Dominican American

Dominican American

Alex Rodriguez • Zoe Saldana Karina Pasian • Tristan Wilds
Total population
1,217,225 0.4% of the US population (2006)[1]
Regions with significant populations
New York City, Perth Amboy, New Jersey, South Florida, Boston, Providence
Languages
English, Spanish
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholic; Protestantism; Islam
Related ethnic groups
fellow Hispanic and Latino Americans

A Dominican American (also Dominican-York)^[2] is any American who has origins in the Dominican Republic. (Not to be mistaken for Dominicans from the Commonwealth of Dominica).

Immigration records of Dominicans in the United States date from the late 1800s, and New York City has 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]

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 and other places in New York; North Jersey ; South Jersey ; South Florida (Miami and Fort Lauderdale); Providence, Rhode Island; and Lawrence and Boston, Massachusetts. Smaller waves of Dominicans have gone to the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Houston, Texas; Washington, D.C.; 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.

Demographics

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,^{[citation needed]} after Quisqueya, the Taino name for the island Dominican Republic is located on (modern day Hispaniola). Dominican Americans are now the fifth-largest Hispanic group in the United States, after the Mexican American majority, Puerto Rican Americans, Cuban Americans, and Salvadoran Americans.^[3]

As of 2006, 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.^[4]

Since 1980, the Census Bureau has asked U.S. residents to classify their race separately from their Hispanic or Latino origin, if any. In 1990, 29.2% of Dominican Americans responded that they were white, while 30% considered themselves black. 39.8% of the total, composing a plurality, chose the "other" category.^[5] The prevalence of the "other race" category probably reflects the large number of people of mixed African and European ancestry in the Dominican Republic, where 73% of the population are of mixed African and European descent, commonly known as mulato.^[6] Many are triracial, however, having also Taíno (Native American) ancestry.^{[citation needed]}

Distribution

The top 25 US communities with the highest percentages of people claiming Dominican ancestry are:^[7]

1. Haverstraw (village), New York 26.95%
2. Lawrence, Massachusetts 22.47%
3. Perth Amboy, New Jersey 18.81%
4. Passaic, New Jersey 13.06%
5. Sleepy Hollow, New York 12.67%
6. Union City, New Jersey 11.46%
7. Haverstraw (town), New York 11.13%
8. Paterson, New Jersey 10.27%
9. Bronx, New York 9.99%
10. Manhattan, New York 8.87%
11. Providence, Rhode Island 8.43%
12. West New York, New Jersey 8.41%
13. West Haverstraw, New York 8.17%
14. Freeport, New York 7.37%
15. Copiague, New York 6.57%
16. Lynn, Massachusetts 6.2%
17. New Brunswick, New Jersey 5.88%
18. Weehawken, New Jersey 5.74%
19. North Bergen, New Jersey 5.56%
20. Salem, Massachusetts 5.39%
21. Prospect Park, New Jersey 5.28%
22. Guttenberg, New Jersey 5.09%
23. Brentwood, New York 5.09%
24. New York, New York 5.08%
25. Miami Gardens, Broward County, Florida 4.62%

Of places with 500 or more residents born in the Dominican Republic, the ten with the highest percentages are:^[8]

1. Haverstraw, New York 22.6%
2. Lawrence, Massachusetts 21.4%
3. Perth Amboy, New Jersey 16.4%
4. Sleepy Hollow, New York 14.9%
5. Passaic, New Jersey 12.5%
6. Union City, New Jersey 10.9%
7. Paterson, New Jersey 9.6%
8. Bronx, New York 9.3%
9. Fort Devens, Massachusetts 8.7%
10. Manhattan, New York 8.1%

Adjustment and development

A significant number of Dominican Americans are young, first generation immigrants without a higher education, since many hailed from the Dominican rural countryside. 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 Mexican Americans (13%) and U.S.-born Puerto Rican Americans (12%).^[9]

Participation in U.S. Politics

The United States House of Representatives does not have a Dominican American member. However, over two dozen Dominican Americans are elected councilmembers, county legislators, and state legislators throughout the United States.^{[citation needed]} They hold office in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico.^[10]

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.^{[citation needed]} Traditionally, Dominicans living in the United States are passionately involved in politics "back home", but unlike other Hispanic national 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.^[11]

Dominican American culture

Music is at the heart of Dominican American culture.^{[citation needed]} Dominican music includes above all merengue and bachata. Bachata, as well as reggaeton, has become popular among many Dominican American youth, as have house, salsa, rock, hip hop, and other genres.

Almost 90% of all Dominican Americans are Roman Catholic.^{[citation needed]}

Dominican food typically features white rice, legumes (beans, peas, etc), yucca, plantains, mangú, beef, mofongo, moro, and sancocho.^{[citation needed]}

The Dominican Day Parade is one of the biggest parades in New York City and the world.^{[citation needed]} It is by far the largest Dominican parade in the United States.^{[citation needed]}

This section requires expansion.

Crime

The Dominicans Don't Play gang have been involved in many acts of violence throughout the United States^[12] and Spain,^[13] particularly in New York City.^[14] The DDP rival gang ^[15] known as the Trinitarios which has its origins in the New York Prison system who currently operate as a drug trafficking ring according to the United States Department of Justice.^[16] There have been cases of dominican victims who were not gang members.^[17] There has also been cases of Dominican sports players who have had their signing bonus' stolen.^[18]

Notable Dominican Americans

Dominicans and Dominican Americans have made great strides in the field of baseball, the top sport in the Dominican Republic. Sammy Sosa, Moisés Alou, 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 current or former Dominican baseball players.

Baseball isn't the only sport with Dominican American figures. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has Charlie Villanueva, born and raised in Elmhurst, Queens, New York; and Francisco Garcia and Al Horford, Dominican immigrants both. Felipe López was a star at Rice High School and St. John's University, both in New York, and played several seasons in the NBA. Luis Flores attended Manhattan College and later played one season in the NBA before going to Europe. In the National Football League (NFL) there is Luis Castillo of the San Diego Chargers and Tutan Reyes of the New York Football Giants.

Dominican Americans have also contributed major literary works on their experiences in the U.S. and the Dominican Republic. Junot Diaz is the author of Drown and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, which won him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in April 2008 and made him the first Dominican American and the second Latino in U.S. history to win the Pulitzer Prize.^{[19] [20]} Julia Alvarez is the nationally-recognized author of In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents. Nelly Rosario, born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City, also won critical acclaim for her debut novel Song of the Water Saints.^[21]

Oscar de la Renta is one of the most recognized names in the fashion industry.

Dominican Americans have increasingly made a presence in the financial industry. Cid Wilson was ranked #1 Wall Street financial analyst in the Specialty Retailing category by Forbes in 2006.^[22][23]

Among Dominican American politicians are former New York City Council Member and Commissioner of Immigrant Affairs for the City of New York Guillermo Linares; New York State Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat; New York State Assemblyman Jose Peralta; New York City Council Member Diana Reyna; Rhode Island State Senator Juan Pichardo; Rhode Island State Representative Grace Diaz; Passaic, New Jersey Mayor Dr. Alex D. Blanco; Trenton, New Jersey Councilman Manuel Segura; Allentown, Pennsylvania Councilman Julio Guridy; Massachusetts State Representative William Lantigua; first Dominican American New York County Supreme Court Judge Rolando T. Acosta; and many more.

There is a history of Dominican Americans serving in state-level gubernatorial cabinet positions or positions requiring Senatorial confirmation. Dr. Rosa Perez-Perdomo was Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, from 2005 to 2008.^[24] Dr. Eduardo J. Sanchez was Commissioner of Health for the state of Texas from 2001 to 2006.^[25] New York Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez is of both Puerto Rican and Dominican descent and has served in her post since March 2007.^[26]

In March 2009, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine nominated Camelia Valdes as Passaic County Prosecutor, thus making her the first Dominican American to become a head Prosecutor or District Attorney in U.S. history.^[27] She was sworn-in on August 2009 by Gov. Corzine.^[28]

President Barack Obama made his first major Dominican American appointment on March 13, 2009 when he nominated Thomas E. Perez to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.^[29] Perez was the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, & Regulation for the State of Maryland before his nomination by President Obama. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 6, 2009.

María Montez was an actress in 1940s Hollywood. Zoe Saldana is an actress born in New Jersey to a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother. Michelle Rodriguez, born of a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father, is well known for her roles in the television series Lost and the 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.

Fashion, modeling, and beauty pageants

• Susie Castillo – Miss USA 2003
• Oscar de la Renta – fashion designer
• Magali Febles – owner of the Miss Dominican Republic pageant franchise
• Claudette Lali - former model and actress
• Renata Soñé - former beauty queen
• Sessilee Lopez - fashion model
• Arlenis Sosa - fashion model
• Amelia Vega – Miss Universe 2003

Literature

• Julia Alvarez
• Angie Cruz
• Junot Diaz

Motion picture and television

• Nancy Alvarez – psychologist, television talk show host
• Tina Aumont – French/Dominican actress
• Lourdes Benedicto – actress
• Julissa Bermudez – television personality (BET)
• Monica Boyar – actress, singer
• Francis Capra – actor
• Charytin – actress, singer, and television host
• José Guillermo Cortines - actor and singer
• Juan Fernández – actor
• Rick Gonzalez – actor
• Wilson Jermaine Heredia – actor (Angel, from the film Rent)
• Wolf Hudson – adult film actor
• Rafael Jose – actor, television personality
• Arthur Lithgow – actor
• Luis Lopez – actor (film Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights)
• Yorlin Madera – actor (television series One Life to Live)
• Judy Marte – actress
• Maria Montez – actress
• Omahyra Mota – actress, model
• Patricia Mota – actress (sister of Omahrya Mota)
• Miguel A. Nuñez – actor
• Karen Olivo, Tony award-winning actresss
• Manny Perez – actor (films Party Monster and El Cantante)
• Dania Ramirez – actress
• 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
• Zoe Saldana – actress
• Merlin Santana – actor
• Julian Scott Urena - actor
• Ludo Vika – actress, comedienne
• Tristan Wilds - actor
• Sandra Zaiter – Puerto Rican television personality

Music

• Manny Albam – jazz musician
• José Alberto (El Canario) – singer
• Alih Jey – rock singer
• Anaís – singer
• Aventura – bachata group
• Alex Bueno – singer
• Angel Clivillés – freestyle singer and lead member of The Cover Girls
• Coro – freestyle singer and actor
• Daniel Cruz Sánchez – singer, songwriter
• Kat DeLuna – singer
• Juan Luis Guerra – singer, songwriter, and music producer
• Johnny Pacheco – singer, godfather of New York salsa
• Proyecto Uno – merengue hip-hop group
• Karina Pasian – singer
• Fausto Rey – singer, songwriter, and music producer
• Roger Sanchez – DJ, house music producer
• Anthony Santos – bachata singer
• Rosanna Tavarez – singer from Eden's Crush

Politics

• Alex Blanco - Mayor of Passaic, New Jersey and the first Dominican American mayor ever elected in the United States.^[30][31]
• Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez - Secretary of State for the State of New York
• Marcos Devers – first Dominican American to execute the role of mayor in the United States, as former Acting Mayor and Councilman of Lawrence, Massachusetts
• Grace Diaz – Rhode Island state legislator; first Dominican American female to be elected to a state legislature in the United States
• Adriano Espaillat – New York Assemblyman; first Dominican American to be elected to a state legislature in the United States
• Guillermo Linares – first Dominican American elected in the United States, as former New York City Council Member
• Miguel Martinez – former New York City Council Member
• Joseline Pena-Melnyk – member of the Maryland General Assembly
• Juan Pichardo^[32] – Rhode Island State Senator; first Dominican American to be elected State Senator in the United States
• Diana Reyna – New York City Council Member; first Dominican American woman elected to public office in New York State
• Tilo Rivas – Union City, New Jersey Commissioner of Public Affairs and Hudson County Freeholder
• Manuel Segura - Trenton, New Jersey Councilman-At-Large
• Julio Tavarez^[33] – Paterson, New Jersey City Councilman

Sport

Baseball

• Denny Almonte-Prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization
• Moisés Alou- Former All-Star Outfielder currently retired
• Pedro Alvarez-Third Baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Ronnie Belliard- Second Baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers
• Wilson Betemit-Utility infielder for the Chicago Whitesox
• Julio Borbon- Outfielder for the Texas Rangers
• Manny Delcarmen- Relief Pitcher for the Boston Redsox
• Julio Lugo-Shortstop/Second Baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals
• Ruddy Lugo- Detroit Tigers Relief Pitcher
• David Ortiz- Boston Redsox All-Star Designated Hitter/ First Baseman
• Carlos Peña- Tampa Bay Rays All-Star First Baseman
• Tony Peña, Jr.-Pitcher for the Kansas City Royals
• Albert Pujols- St. Louis Cardinals All-Star First Baseman
• Manny Ramirez-Los Angeles Dodger All-Star Left Fielder
• Jose Reyes- New York Mets All-Star Shortstop
• Alex Rodriguez- New York Yankees All-Star Third Baseman
• Hector Wagner-Former MLB player

Basketball

• Trevor Ariza – National Basketball Association (NBA) player
• Luis Flores – National Basketball Association (NBA) player
• Francisco Garcia – National Basketball Association (NBA) player
• Al Horford – National Basketball Association (NBA) player
• Tito Horford – National Basketball Association Former (NBA) player
• Felipe López – National Basketball Association (NBA) player
• Edgar Sosa- NCAA Basketball Player for the Louisville Cardinals Basketball team
• Charlie Villanueva – National Basketball Association (NBA) player

Boxing

• Carlos Cruz – world boxing champion
• Leo Cruz – world boxing champion, Carlos' younger brother
• Joan Guzman – world boxing champion
• Juan Guzmán – world boxing champion
• Eleoncio Mercedes – world boxing champion

Other sports

• Luis Castillo – National Football League (NFL) player
• Edward Vinicio Espinal – association football (soccer) player
• Mary Joe Fernández – tennis player and television commentator
• Tutan Reyes-NFL Player
• Félix Sánchez – Olympic gold medal–winning hurdler
• Jack Veneno – professional wrestler

Other notable personalities

• Ralph Mercado, founder of RMM Records and music producer^[34]
• Ilka Tanya Payan – AIDS/HIV activist, actress, attorney
• Providencia Paredes – assistant and confidante to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
• Pedro Saúl Pérez, Dominican activist in Puerto Rico
• Santiago Luis Polanco Rodríguez, drug dealer

Notes and references

External links

• Dominican American National Roundtable