Dominican American Totally Explained

Everything about Dominican American totally explained

A Dominican American (also Dominican-York) is any United States citizen or non-citizen who has ancestry from the Dominican Republic.
   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.
   Currently the largest concentrations of Dominican Americans are in New York (659,962), New Jersey (167,689), Florida (136,891), Massachusetts (83,700), Pennsylvania (36,091), Rhode Island (30,876), and Connecticut (17,213) — the seven U.S. states with 10,000 or more Dominican Americans. The Census Bureau estimated the nationwide Dominican American population at 1,217,225 in 2006.
   The 25 US communities with the highest percentage of people claiming Dominican ancestry are:

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 9.99%
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 6.2%
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%

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. 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).

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%). 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 doesn't 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.
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. 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.

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 Dominican flag.
   Dominican food typically features white rice, beans, yucca, plantains, mangu, beef, and sancocho.
   The 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's 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's 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's the only gubernatorial cabinet-level appointment in the country. Dr. Eduardo Sanchez was Commissioner of Health for the state of Texas from 2001 to 2006. 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

Julia Alvarez

Junot Diaz

Edwards Grimes-Carrion

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 )

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)

Zoe Saldana, 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(External Link

), 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

JR Writer, rapper from The Diplomats

Cam'ron, rapper and CEO of The Diplomats

Fred Money, rapper and affiliate of The Diplomats

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 and References

Further Information

Get more info on 'Dominican American'.

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