- Thread starter owl41
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what exactly is a gringo?
What about Euro Touristas?
So is there any distinction made for Euro tourists? In a lot of areas they traditionally outnumber Norte Americanos, are clearly white, shorts wearing non-dominicans - are they referred to as gringos generally? Spanish? Italian? What about Columbians or Mexicans? What if they're white?
Just curious how equivalent to "Americano" it is in general use and how much it just means foreigner (default white).
So is there any distinction made for Euro tourists? In a lot of areas they traditionally outnumber Norte Americanos, are clearly white, shorts wearing non-dominicans - are they referred to as gringos generally? Spanish? Italian? What about Columbians or Mexicans? What if they're white?
Just curious how equivalent to "Americano" it is in general use and how much it just means foreigner (default white).
The word gringo has nothing to do with color, it refers to people from the USA, regardless of race. When I was a child in school, Dominicans born in the USA were called "gringos", even if they didn't speak English. The fact that black Americans aren't called gringos as frequently as white people could be because to Dominicans they might look as Haitians or locals, not because of any racist prejudice.
not sure where in Sosua you guys hang up but it seems a world away from the playa...either the dominicans from your part of the world have different habits or the dominicans from playa sosua have to catch up.
white = gringo ( no matter where from )
black american = negro ( they will not call you that when you are close by )
haitian = perro
white = gringo ( no matter where from )
black american = negro ( they will not call you that when you are close by )
haitian = perro
I suppose everyone gets called something.........lol....I have often been called various derogatory things in various countries, I think it may be the way I walk lol - I wouldnt know what I am being called here thank goodness, because I dont know enough words
The truth lies in the chicken...
Pollos Gringos. They are white. Not black, or sometimes other colors. Why didn't they get named something else if gringo DOESN'T mean white in the DR?
The truth also lies in the "gringo mandingo". Go to google. Do an image search of "gringo dominican republic". Look on page 3.
Yeah...kinda scary. :devious:
Pollos Gringos. They are white. Not black, or sometimes other colors. Why didn't they get named something else if gringo DOESN'T mean white in the DR?
The truth also lies in the "gringo mandingo". Go to google. Do an image search of "gringo dominican republic". Look on page 3.
Yeah...kinda scary. :devious:
Was trying to add to the quote above, I do think African Americans have had the means to travel what they have not been doing is traveling to the carribean or outside the United States. Most Black Americans have ties to the South and when they would take Vaca. they would go DOWN SOUTH not to the DR or other places. West Indians from other Carribean Islands are travelling to there home island. So to make a blanket statement that having a passport is a means to measure financial wealth ummmmm.....
I agree with you. For those others who insist that gringo is a blanket term for ALL foreigners (which it isn't) just shows the lack of Dominican society observation or integration you have had.
Can you back this "blanket statement" up with some sort of link or published reference?
This might help clear the confusion. From.......cough......Wikipedia........cough.........I got this link;
Gringo - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
which says;
So no race prejudice. When my sons and daughters go to DR they are called "gringos" o "gringitos", and they are not white.
In that link there's some interesting info about the origin of the word gringo. It says the following;
"When the Mexican-American War began, hundreds of Irish-Americans fought on the side of Mexico. Sent by the U.S. government initially to fight against Mexico, they came to doubt why they were fighting a Catholic country. Resentful over mistreatment from their generally Anglo-Protestant officers, these Irish (and other immigrants) deserted the U.S. Army and joined forces with Mexico. Led by Captain John Riley of County Galway, they called themselves St. Patrick's Battalion (in Spanish, San Patricios).[10] Green was the color of the Irish, and the soldiers sang "Green Grow the Rushes 0!" (based on a Robert Burns poem) or their version of an earlier Scottish tune "Green Grows the Laurel", which they called "Green Grow the Lilacs". This latter tells the story of an Irish soldier who'd fallen in love with a Mexican lass. When the songs became popular with American cowboys, those listening across the border in Mexico couldn't hear the words clearly, only the repeated "Green Grow". Over time this changed into the term "Gringo" (green go), later used to refer to people from the United States."
Can somebody share more info about this?
Regarding the "pollos", they are called gringos not because they are white but rather bc they are raised in a system (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation that was either developed by the "gringos" or Dominicans think they did.
Well, I consider myself pretty well-integrated, if I may say so
, and no, gringo is not about a skin color, it's about being obviously-foreign (excluding Haitians, or anyone from a Spanish-speaking country). It also denotes a belief that the person in question has financial means.Pollos/huevos gringos are intensively farmed, while criollos are farmyard chickens and eggs. I've always understood that to be the distinction rather than the colour.
Well, I consider myself pretty well-integrated, if I may say so
Sorry to disagree, you're entitled to your opinion. I stand firm, a GRINGO/A is a reference to a white tourist. Since traveling to DR since I was 13 years old, I've never ever, been called Gringo. Never have a any hispanic I've been around been referenced as Gringo/A, since it can be misinterpreted as disrespectful by some.
This is strictly a skin based referenced.
Why do locals call their own white skinned Dominican woman, Gringa.. Is it because she is farmyard raised? hmmmmm.:ermm: