Johanny OrtegaThe Backlash of Acknowledging the Full Dominican Heritage
Introduction
It all started with a comment. I came across a video by @naturallyyuly where she eloquently broke down how much of Dominican culture—especially our food—is deeply influenced by our African roots, even though many Dominicans continue to romanticize and prioritize our Spanish heritage. Inspired by her words, I decided to share my personal experience living in Europe and interacting with Spaniards.
I wrote about how, during my time there, I noticed many Spaniards looked down on me. They called me “sudaca,” a derogatory term for South Americans, and made it clear they viewed me as uncultured, impolite, and lacking decorum. My comment wasn’t an attack—it was my lived experience. Yet the backlash I received was swift and, interestingly enough, came mostly from fellow Dominicans.
This is one of the posts in a series exploring the comments I received and what they reveal about our collective identity, our need to protect the illusion of being “only Spaniards,” and the harm that comes from rejecting the rest of our heritage.
The Comment That Sparked a Reaction
One of the first replies stood out immediately:
“58 million Spanish in Spain, and you talked to how many? I live in Madrid, and not even one Spaniard had ever said anything like that, so I guess you don’t have all the true.”
It’s a dismissive comment, one that immediately invalidates my lived experience. My reply was simple:
“I take it from your comment that you found my opinion offensive and probably would have something to say along the lines of ‘not all Spaniards.’ Your opinion is valid, as mine is. Besos y abrazos.”
Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue, they doubled down, accusing me of “victim mentality” and telling me to “stop assuming for others.” At this point, it was clear this wasn’t about understanding—it was about protecting an image.
Here you see that Felipe is trying to debunk my argument by the old adage, ‘Not all.’ He feels that if he can prove that I didn’t talk to every single Spaniard living in the world my argument about the treatment I experienced while living abroad is not valid. Just writing that makes me feel dumb. Nevertheless, I explained to him that we can live right next to each other and experience different things and both experiences are valid. But he didn’t leave it there.
No. He needed to urge me to stop playing the victim and I don’t know who this person thought he was talking to because it was certainly not me. You can see what that comment got him below. I used to tell people “I don’t listen to my own daddy. What makes you think I would listen to you.” I have matured since then and that comment has transmuted to this:
From my experience usually Latine folks that are fully invested in the ‘I don’t have a victim mindset,’ are usually the ones that take microaggressions and sometimes even overt racist comments and actions in stride, while making excuses for the person making them. These Latine folks feel that if they don’t complain, they can show white America that they are better than the other Latine who are crying and complaining about racism. So to drive the point home these Latine folk, distance themselves from Latine or any marginalized person who is a strong advocate against racism or mistreatment. This too is an act of self-hatred which then spills into hatred for other people in their community or from other marginalized identities.
Why Do We Defend the Idea of Being “Only Spaniards”?
But it’s a bigger issue at hand. While I had fun during this interaction and fully embraced my villain era, this exchange speaks to a larger issue within the Dominican community: the aggressive defense of our “Spanishness” at the expense of our African and Taino heritage. It’s as if acknowledging the fullness of our roots is seen as an attack on our identity rather than an opportunity to celebrate the richness of who we are.
But why?
- Colonial Legacy: For centuries, whiteness and European heritage have been upheld as ideals in Dominican society. This legacy has made many Dominicans internalize the idea that being associated with Africa or indigeneity is something to be ashamed of.
- Self-Image: Many of us cling to the idea of being “descendants of Spaniards” because it’s tied to a sense of status, sophistication, and pride. Questioning that narrative feels like questioning our worth.
- Fear of the “Other”: By rejecting our African roots, we distance ourselves from Blackness and, by extension, Haitians—who have long been scapegoated in Dominican society.
When we deny our full heritage, we don’t just erase our history—we foster self-hatred. This denial fuels the way we view and treat others, especially melanated people, including Haitians.
The Bigger Picture: Aggression as a Defense Mechanism
What struck me most about the comments was the defensiveness. Rather than engaging in a thoughtful conversation, many commenters resorted to invalidation, dismissiveness, or outright hostility. This reaction wasn’t just about my comment—it was about protecting a self-image.
But here’s the thing: If our identity is strong and secure, why does acknowledging African and Taino roots feel like an attack? What are we so afraid of?
Moving Forward
This is just the beginning of a larger conversation. In this series, I’ll explore other comments I received, dissect the arguments, and reflect on what they say about us as Dominicans. I want to dig deeper into:
- How internalized colonialism shapes our identity.
- The harm of rejecting our African and Taino heritage.
- The connections between self-denial and how we treat others, particularly Haitians.
I hope this series sparks reflection and encourages us to embrace the full beauty of our heritage—not just the parts we’ve been told to be proud of.
Conclusion
Acknowledging our full heritage doesn’t diminish us—it enriches us. It allows us to tell the full story of who we are and create a stronger, more inclusive identity. This conversation is uncomfortable, yes, but it’s also necessary. Stay tuned for the next post in this series as we continue to unpack the layers of Dominican identity and the stories we tell ourselves.
#AfricanRoots #culturalIdentity #dominicanHeritage #internalizedColonialism
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