This time, both me and my sister decided to stay home because of different obligations.

It was my Uncle’s 60th Birthday out in Piscataway. My mom and dad attended the festivities.

My father told me that he was conversing with my mom’s brother and a random lady there. I personally don’t know what they were speaking about, but I guess Black folk came up, and she said:

“Los morenos son comida de puercos.”

Translation: “Black people are pig’s food.”

Now, that is a very common phrase among the “campesinos” in the Dominican Republic. A campesino is a person from the outskirts and the countryside. An individual who is “usually” uneducated and kind of “dated” in their ways.

My dad, for years, has gone to New Jersey and heard a whole bunch of racist remarks against Black folk. He’s brushed it off. They aren’t talking about “him,” as in their eyes, they separate Dominican and Black even though he’s dark-skin.

So, when that statement popped out, the Latino, Razor Ramon temper did as well.

I wasn’t there, but from what he told me, it went something like this:

“Pero tu estas pasa hablando asi? Tu no te miras en el espejo. Mirate el cabello. Porque tu eres clara, no significa que tu no tienes negro adentro.”

Translation: “Are you kidding me? Do you look in the mirror? Look at your hair. Just because your light skin, doesn’t mean you don’t have Black inside.”

The lady was shook and said. “But I wasn’t talking about you.”

After that, my dad kept the verbal “ether” going, stormed out the place, and bounced with mom.

Usually, I would get on my dad for having an outburst like that. But, I personally don’t know everything he’s had to deal with throughout life in regards to race; and when you hear it from people that are close to you for decades, there will be a time when you finally explode.

*wipes forehead*

But… I’m done with the color issues within the Dominican community.

Its something that I hope I’ve helped to change some by the people who read this. I know I’m glad I’ve been able to change the minds of some people I know close to me.

But from now on, all the Dominican chronicles will focus on different things in my community. I’m kind of tired of the race this, race that volumes. Its something that no matter how much I try, or anyone else does, is going to be hard to change.

Till next time…

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Dominican Chronicles Vol 5: “Los morenos son comida de puerco.” is a post from: Live Above Mediocrity