You can’t have this conversation without mentioning Haiti. They share an island, but their racial politics are wildly different. Haiti, born from a slave revolt, proudly embraces Blackness. The Dominican Republic? Not so much.
There’s a long, ugly history of anti-Haitian sentiment in the DR. It’s tied to xenophobia, racism, and a weird need to distance themselves from Haiti’s African roots. Classy, right?
So, when a Dominican says “I’m not Black,” they’re often code-switching. The translation is: “I’m not Haitian.” It’s a sad, complicated dance of denial.
But let’s not oversimplify
Not every Dominican who rejects “Black” is racist or self-hating. Many are just using the language they were given. If your grandma raised you saying “we are Indio,” you feel Indio. It’s a cultural identity, not just a skin color.
And let’s be real—there are also Dominicans who are proudly Afro-Dominican. They rock natural hair, celebrate their African roots, and call out racism. They’re the loud, unapologetic counterpoint.
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So, are all Dominicans Black? Nope. Are many? Yes, objectively. Does the country have a complicated relationship with that truth? Oh, honey, yes.
