Hi.
Are Dominicans culturally similar to Jamaicans? I had some great experiences with people of Jamaican decent--in Latin American country, and am wondering if they are more Latin or more Caribbean. Hopes this makes sense.
Yes.
and No.
There is a great deal of similarities between all the Peoples of the Caribbean but there are distinct differences between them. The English, Spanish, Dutch and French islands all reflect the influences of their former Colonial owners. For the past few years I have split my vacation time between Jamaica and teh D.R. and I like both for different reasons. One of the things that these two nations have in common in particular is the fact that they both have significant labor presence throughout the Caribbean. There are Dominican and Jamaican guest workers throughout the region as evidenced by a trip to Sint Maarten where the airline desk clerk was Jamaican, the baggage handler Dominican, the taxi driver was from Granada but the hotel clerk was Jamaican and the bartender Dominican. Similar experiences in Aruba and Curacao and Miami.
I prefer the food in Jamaica. It's pretty much the same food because the same fruits and vegetables grow there and the same fish swim around the islands but that's where the similarity ends. Once it gets into the kitchen Jamaicans spice the 'ell out of it while Dominicans trend toward a more ulcer friendly bland diet. It's been mentioned that Jamaicans speak English and Dominicans speak Spanish but I have met many Jamaicans who speak English, Spanish and a bit of Papiamento. Jamaica was once a Spanish Colony. When the English got there they ran into a bit of resistance from a group of self declared free Blacks who had fought off the Spanish and gave the English more trouble than they could handle. They are the "Maroons" and the Crown settled on a "live and let live" policy after losing a few troops in search of a victory and settled for a compromise.
The general population is a bit better educated in Jamaica but their government is similar to that of the D.R. in that each and every official act is wrapped in layers and layers of red tape and money talks. The poverty is about the same in both countries but the U.S. has less of a visible interest in the economy and affairs of Jamaicans who identify much more readily with the English and are more likely to emigrate there given the opportunity. To speak properly in Jamaica is to speak the King's English and not American.
I will say this, the Jamaicans who I know who've travelled to the D.R. and the Dominicans I know who likewise spent time in Jamaica have exhibited a genuine affection for one another's culture and even incorporated some of it but Jamaica has more goats than dogs and the D.R. doesn't really seem to be as fond of the goat, prefering more pork in their diet than I have seen in Jamaica. Jamaica also has a noticable Chinese and Indian influence, being a former British Colony where the DR is mostly Taino, West African and Southern Europe in influence and heritage. There are direct cultural and religious and diplomatic ties between Jamaica and East African nations of Ethiopia (see Shashamane) and Kenya as well so the direct African roots are more celebrated there than in the D.R. which sees itself, for obvious reasons as more aligned with Latin America.
In my opinion they are both unique and I love both countries so much that sometimes only a flip of the coin or what airline has the best special to which island will determine my vacation destination.
As for that "most beautiful people" crack, both nations abound in beauty, neither one above the other, after all it's not a competition.
Well, sometimes it is....LOL! and Brutha that ain't no weave.