Identity Crisis

[naturelover]

there was a program on uk tv which tested peoples dna to see where their ancestors came from........it turns out most people have some black ancestors somewhere along the line

[bob saunders]

Consider this - your dad is all white and your mom is partially white - that makes you more white that anything else, as far as ethnic percentage of make up, but why do you have to be white or black. Just be you, identify with whatever makes you happy. My stepson is 50 per cent Colombian, and 50 % Dominican. He has straight black hair, light skin(almost white) and thin nose...etc. He identifies with black American Rap and clothing, bling...etc. His mother has a problem with this, but I don't because I know he's a good kid, responsible, hard working, good student. Just be yourself.

[Baracutay]

Originally Posted by naturelover

there was a program on uk tv which tested peoples dna to see where their ancestors came from........it turns out most people have some black ancestors somewhere along the line

As a person that deals with DNA quite often in my line of work, I can tell you that your statement is only partially true. In any event, DNA does not make you one thing or the other. Culture is what makes us who we are.
The reason why Dominicans go through bouts of "identity crisis" once they leave the island is because we as a people are not defined in that way. In effect we are still searching for an identity. It stands to reason that since we are Tripartite, we will always have 4 identities. There will always be people that Identify with white (no matter how Indian they may appear) or others that Identify with Indian (no matter how Black they may appear) or others that may identify with Black (no matter how white they appear) and last but not least there are those who claim that they are a hodgepodge of everything and hence simply Dominicans.
All these versions are valid. If they are not, then we will truly create divisiveness within our country.
Just a thought
Baracutei

[JOKL]

Originally Posted by lil_caine

Ok, lemme start out. My momz is dominican and my pops is blond hair-blue eyes dutch. My moms looks like a mulatta, mocha skin, kinky course hair that gets super curly when its wet.

All my siblings have really lite skin, not white skin, but theyr really lite skinned. They all have course curly/kinky hair though, and they got kind of a mix of black and white features. One of em could pass for white or maybe italian, one looks just like nelly but white skinned. Me on the other hand, my skin didnt mix so its just like my moms, almost a lil darker it seems. I have completely straigt hair that gets curly on the sides but thats about it. But my features are pretty much like any other mulatto. Standard fat lips, big nose, etc.

So whenever my hair is long, i look pretty much like a regular south american. But if i ever wear a hat, shave my head, get my hair in cornrows, etc., i look black. I like to call myself black instead of latin, because I know im closer to a african american than a mexican who are mostly native american, and when most people hear latin they think mexican instantly. People accept me as black because i always wear corn rows. But my mom tells me I'm crazy for "pretending" to be black, and totally denies shes black at all even though its clear. "Pura espanola" is what she claims, her excuse for dark skin bein that some spaniards are have tan skin (but theyre the gitanos who arent even from spain).

So here's my question. Am I wrong in calling myself black instead of latin?

Simple...Latino is a cultural term, Black is a race.. how do you feel ?
you could be a...black/mulato latino.. or you embrace more african-american culture?

[asopao]

But my mom tells me I'm crazy for "pretending" to be black, and totally denies shes black at all even though its clear. "Pura espanola" is what she claims, her excuse for dark skin bein that some spaniards are have tan skin (but theyre the gitanos who arent even from spain).

I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time believing this. " pura espanola"?? are you serious??

me think that you are a troll.

[ElNegrote]

I don't think Lil' Caine is a troll. Nevertheless:

It's common to mistake "Black" (a racial category) for "African-American," an ethnicity which consists of millions of mixed-race people, or to assume that there's a conflict with "Dominican," a *national* description. All of these categories are *social constructions,* are fluid and never fixed.

Be what you want to be, call yourself what you want to call yourself. Most Dominicans have some African ancestry and could call themselves Black if they wished, so you're doing nothing wrong.

BTW, the Museo del Hombre Dominicano in the Plaza de Cultura, Gazcue covers the African (as well as Taíno and European) heritages of the DR quite extensively, so the country's anthropologists and scholars are on record as affirming this root alongside the others.

[CJnNJ]

Originally Posted by asopao

I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time believing this. " pura espanola"?? are you serious??

me think that you are a troll.

Agreed. Something seems a bit off with this post.