its just that there are certain things we never let go of. What those things are will differ from person to person.

I just like to ponder on how differently we all percieve it all.