Are Dominicans "Latino" or "Hispanic"?

[puropapi3]

Even if you just say you're Dominican, they w/ tell you, Dominican, you don't look Dominican, you have to be mixed, so you have to start w/ the family history all over again

LOL, how does a Dominican "look" like. A dominican can go from very pale white looking with nice blue eyes and strait hair to a medium brown, mocha or caramel skin complexion with curly hair and black eyes to a very black person with nappy hair and brown eyes.

Somtimes you can guess right what a person is because of a few features but a Dominican can look anything. So next time you want to gossip or talk about a white person or black person in front of you while with your friends at the mall or on the streets or train, watch out.

 

[puropapi3]

The term Latino or Hispanic is only relevant in the United States. Only the U.S. cares to have this classification as a matter of importance. This term is as useless as Caucasian.

I believe all nationalities should be recognized everywhere. We are Dominicans. Cubans are Cubans. Puerto Ricans are Puerto Ricans. Would you call a Pole or an Italian a Caucasian? Or an European?

If we travel to Brazil we are not Latinos, we are Dominicans or whatever nationality we come from. Are Arabs all the same? Iraquis are not Arabs, are they?

Now as for us, I would prefer to be divided as follows:
-Dominican-Yorks
-Chopos
-Sociedad or Alta Sociedad
-Haitianos

We have no middle ground. Chopos are everywhere in between the low classes and the upper middle class. For instance, sectors like Mirador Norte and El Millon, Ensanche Quisqueya, Los Prados, Restauradores and most of Urbanizacion Real are populated mostly by chopos, even though there are many upper middle class people living there. But their nature is Chopical.

All Haitians, their descendants and Haitian-Dominicans are Haitians no matter what the arrangement. Dominican-Yorks need no definition. I have been pretty clear with that.

La Sociedad and Alta Sociedad is a living style, a culture. You are either born with it or you are not. You walk like one, talk like one and your attitude is different.

Examples: Chopos are Wildrido Vargas, Juan Hubieres, our entire Junta Central Electoral, The entire senate minus Jose Tomas Perez, Juancito Sport(Juan De Los Santos), Henry Mejia, our Navy Chief, our Army Chief, our Civil Defense Chief(all generals), everyone who works for our Departamento de Meteorologia, 100% of buscones, colmadon owners and employees, including patrons, dominoes players regardless of color, Domingo Bautista, Carlos Batista Matos(El caro) Leonel Fernandez(the most educated chopo in the world)Hipolito Mejia, Mayor Francisco Pe?a(Santo Domingo Oeste)Antonio Marte(campesino/chopo, the worst speaker in the world), Police Chief Jaime Marte Martinez, Luis Manuel Aguilo, Guido Gomez Mazara, Attorney General Victor Cespedes(who over-pronounces every "s" in Spanish), Alvaro Arvelo, Eury Cabral.

Haitians are: Pe?a Gomez(dead), Mayor Lois(Louis) of Santo Domingo North, Sonia Pierre, Joseito Mateo, Ricardo Carty, Juana Arrendel, Johnny Ventura, Corporan De Los Santos, David Ortiz.

Dominican-Yorks and Chopos by nature: Emilio Angeles(a white man full of chrome,gold chains, and polyester) Mala Fe, Sex Appeal, Aventura(chopo chic) 99% of the Dominican communtiy in the U.S.A.

Society and High Society: Antonio P. Hache, Celso Perez, Jose Corripio, Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez, Juan Luis Guerra, Victor Gomez Berges and his son V.G. Casanova, Hatuey De Camps, Oscar De La Renta, sportsmen Julian Javier and Alex Rodriguez
Jose Enrique Sued(Santiago Mayor and only high society mayor in the country-the rest are chopos, including Roberto Salcedo)Tania Baez, Tita Hasbun, Ivonne Beras Goico, Luis Molina Achecar, Frank Rainieri(Dominican royalty) con-men Ramon Baez Figueroa and Luis Alvarez Renta.

TW

LOL, can you explain this part:

"Haitians are: Pe?a Gomez(dead), Mayor Lois(Louis) of Santo Domingo North, Sonia Pierre, Joseito Mateo, Ricardo Carty, Juana Arrendel, Johnny Ventura, Corporan De Los Santos, David Ortiz."

David Ortiz, the first baseman for the Red Sox? Is it a color thing or what. I know he is black but its all confusing.

LOL, Lets just all call our selves part of the human race when sombody asks what race. Its all so mixed up considering the fact that Africa is EVERYBODIES motherland no matter where we ended up now. Its where all human life started.

 

[puropapi3]

I believe all nationalities should be recognized everywhere. We are Dominicans. Cubans are Cubans. Puerto Ricans are Puerto Ricans. Would you call a Pole or an Italian a Caucasian? Or an European?





But that still w/not be correct; it does not identify your ancestry. In other words, when I say I'm Latina, I expect my audience to understand what that means immediately, I don't want to be grouped w/ all the other dominicans of Black and Taino ancestry.

^^^^^^^^^^^

Why not? Your still Dominican. Plus who cares about ancestry. Its what we are now. Any of us could of been a whole different culture/race if you were to look back hundreds of years into our ancestry. If you wanna go back millions of years we are from the same roots. It had to start with 2 before multiplication.

 

[santiagotrav]

Most Americans think most Mexicans are Indians and that Dominicans are black. Both incorrect perceptions derive from ignorance. I can understand that most Mexicans you will see in the US are Indian but that doesn't mean all Mexicans living in Mexico are Indian. Also, there are many Central Americans in the US (also very indian) that are mistaken for Mexicans by ignorant people. The fact is that Mexicans living in Mexico are very mixed. Spanish, Indian, French , Lebanese and even Dutch ancestry are the most common. I'm from a Mexican middle class family and I was shocked when I went to live in Los Angeles. I had never been exposed to the type of Mexicans that live in LA and I found them very different to me culturally and racially. I was never able to establish friendships with them. These Mexicans were mostly from the poorest areas in Southern Mexico and I perceived them as being poorly educated and without class. Even their Spanish language was poor. Needless to say, they were more Indian than Spanish as opposed to middle class people (upper and lower) from my Mexican region who are more European than Indian. My stereotype of the Mexican was more similar to a South American "castizo" until I went to live in LA. There I learned the American stereotype of the Mexican was more like an indian. I even had Mexican people (and anglos too) from LA mistaken me for Anglo and saying that they were surprised I was Mexican. I have traveled to Brazil and they also have their own stereotype of the Mexican which is more similar to mine. Some Brazilians have even told me they didn't know there were people that looked Indian in Mexico. Most Brazilians think Mexicans are just like Argentinians and Uruguayans. This comes from the fact that most soap opera actors look like that as well as the Mexican tourists and businessmen that travel to Brazil. By the way, for reasons I never understood, Brazilians admire and like Mexicans a lot. I know it is the same the other way around, Mexicans have a deep respect for Brazilians maybe because Brazilians are the best soccer players in the world, as well as having the most beautiful women (no offense please).

 

[carolinet]

For Indie's information:

'Mulatto' is defined as: "a person who has one white parent and one black (negro) parent".

Now, how many black (light black, medium black, dark black, whatever..) Dominicans do you know who have a white parent? Not very many.

Dominicans are NOT predominately mulattos. They may be predominately of mixed blood but the white part is generally a long way back and is most certainly not the dominant part of the bloodline. Even if a true 'mulatto' reproduces with a person who is three quarters black and that person in turn reproduces with someone of mostly black blood, then it's fair to say that the vast majority of their ethnic make-up is negro.

If there are so many 'mulattos' in the Dominican Republic, why are they all in the salon 24/7 trying to straighten their 'pelo malo' (which is as a result of their mostly negro blood)????

I really can't understand why Dominicans can't just say, yes I'm black (or at least predominately black) and so what?? With all this BS about mulattos and indios they make it seem like being negro is a crime.

 

[pasha]

Risen from the dead....

or at least I thought this thread was strumming the harp. Amazing that people want to still debate the issue.

Best P

 

[puropapi3]

For Indie's information:

'Mulatto' is defined as: "a person who has one white parent and one black (negro) parent".

Now, how many black (light black, medium black, dark black, whatever..) Dominicans do you know who have a white parent? Not very many.

Dominicans are NOT predominately mulattos. They may be predominately of mixed blood but the white part is generally a long way back and is most certainly not the dominant part of the bloodline. Even if a true 'mulatto' reproduces with a person who is three quarters black and that person in turn reproduces with someone of mostly black blood, then it's fair to say that the vast majority of their ethnic make-up is negro.

If there are so many 'mulattos' in the Dominican Republic, why are they all in the salon 24/7 trying to straighten their 'pelo malo' (which is as a result of their mostly negro blood)????

I really can't understand why Dominicans can't just say, yes I'm black (or at least predominately black) and so what?? With all this BS about mulattos and indios they make it seem like being negro is a crime.

Yea. This not wanting to be black or have anything to do with it has to stop. Its racism and whoever thinks that are just lying to themselves because the scientific truth is they are black/decendants of Africans.

Shes right. Its not a crime and be proud of background.

Ive heard ignorant ones say its because of Haiti. Well Haiti was Indians that were already on the island before Europeans brought slaves over and killied the natives who named the island Haiti/Ayiti meaning many mountains.

 

[santiagotrav]

Let me explain this to you. While your definition of "mulatto" is correct, "mulatto" is ALSO used to refer to people whose parents are both "mulatto" as well as to any mix of white people with black people no matter what the degree of "white" or "black" is. Dominicans are mulatto. Obviously, each Dominican has different degrees of "white" and "black" ancestry. However, in generalterms it can be said they are as white as they are black. Just take a Dominican and compare it with a Haitian (pure black). They are very different. Also, PLEASE remember that some African traits such as skin color, hair type ("pelo malo" as you call it) are dominant!!! That means that a person that looks very dark and has "pelo malo" may actually be "whiter" than black. Light skin color, light eyes and other traits tend to be lost as they mix with "dark" traits. In countries where people are mixed like the DR, Mexico and Brazil, it is impossible to tell the racial composition of a person just by his appearance. My former Mexican girlfriend had light brown hair, blue eyes and French-like facial features. However, her father was very dark-skinned and had Indian-like features. Another example: My father looks 100% European, his father looked very Indian yet his mother (my father's grandmother) was 100% French. This is a common thing in Latin America. You simply can't tell. The US is different because there has been less mixing between whites, blacks and indians. However, I am aware there are many black people with "white" ancestry in the US (slave owners had sex with their slaves in the old times).

For Indie's information:

'Mulatto' is defined as: "a person who has one white parent and one black (negro) parent".

Now, how many black (light black, medium black, dark black, whatever..) Dominicans do you know who have a white parent? Not very many.

Dominicans are NOT predominately mulattos. They may be predominately of mixed blood but the white part is generally a long way back and is most certainly not the dominant part of the bloodline. Even if a true 'mulatto' reproduces with a person who is three quarters black and that person in turn reproduces with someone of mostly black blood, then it's fair to say that the vast majority of their ethnic make-up is negro.

If there are so many 'mulattos' in the Dominican Republic, why are they all in the salon 24/7 trying to straighten their 'pelo malo' (which is as a result of their mostly negro blood)????

I really can't understand why Dominicans can't just say, yes I'm black (or at least predominately black) and so what?? With all this BS about mulattos and indios they make it seem like being negro is a crime.

 

[puropapi3]

Let me explain this to you. While your definition of "mulatto" is correct, "mulatto" is ALSO used to refer to people whose parents are both "mulatto" as well as to any mix of white people with black people no matter what the degree of "white" or "black" is. Dominicans are mulatto. Obviously, each Dominican has different degrees of "white" and "black" ancestry. However, in generalterms it can be said they are as white as they are black. Just take a Dominican and compare it with a Haitian (pure black). They are very different. Also, PLEASE remember that some African traits such as skin color, hair type ("pelo malo" as you call it) are dominant!!! That means that a person that looks very dark and has "pelo malo" may actually be "whiter" than black. Light skin color, light eyes and other traits tend to be lost as they mix with "dark" traits. In countries where people are mixed like the DR, Mexico and Brazil, it is impossible to tell the racial composition of a person just by his appearance. My former Mexican girlfriend had light brown hair, blue eyes and French-like facial features. However, her father was very dark-skinned and had Indian-like features. Another example: My father looks 100% European, his father looked very Indian yet his mother (my father's grandmother) was 100% French. This is a common thing in Latin America. You simply can't tell. The US is different because there has been less mixing between whites, blacks and indians. However, I am aware there are many black people with "white" ancestry in the US (slave owners had sex with their slaves in the old times).

Very true. Colors and traits do skip generations. I have a very white domincan/salvadorian friend whos father and brother are dark skinned.

 

[puropapi3]

For those of you (especially the Dominicans) without pictures in the media gallery...what are you waiting for?

Where? what are you talkin about?

 

[puropapi3]

I particularly like the term Latino. I think it makes more sence in a geographical sort of way.

Hispanic does not include other nations that conquered the americas, such as the Portuguese. So, what are they going to call the Brasilians?OK, they play better futebol than everyone else in the continent and have the best looking women around, but they are an important cultural, political and economic part of our continent. Their influence transcends their borders as ours transcends thru theirs, so I believe they should be included in that ethnic group and that ethnic group should have a name that does not exclude their Portuguese heritage (although Brasilians always make fun of the Portugese).

The term 'Hispaninc' refers to the Spanish origin of our culture, as the article accurately pointed out. As much as this fact is undeniable, our latin heritage is a bit more complex than a mixture of conquistador and conquistado blood. Every ethnic group the Spanish conquered (including the slaves from africa they used) were very different from one another. That is why our caribbean culture(predominantly black) is quite different from Argentinies (predominantly european) and Mexicans, with their blend of Aztec and Mayan influence, are quite defferent from Peruvians with their Inca influence. The term latino I think is a bit more universal in that way.


What i really believe is this term thing doesnt really matter much.

That was well said.

 

[Jozee74]

Curious



Why is it that in the U.S when you fill applications, you have to choose an option of white, black or Native American for ethnicity and for race is hispanic or non hispanic? the problem is you dont consider yourself a gringo so you dont choose white. then you dont want to choose black because you are not moreno.

 

[Forbeca]

LOL, how does a Dominican "look" like. A dominican can go from very pale white looking with nice blue eyes and strait hair to a medium brown, mocha or caramel skin complexion with curly hair and black eyes to a very black person with nappy hair and brown eyes.


Exactly my point, what does a Dominican look like? :ermm:

Unfortunately it's the Dominicans themselves who won't let it go once a white Dominican states he is "Dominican" They always want all the details, and when you're done explaining, they w/ tell you, "Oh so that's why you don't look Domninican".

 

[Jozee74]

sorry

carolinet

(Now, how many black (light black, medium black, dark black, whatever..) Dominicans do you know who have a white parent? Not very many. )


please shut up .You need to pick up a book and start reading more before you write any comment.

damn, I cant belive it ,but this is the most stupid post i ever see

Eudi, sorry for my first comment.

 

[puropapi3]

Why is it that in the U.S when you fill applications, you have to choose an option of white, black or Native American for ethnicity and for race is hispanic or non hispanic? the problem is you dont consider yourself a gringo so you dont choose white. then you dont want to choose black because you are not moreno.

Thats a good point that i find confusing and thats on every type of application or survey. They should have more options like Latin American and etc...

 

[Jozee74]

Thank You

Thats a good point that i find confusing and thats on every type of application or survey. They should have more options like Latin American and etc...

I guess we see eye to eye on this.

 

[puropapi3]

LOL, how does a Dominican "look" like. A dominican can go from very pale white looking with nice blue eyes and strait hair to a medium brown, mocha or caramel skin complexion with curly hair and black eyes to a very black person with nappy hair and brown eyes.


Exactly my point, what does a Dominican look like? :ermm:

Unfortunately it's the Dominicans themselves who won't let it go once a white Dominican states he is "Dominican" They always want all the details, and when you're done explaining, they w/ tell you, "Oh so that's why you don't look Domninican".

LOL @ "LOOK". They only few countries/areas where you can be at least 95% sure of someones nationality is east Asia. China, Korea, and Japan are countries in which there is no mixing. Thats why the way Japanese look now is how they looked hundreds or thousands of years ago. When DR was first colonized, the people on the island already were dark skinned until the Europeans with their slaves came over and there has been mixing ever since.

 

[puropapi3]

I guess we see eye to eye on this.

Yea. Another option should be mixed or bi-racial. Not everbody is 100% whatever.

 

[NALs]

LOL @ "LOOK". They only few countries/areas where you can be at least 95% sure of someones nationality is east Asia. China, Korea, and Japan are countries in which there is no mixing.

That is true, but even in Japan and Korea, there are some extreme minorities of foreigners who have "refreshen" the redundant gene pool of those respective countries. So, even there you have to be a bit suspicious, though hardly at all.

When DR was first colonized, the people on the island already were dark skinned until the Europeans with their slaves came over and there has been mixing ever since.

The people were light brown, like many Dominican today. Christopher Columbus made a note of them in his log saying "these people of this island I named Espa?ola are neither as black as Africans or as light as Europeans".

Keep in mind that in those times, Africa was even less mixed with outsiders and as such, everybody from Africa were the 100% real black color you see on numerous Haitians and some Dominicans. These are people so black, that they shine when they have a little sweat on their heads and the sun beats down on them. That is what I call a black person.

Also, another note for everybody in DR1 in general is this. The native americans that greeted Columbus on this island were Tainos. Now, how did the Tainos came to be?

Well, it just turns out that Tainos were simply the offspring of a mixed Arawak-Carib or Ciboney relationship. Many Arawaks mixed with Ciboneys and had new offsprings who were a mixture of the two known as Tainos.

It's interesting to see how these primitive peoples knew that when two different things are mixed, the result is a new stock of people. Today, here on DR1 many folks persist that the Dominicans are Africans above everything else, ignoring the European (and to some extent that Taino) influences in our genetic make up, culture, etc. Most Dominicans of today are Mulattos and its a shame that much more primitive peoples accepted the fact they were Tainos (not Arawak or Carib, but Tainos, a mixture of the two) and that today many folks are trying to downplay the fact that if it wasn't for the European component or Indian component, most Dominicans would have looked like many Haitians do, extremely black colored.

I am also convince that most African-Americans in the US are actually mulatto, not black. That is obvious in their brown skin color, not black skin color. Its a shame that they decide to hide under the black label and reject the possibility that they might be something new, something different.

Again, primitive indians knew the difference, why can't we today (who are supposedly more advanced than the indians) not realize this?

 

[puropapi3]

That is true, but even in Japan and Korea, there are some extreme minorities of foreigners who have "refreshen" the redundant gene pool of those respective countries. So, even there you have to be a bit suspicious, though hardly at all.



The people were light brown, like many Dominican today. Christopher Columbus made a note of them in his log saying "these people of this island I named Espa?ola are neither as black as Africans or as light as Europeans".

Keep in mind that in those times, Africa was even less mixed with outsiders and as such, everybody from Africa were the 100% real black color you see on numerous Haitians and some Dominicans. These are people so black, that they shine when they have a little sweat on their heads and the sun beats down on them. That is what I call a black person.

Also, another note for everybody in DR1 in general is this. The native americans that greeted Columbus on this island were Tainos. Now, how did the Tainos came to be?

Well, it just turns out that Tainos were simply the offspring of a mixed Arawak-Carib or Ciboney relationship. Many Arawaks mixed with Ciboneys and had new offsprings who were a mixture of the two known as Tainos.

It's interesting to see how these primitive peoples knew that when two different things are mixed, the result is a new stock of people. Today, here on DR1 many folks persist that the Dominicans are Africans above everything else, ignoring the European (and to some extent that Taino) influences in our genetic make up, culture, etc. Most Dominicans of today are Mulattos and its a shame that much more primitive peoples accepted the fact they were Tainos (not Arawak or Carib, but Tainos, a mixture of the two) and that today many folks are trying to downplay the fact that if it wasn't for the European component or Indian component, most Dominicans would have looked like many Haitians do, extremely black colored.

I am also convince that most African-Americans in the US are actually mulatto, not black. That is obvious in their brown skin color, not black skin color. Its a shame that they decide to hide under the black label and reject the possibility that they might be something new, something different.

Again, primitive indians knew the difference, why can't we today (who are supposedly more advanced than the indians) not realize this?

Very true, very good point. We can learn alot from you.