A Dominican American or Dominican-York[2] is any United States citizen or non-citizen who has ancestry from the Dominican Republic. Historic immigration records of Dominicans in the United States date from the late 1800s, and New York City had a Dominican community since the 1930s. From the 1960s onward, after the fall of the Rafael Trujillo military regime, large waves of migration have thoroughly transnationalized the Dominican Republic, metaphorically blurring its frontier with the United States. In 2006, there were approximately 1.2 million people of Dominican descent in the US, both native and foreign-born.[1]
File:Aventura by David Shankbone.JPG File:Sammy Sosa Texas Rangers.jpg | |
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Washington Heights,New York,South Florida | |
Languages | |
American English, Dominican Spanish | |
Religion | |
Predominately Roman Catholic |
History
Since the early 1960s, economic problems and political turmoil in the Dominican Republic have led to a vast migration of Dominicans to the U.S., mainly to east coast cities, particularly New York City, New York (Washington Heights, Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx and Brooklyn), Westchester County, New York, Paterson, New Jersey, Passaic, New Jersey, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, South Florida (Miami and Fort Lauderdale), Lawrence, Massachusetts, Boston, Massachusetts, Providence, R.I., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, and smaller waves of Dominicans into Houston, Texas, Kansas City, Missouri, and New Orleans, Louisiana metropolitan areas. Dominican Americans have settled in these areas largely because of the already existing and growing Latino community found in these places, having come on the heels of a similar migration of Puerto Ricans. Although Dominicans have been in the United States since the 1960s, almost half of all the Dominican Americans today have arrived since the 1990s. New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood on the northwestern tip of Manhattan, is so densely populated by Dominican Americans that it is sometimes referred to as Quisqueya Heights. ("Quisqueya" is a popular name for Hispaniola that many believe derives from the island's original Taino name.) Dominican Americans are now one of the largest Hispanic groups in the United States; less numerous than the Mexican American majority and Puerto Ricans, and out numbering Cuban Americans. Currently the largest concentrations of Dominican Americans are in New York (659,962), Florida (136,891), and New Jersey (167,689) out of an estimated total Dominican American population of 1,217,225.[3]
Many Dominicans have also settled in Puerto Rico (56,146) by makeshift boats called "yolas". Although thousands of Dominicans illegally migrate this way every year, many are apprehended by the United States Coast Guard while others perish during the harsh, dangerous journey across the Mona Channel.
The 25 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Dominican ancestry are:[4]
- Haverstraw (village), New York 26.95%
- Lawrence, Massachusetts 22.47%
- Perth Amboy, New Jersey 18.81%
- Passaic, New Jersey 13.06%
- Sleepy Hollow, New York 12.67%
- Union City, New Jersey 11.46%
- Haverstraw (town), New York 11.13%
- Paterson, New Jersey 10.27%
- Bronx, New York 20.00%
- Manhattan, New York 8.87%
- Providence, Rhode Island 8.43%
- West New York, New Jersey 8.41%
- West Haverstraw, New York 8.17%
- Freeport, New York 7.37%
- Copiague, NY 6.57%
- Lynn, Massachusetts 6.20%
- New Brunswick, New Jersey 5.88%
- Weehawken, New Jersey 5.74%
- North Bergen, New Jersey 5.56%
- Salem, Massachusetts 5.39%
- Prospect Park, New Jersey 5.28%
- Guttenberg, New Jersey 5.09%
- Brentwood, New York 5.09%
- New York, New York 5.08%
- Miami Gardens, Broward County, Florida 4.62%
Adjustment and Development
A significant number of Dominican Americans are young first generation immigrants without a higher education. Many Dominican Americans also come from the rural countryside of the Dominican Republic. Many are poor, "undocumented", and have language barriers as well. Second generation Dominican Americans are overwhelmingly more educated than their first generation counterparts, as reflected by their higher incomes and employment in professional or skilled occupations. Over 21% of all second-generation Dominican Americans have college degrees, slightly below the national average (24%) but significantly higher than U.S. born Mexicans (13%) and U.S. born Puerto Ricans (12%). [5] There has been the growth of dominican gangs such as Dominicans Don't Play
Participation in U.S. Politics
The U.S. House of Representatives does not yet have a Dominican member, although at least two dozen Dominican Americans are elected as councilmembers, county legislators, and state legislatures throughout the United States. The majority of Dominican elected officials are in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Massachusetts. There are also Dominican Americans elected in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.[6]
The electoral participation of Dominicans in the United States may improve as a result of the 1994 approval of dual citizenship by the Dominican legislature, which makes it easier for migrants to become U.S. citizens without relinquishing their Dominican nationality.[7] A 1997 Dominican law, which took effect in 2004, allows Dominicans living abroad to retain their Dominican citizenship and voting rights, even if they become citizens of another country. Traditionally, Dominicans living in the U.S. are passionately involved in politics "back home," but unlike other Spanish-speaking ethnic groups, such as Cuban Americans and Mexican Americans, Dominican Americans are not as inclined to take an active part in U.S. politics, partly because many dream of eventually returning to the island.[8]
Demographics
Since 1980, the Census Bureau has asked U.S. residents to classify their race separately from their Hispanic origin, if any. In 1990, 29.2% of Dominican Americans responded that they were white, while 30% considered themselves black. A plurality chose the "other" category--39.8% of the total.[9] The prevalence of the "other race" category probably reflects the large number of people with mixed African, European and Amerindian ancestry, usually grouped under the folk term indio in the Dominican Republic (73% of the Dominicans are mixed African, Taino Amerinidan and European descent).[10]
Dominican American Culture
Music is the heart of the Dominican culture. Dominican music includes merengue and bachata, a modification of bolero. Bachata, as well as hip hop, and reggaeton, has become popular among many Dominican American youth.
Almost 90% of all Dominican Americans are Roman Catholics. Dominican Catholics are involved in the cult of the saints, and the cult of the national virgins, Altagracia and Mercedes, which are as strong symbols of Dominican identity as the flag.
Dominican food features white rice, habichuelas (beans), yuca, plantains, mangu, beef, and sancocho.
Dominican Day Parade is one of the biggest parades in New York City.
Notable Dominican Americans
The Dominicans and Dominican Americans have made great strides in the field of baseball as it is the top sport in the Dominican Republic. Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, Pedro Martínez, Vladimir Guerrero,David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada, Albert Pujols, Manny Ramírez and Hall of Fame member Juan Marichal are just a few of the many famous Dominican baseball players. Baseball isn't the only sport with Dominican American figures, the NBA has Charlie Villanueva, born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, NY. also Francisco Garcia and Al Horford. Luis Flores played one season in the NBA before goin to Europe...he attended Manhattan College. In the NFL there is Luis Castillo of the San Diego Chargers and Tutan Reyes of the Carolina Panthers.
Dominican Americans have also contributed major literary works on their experiences in the US. Two of the best known are Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of the Butterflies, and Junot Diaz, author of Drown. Oscar De La Renta is one of the most recognized names in the fashion industry.
Among the many well known Dominican American politicians include former New York City Councilman Guillermo Linares (currently Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs for the City of New York), New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat, New York State Assemblyman Jose Peralta, New York City Councilman Miguel Martinez, New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyna, Rhode Island State Senator Juan Pichardo, Rhode Island State Representative Grace Diaz, Trenton NJ Councilman Manuel Segura, Allentown, PA Councilman Julio Guridy, Massachusetts State Representative William Lantigua, first Dominican Supreme Court Judge Rolando T. Acosta and many more. Dr. Rosa Perez-Perdomo, who is Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is the highest ranking Dominican appointed official in the United States as she is the only gubernatorial cabinet-level appointment in the country.[11] Dr. Eduardo Sanchez was Commissioner of Health for the state of Texas from 2001 to 2006.[12]
Zoe Saldaña is a young promising actress born in New Jersey to Dominican immigrants. Michelle Rodriguez, born of a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father, is well known for her roles in the television series Lost and movies The Fast and the Furious, S.W.A.T., and Resident Evil. Merlin Santana was a well-known actor from New York City whose parents are Dominican. His most notable role was as Romeo on the Steve Harvey Show. He died in November 2002.
Many Dominicans exist in the New York rap scene. J. R. Writer of Dipset is Dominican and fellow member Juelz Santana also is mixed with Dominican ancestary. Fabolous and AZ are also half African American Half Dominican rappers from New York. Magic Juan, formerly of the merengue hip-hop group Proyecto Uno, is considered to be the pioneer behind the growth of merenhouse and merenrap. JuJu from the Beatnuts is also Dominican.
Authors
Motion Picture & Television Personalities
- Nancy Alvarez, psychologist/television talk show host
- Julissa Bermudez, television personality (BET)
- Monica Boyar, actress/singer
- Rafael Campos, actor (film Blackboard Jungle)
- Susie Castillo, television host of TRL
- Charytin, actress/singer/television host
- Tony Dandrades, television journalist/host
- Nelson De La Rosa, actor/comedian
- Rick Gonzalez, actor
- Altagracia Guzman, actress (films Raising Victor Vargas and I Heart Huckabees) (aunt of Jessy Terrero and Ulysses Terrero)
- Wilson Jermaine Heredia, actor (Angel from the film Rent)
- Rafael Jose, actor/television personality (Dominican father)
- Arthur Lithgow, actor (born in the Dominican Republic]])
- Luis Lopez, actor (film Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)
- Yorlin Madera, actor (television series One Life To Live)
- Judy Marte, actress
- Omahyra Mota, actress/model
- Patricia Mota, actress (sister of Omahrya Mota)
- Miguel A. Nuñez actor
- Manny Perez, actor (films Party Monster and El Cantante)
- Dania Ramirez, actress
- Silvestre Rasuk, actor (film Raising Victor Vargas)
- Victor Rasuk, actor (film Raising Victor Vargas)
- Alisa Reyes,actress
- Judy Reyes, actress (television show Scrubs)
- Birmania Rios, television personality (television show Despierta America)
- Michelle Rodriguez, actress (Dominican mother)
- Zoë Saldaña, actress
- Merlin Santana, actor
- Rosanna Tavarez, actress/singer (group Eden's Crush)
- Jessy Terrero music video/motion picture director (film Soul Plane)
- Ulysses Terrero, actor/casting director (brother of Jessy Terrero)
- Ludo Vika, actress/comedienne
- Sandra Zaiter, television personality in Puerto Rico
- Tina Aumont, French/Dominican Actress
Notable and Newsworthy Personalities
- Sully Bonnelly, fashion designer
- Oscar de la Renta, famous fashion designer
- Magali Febles, owner of the Miss Dominican Republic and Miss Puerto Rico pageant franchises
- Providencia Paredes, assistant/confidante to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
- Ilka Tanya Payan, actress, AIDS/HIV activist
- Pedro Saúl Pérez, activist for Dominican rights in Puerto Rico
- Santiago Luis Polanco Rodríguez, notorious drug dealer
- Miguel Suero, notorious New York City drug dealer
Prominent Political Figures (present)
- Rolando Acosta, judge at the New York Supreme Court
- Francisco Batista, Haverstraw Village, New York Deputy Mayor
- Marcos Devers, first Dominican American to execute the role of mayor in the United States, former Acting Mayor and Councilman of Lawrence, Massachusetts
- Grace Diaz, Rhode Island House of Representatives (first Dominican-American female to be elected to a state legislature in the United States)
- Adriano Espaillat, New York State Assemblyman (first Dominican-American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States)
- Julio Guridy, Allentown Councilman
- William Lantigua, member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Guillermo Linares, first Dominican-American elected in the United States, former New York City Councilman
- Miguel Luna, Councilman for city of Providence, Rhode Island
- Miguel Martinez, New York City Councilman
- Joseline Pena-Melnyk, member of the Maryland General Assembly
- Juan Pichardo[1], Rhode Island State Senator (first Dominican-American to be elected State Senator in the United States)
- Diana Reyna, New York City councilwoman (first Dominican-American woman elected in New York City)
- Tilo Rivas, Union City, NJ Commissioner of Public Affairs and Hudson County Freeholder
- Rigo Rodriguez, Paterson, New Jersey Councilman
- Cris Mendoza, Bladensburg, Maryland Councilman
- Manuel Segura, Trenton, New Jersey Councilman
- Luis Leon Tejada, Councilman for city of Providence, Rhode Island
- Vivian Viloria-Fisher, Suffolk County Legislator (first Dominican-American woman elected in New York State)
Singers and Musicians
- Manny Albam, jazz musician
- José Alberto (El Canario), singer
- Anaís, singer
- Aventura, bachata group
- AZ, rapper
- Alex Bueno singer
- Angel Clivillés, singer/lead member of The Cover Girls (half Dominican)
- Coro, Freestyle singer/actor
- Daniel Cruz Sánchez, singer/songwriter
- Kat DeLuna, singer
- Fabolous, rapper
- Roger Sanchez, international deejay/ dance music producer
- Juelz Santana, rapper
Sports
- Omar Minaya, MLB Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager for the New York Mets
- Luis Castillo, NFL football player
- Al Horford, NBA basketball player
- Manny Ramírez, MLB baseball player
- Alex Rodriguez, MLB baseball player
- Felix Sanchez, Olympic runner
- Charlie Villanueva, NBA basketball player
- Ramon Pascual, Tufts University starting catcher
Notes
- ^ a b "United States - Selected Population Profile in the United States (Dominican (Dominican Republic))". Retrieved 2007-12-18.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ The terms "Dominican American" and "Dominican York" are rarely used within the community in the US. Recent studies in New York suggest most favored calling themselves simply "Dominican" - see Jorge Duany, El Barrio Gandul, Economia subterranea y migracion indocumentada en Puerto Rico, 1995
- ^ Hispanic or Latino by specific origin; U.S. Census Bureau; Custom Table - American FactFinder Data Set: 2006 American Community Survey; Survey: 2006 American Community Survey, 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey
- ^ "Ancestry Map of Dominican Communities". Epodunk.com. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
- ^ Max J. Castro, The Dominican Diaspora Revisited, Dominicans and Dominican-Americans in a New Century, 2002
- ^ Dominican American National Roundtable
- ^ Jorge Duany, Los Paises
- ^ Yahaira Castro, Dominican Republic: Dual Citizens, Frontline World. October 26, 2004
- ^ Rodriguez, Carla E. Changing Race: Latinos, the Census, and the History of Ethnicity in the United States, New York University Press 2000, p. 9
- ^ Marcelo Suarez-Orozco (Editor),Mariela Páez,Dr. Louis Salaint Torres, Latinos: Remaking America (David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies)University of California Press; 1 edition (June 17, 2002).
- ^ "Dr. Rosa Perez-Perdomo addresses DANR 10th Annual National Conference".
- ^ "Dr. Eduardo Sanchez addresses DANR 8th Annual National Conference".