African-Americans traveling to the DR

[Bobo]

Yes Festero, that makes it clearer. I guess we here in the States are a lot more sensitive to issues of race/ethnicity/skin color than what Dominicans seem to be. I guess that is because those differences have been used in the past (and even today) as justifications to mistreat minorities here in the US. I'm a minority and I don't agree with all of the political correctness thought but then I've never been the outright target of any racial mistreatment.

I think moving beyond a lot of the racial tensions in the US will take a long time. I think we've made good progress but I fear we still have a long way to go!

Thanks for taking the time to shed some light on this matter -- your comments were very helpful!

[BrothaNature]

Originally Posted by toneloc24

To be completely honest, it's best to know basic conversational spanish, or at least have a little phrasebook, whenever traveling abroad to any Spanish-speaking country. The farther away from the resorts, means much less Englisg being spoken or understood.

When I go to Brasil, for two weeks prior, out comes the Pimsleur CDs for a quick brush-up, as I don't speak Portuguese here daily. When headed to the RD or any other Spanish-language countries, out comes the CDs as well. Just makes for a better experience, as there are people who really want to understand and help you, as well as get to know a bit about you.

I figured that would be the case. How else could someone get more out of their experience?

Thanks

[Bok]

Originally Posted by Festero

They call it the way they see it and if a friend of theirs has very dark skin their term of endearment is often "Moreno/a" or Negro/a," but with no negative connotation.

I know two women whom everybody knows by their nickname: 'negra'. One of them has been my family's neighbor since before I was born and I don't know her real name. Funny enough she is actually white, VERY white; but in her family she's the only one with dark hair. The other woman refused to tell me her real name because "it is too ugly". She'd rather be called 'negra'. And she is black.

In my family 'negrita' and 'gordita' are the preferred terms of endearment.


Mrs. Bok
Who can't still log in with her handle.

[trina]

Originally Posted by Bok

Mrs. Bok
Who can't still log in with her handle.

I was wondering where the heck you were!!!

[rmary]

It has been a long time since I have been to the Punta Cana area, but it was and is my impression that it is a lot harder to "mix" with Dominicans there. You would mostly be hanging around with other tourists (American, Canadian, European etc.). You might want to consider somewhere on the North Coast where it is easier to get off resort and experience some of the Dominican culture. Some of the folks who are more familiar with the current situation in Punta Cana and surrounding areas may have more current information though.

Just some thoughts.

Rose

[NALs]

In the U.S. if you are of pure european blood you are white, but if you have just a tiny drop of african blood (even if you look white) you are considered black.

In South Africa Whites are considered Afrikans, Blacks are considered Blacks, and Mulattos are considered Colored.

In the Dominican Republic Whites are considered Blancos (whites), Blacks are considered Moreno or Negro or Prieto (all meaning black), and Mulattos are considered Mulatos or Mulatas.

I think that the Categorization of the U.S. is wrong. Mulattos should not be derogative and it should be included when describing different types of people. Whites tend to look more or less the same in terms of facial features and color shades and the same applies among blacks. But among mulattos, the spectrum is very wide. In the Mulatto category, you have very very white or light skin people (like Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez), but you also have very black or dark skin people. Also, you will see many "black" mulattos with blue eyes (which blue eyes is nothing more than eyes with no melanin because people with blue eyes genes are actually prepared by nature to live in areas as far north as Scandinavia, where the Sun rays are hardly strong enough). So due to the variations in the Mulattos race, it should be considered separate from being either black.

[xamaicano]

[quote=Nal0whs]"In the U.S. if you are of pure european blood you are white, but if you have just a tiny drop of african blood (even if you look white) you are considered black.

I think that the Categorization of the U.S. is wrong. "

While it may seem barbaric now, the "one drop" rule has been very beneficial to blacks in the long run. It helped to create larger political and ecomomical base by uniting people of African descent regardless of hue, thus leading to greater empowerment. So in the States access and availability of opportunity became more important to blacks than mere aesthetics. If DR had a similar racial structure as the States it would significantly change the way the white ruling class relate to the majority. However, as long as they have the "mulattos" obsessing over their relative "whiteness", they'll have nothing to worry about.

[NALs]

However, a totally different Dominican Republic might had evolved. The practice of diving groups of people based on how much European blood a person has was practiced in Haiti for a long time. Thus, Mulattos rule the country and control the economy there and blacks are at the lower end of the spectrum. In Jamaica whites and Mulattos dominated the high classes while blacks make up the masses, etc. I see what you are saying, but I would have to say that in my opinion, the increase in black "power" when it came for government to address their issues is mostly due to a changing perception of life from the white people's perspective. Again, I see what you're saying, but the effort of many blacks like Dr. King with those whites that were simpathetic to blacks gave way for better opportunity. I don't believe that the mixing of blacks and mulattos actually help by much. It might had help, but not by much.

In addition, the mixing of blacks and mulattos under one category in the states lead to the severely ignorance of the european component making up a Mulatto. After all, a mulatto is considered as such because his/her blood is part white and part black. Ignoring one part is like ignoring who they really are.

[Conchman]

Since blacks are now called 'African Americans' in the US, shouldn't Americans of European descent be called "European Americans," not white or caucasian?

[xamaicano]

"The practice of diving groups of people based on how much European blood a person has was practiced in Haiti for a long time. Thus, Mulattos rule the country and control the economy there and blacks are at the lower end of the spectrum. In Jamaica whites and Mulattos dominated the high classes while blacks make up the masses"

I agree you with here. By no means am I singling out DR. I was merely constrasting both racial models and I think that with a white ruling class, in the long run, identifying with one's blackness (if a person is black) works better than indentifying with the degree one is a "inferior" version of the white standard. Let's face it, even in DR, no matter how many hairs we split, white is white. As far a person identifying with there European heritage that is a matter of personal preference. However, race is an artificial construct which now largely based on perception. My maternal grandfather is Irish, but looking at me you couldn't tell. To all that see me I am black, and whether I choose to embrace my European heritage or not, I am indentified as such.