Dominicans in the U.S. Can you identify?

[POPNYChic]

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.

[korejdk]

Shame ?!? Guilt ?!? Morena, get yourself together !!! True, I prefer the Dominicans from the island from the ones from Washington Heigths, but chica, **** the world's perception !

[ExtremeR]

Originally Posted by korejdk

Shame ?!? Guilt ?!? Morena, get yourself together !!! True, I prefer the Dominicans from the island from the ones from Washington Heigths, but chica, **** the world's perception !

Yeah, it is like you guys prefer all Dominicans to be in the DR rather than the US. We get it.

[POPNYChic]

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]

Originally Posted by ExtremeR

Yeah, it is like you guys prefer all Dominicans to be in the DR rather than the US. We get it.

Do you, really ?
Mi amor, as an immigrant myself to NY I came to "make it"...I am happy with what I achieved and I do not need the ones around me to acknoledge any of it especially when it comes to backround...si tu tienes un insecuridad, then that's it's your problem, so please don't blame it on the environment, NY is the best chance for ANY immigrant ( who wants to work ). And I also prefer the americans that live abroad.

[korejdk]

Originally Posted by POPNYChic

unless you have been in my place its probably difficult to identify.

))) 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...you cannot imagine the way the italians and the french looked at me...no issues with the brits 'till thw gipsies arrived and they start asking me questions

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

[POPNYChic]

Originally Posted by korejdk

))) 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.

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.

[korejdk]

POP, you are right - my perception of your initial post was off, perdon

[POPNYChic]

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.

[bob saunders]

Originally Posted by POPNYChic

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.

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

My question would be: why be either ashamed or proud of your African Heritage? You after all are an individual moulded by your environment to a certain extent, but you are more than the sum of your ethnic makeup. Americanise in my eyes doesn't mean putting one part of your heritage above another- you simply are what you are and that's not a colour. I honestly have never heard a Dominican deny being part African. Italians and Greek communities, or family retain their culture very well and also assimilate well at the same time.