Afrolatinos: The untaught story

The Dominican Republic is a very special stop on the journey… nowhere else in Latin America do you get off a plane and have a group of musicians on one of side of the airport playing tambores, and in the other offering you a cup of Brugal upon arrival.

So much comes to mind when one thinks of the Dominican Republic (DR). la Isla Quisqueya, the beats of the tambores playing, and the güira.  The Dominican Republic, birthplace of the merengue, home of el perico ripiao, listeners of Reggaeton, and bachata reigning supreme.  You will see families gathered every weekend to celebrate…there is always a reason to celebrate on the island.  Dominicans are a people surrounded by food, laughter, loudness, music, love, and they are truly humble people.

Miles away from the breathtaking Malecon (the pier), a place where people go on romantic strolls, water crashing against the rocks, yet only fifteen minutes away visitors have no idea that they are just up the road from one of the poorest communities in the capital, Haina.  Haina is where one of the first bateys (town where the sugar refineries where—place where the sugar workers lived) is located. 

Rio Haina (Haina River) was one of the first ports and sugar plantations on the island. Although today when you walk through the streets… actually they are not even streets… these are dirt roads which are unpaved showing the remnants of Haina no longer being a location where profits could be made, and where it is clear that the government turned its backs on them. 

There is tremendous poverty in the Afro communities of the Dominican Republic.  Dominicans and Haitians of the bateys like Haina and Lecheria live in the poorest conditions.  They are surrounded by incredible pollution.   Haina is considered to have the highest level of lead contamination in the world, and the people living in these communities are at high risk of being contaminated. We must question why this area remains untouched and ignored by the government?

There is no question that the Dominican Republic is known for having some of the most beautiful beaches (not to mention the most beautiful women), amazing sun, breathtaking views, white sands, blue skies, green colored waters at the beaches of Boca Chica, lsla Saona, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata… all places that on a good day the normal Dominican rarely gets to appreciate. 

Some Dominicans have never even seen these beaches because these are places that are solely reserved for the tourists.  It doesn’t matter what side of the world you come from… Europeans, Americans, Asians are well received in DR… but you ask any Dominican - - are you Haitian? And something changes in their face… in their manner… automatically they get defensive.  The responses the producers received were mixed, but it was clear that racism is alive in well in the Dominican Republic.

There is a hatred and denial of all things black. Dominicans are the first to tell you they are NOT Haitian.  This they make CLEAR.  The team witnessed first hand the discrimination shown to those who are black.  THE OTHERS… these others who play an important role in history.  These others who are the Haitians who share the island.

The African culture not only arrived with the slave trade – there were Afros who were free.  Did you know that there are English-speaking blacks on the island? These are the descendants of the Maroons (runaway slaves from the United States) who currently live in the province of Samana. Another group of Afros are called “Cocolo” those who arrived to the island from English speaking Caribbean and who reside in San Pedro de Macoris.  Both communities still speak English today.

Dominicans were taught that Columbus was who discovered Hispaniola (former name of the island). The history that has been accepted is that “the Dominican” is a combination of European (Spanish) and Taino blood.  Defining themselves as mestizos descended from Indians and Europeans and not acknowledging the African portion. 

There is much in the history textbooks about the settlers invading the island and mixing with the Tainos who lived on the island, but not enough has been mentioned about the mass murdering and extinction of the Taino before the African slave arrived. 

There is something missing in the textbooks--the Afro section.  Did you know that of the total population of 9.1 million, an estimated 5.4 million are black and 84% of the all Dominican’s are estimated to be afro-descendents?

The African presence has played a huge role in what is known as the Dominican Republic today.  It is an influence that can’t be denied and is visible in its people, history, food, music, religion, and culture. Yet there is an incredible denial of this influence and we have found that it has to do with identity.  Identity and self-image are major problems not only in the DR, but also all across Latin America.

What do Dominican’s identify with when it comes to beauty?  Where did the idea of “Pelo bueno y pelo malo” (Good hair vs. bad hair) come from? Why are people being discriminated against based on the color of their skin?  Lets take it one step further - - since when can’t a person get a job offer because there hair is curly – rather than straight?  What does it mean when a newspaper ad is searching for a person with “BUENA PRESENCIA” good presence? 

What are companies asking for when they request this?  Which brings us to the idea of what BUENA PRESENCIA means? These words are very critical to pinpointing and understanding where the problem stems from.  Why does good vs. bad translate into: Good = white, Bad = black?  In the documentary we dig deep for this answer. 

Where are the positive messages about being proud of being black –of being Afro-Dominican?  Before any work can be done to preserve the history they must acknowledge and admit that there is history missing and problems that in fact exist that can no longer be ignored.  That Dominicans should speak up more often about injustices rather than staying quiet for fear of being unpatriotic.

What contributions if any were those of the Haitian in DR?  What if anything did they have in common with Haitians? Why on ONE Island are there so many divisions? How do they let go of the remnants of a racist past?

A debate was held at the INSTITUTO DOMINICANO DE PERIODISMO (Dominican Institute of Journalism) where students were asked to share with the crew their feelings about Haitians? The generations that have followed the Trujillo era have a responsibility to question the status quo… and care about the changes the nation is making to its constitution, which this year is making significant changes that impact the nation.  They are trying to add a section that deliberately excludes Haitians from any rights of living in the country.

There are steps being taken towards unity by the work of Dominicans such as Padre Regino Martinez, with the organization Solidaridad Fronteriza, who is fighting for the rights of Haitians living in the Dominican Republic. As well as, Juan Rodriguez Acosta, who hosts a weekly show called Dialogo de Dos Pueblos where he speaks on Dominican and Haitian relations. These discussions aim to change the way Haitians and Dominicans coexist. 

The Dominican Republic is rich in culture and beauty but there is a face of the Dominican that is missing.  What is desperately needed a new interpretation of “Dominicanidad” (Dominican-ness) understanding what makes a Dominican is the opportunity of honoring mother Africa as well as father Spain.  A new interpretation of what being Dominican really means is needed.  A more inclusive one that never forgets the contributions of the African who stepped foot on their lands.

This video is of Enerolisa Nuñez siging to the Saints in the Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic they practice a religion called 21 División or 21 Divisions. This is a form of Santería but has it’s roots from Haití. Many Haitians moved to the Dominican Republic and influenced 21 División. These songs are called salves and have their roots from Congo, África. This is raw edits for the documentary AfroLatinos.