Comments on: Dominican Chronicles Vol 10: “He can’t come.”

By: Heather Killeen

Heather Killeen — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:02:03 +0000

Hi Claudio!
Love your stuff. Love your brain.
I’m your average mutt-I just look white. My family raised me to love people no matter what-of course, a few of the more racist family members told me that my philosophy of peace/love/freedom/happiness would “change when i grow up”. Nope, I never changed. Neither did the hatred. As I grew I found out that some Puerto Ricans and Dominicans hate each other, Dominicans hate Cubans, Latinos hate Blacks, everyone hates Mexicans, and Mexicans hate Salvadorians. WTF? And everyone hates whites, including whites. It’s ridiculous. Isn’t it so much easier to LOVE? It was easy then,it’s easy now. I don’t think it’s a naive way to live at all. It does take a bit more courage and patience, but it’s well worth it.
Thanks for listening, and thanks for writing!

By: admin

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:12:01 +0000

Milyna -

I’ve gone through similar things. Sometimes it’s not always those of the lighter hue who are the racist ones; it can also be those who are the same complexion as us. Sad stuff.

By: Milyna

Milyna — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:48:41 +0000

No, I’m not Dominican, I’m Puerto Rican and Black. But I am mistaken for being Dominican all the time. And once an older Dominican woman didn’t know that I was black and referred to a black man walking by as a “mono”-I was astonished since this woman was considerably dark (and darker than I am) and she had the nerve to call him a monkey? Pure ignorance. I then lost my cool and informed her I was black and did not appreciate the remark and I tried to inform her that her ancestors were most likely African. She was not hearing it and refused to entertain what I was trying to tell her.

This was only one of many encounters I have had like this. I just don’t understand….. it’s only pigmentation.

Thanks for checking out my blog-hope you visit us again.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:37:01 +0000

She accepted the decision because she didn’t want to start any trouble. She’s still dating the guy of course. Most Dominicans in my family are pretty open about it. They aren’t one way in public and one way in private. Some may be, but most are pretty open about it.

By: KT

KT — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 04:29:11 +0000

So what did your cousin do/say? not surprised by the request by the mom. But is the mother accepting of it in private, just not when among other Dominicans?