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Dominican Americans

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Dominican Republic Dominican American United States
Alex Rodriguez Zoe Saldana
Notable Dominican Americans:
Alex Rodriguez • Zoe Saldana
Regions with significant populations
New York City, New Jersey, South Florida
Languages
American English, Dominican Spanish
Religion
Predominately Roman Catholic; Protestants; others
Related ethnic groups
fellow Hispanic and Latino Americans
Part of a series on
Hispanic and
Latino Americans
National origin groups
History
Americans by ancestry
Political movements
Organizations
Culture
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Lists

A Dominican American (also Dominican-York)[2] is an American who has ancestry from 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 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; Paterson, New 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, another name for the Dominican Republic. 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.

Distribution

The top 25 US communities with the highest percentage 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. Providence, Rhode Island 8.43%
  7. Union City, New Jersey 11.46%
  8. Haverstraw (town), New York 11.13%
  9. Paterson, New Jersey 10.27%
  10. Bronx, New York 9.99%
  11. Manhattan, New York 8.87%
  12. West New York, New Jersey 8.41%
  13. West Haverstraw, New York 8.17%
  14. Freeport, New York 7.37%
  15. Copiague, NY 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%

The top 10 U.S. communities with the most residents born in the Dominican Republic are:[8]

  1. Haverstraw, NY 22.6%
  2. Lawrence, MA 21.4%
  3. Perth Amboy, NJ 16.4%
  4. Sleepy Hollow, NY 14.9%
  5. Providence, RI 12.9%
  6. Passaic, NJ 12.5%
  7. Union City, NJ 10.9%
  8. Paterson, NJ 9.6%
  9. Bronx, NY 9.3%
  10. Fort Devens, MA 8.7%

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, two dozen Dominican Americans are elected councilmembers, county legislators, and state legislators throughout the United States. 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. 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, the second a modification of bolero. Bachata, as well as reggaeton, has become popular among many Dominican American youth, as have house, rock, hip hop, and other genres.

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

Dominican food typically features white rice, beans, yucca, plantains, mangú, beef, mofongo, moro and sancocho.[citation needed]

The Dominican Day Parade is one of the biggest parades in New York City.

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, 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, NY;and Francisco Garcia and Al Horford, Dominican immigrants both. 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 Carolina Panthers.

Dominican Americans have also contributed major literary works on their experiences in the US. Two of the best known writers are Julia Alvarez, author of In the Time of the Butterflies, and Pulitzer Prize-winner Junot Diaz, author of Drown.

Oscar De La Renta is one of the most recognized names in the fashion industry.

Among Dominican American politicians are former New York City Councilman and current (as of 2008) 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 Councilman Miguel Martinez; New York City Councilwoman Diana Reyna; Rhode Island State Senator Juan Pichardo; Rhode Island State Representative Grace Diaz; 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.

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.[12] Dr. Eduardo Sanchez was Commissioner of Health for the state of Texas from 2001 to 2006.[13]

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 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.

Authors

Motion Picture and Television Personalities

Notable and Newsworthy Personalities

Prominent Political Figures (present)

Singers and Musicians

There are other prominent singers/musicians not listed on this section!! 


   *  Felipe Alou Baseball manager and player
   * Jesús Alou Baseball player
   * Matty Alou Baseball player
   * Moisés Alou Baseball player
   * Danny Almonte Scandal-plagued Little Leaguer
   * Danny Bautista Baseball player
   * Francisco Cabrera Baseball player, hero of the 1992 NLCS for the Atlanta Braves
   * Robinson Cano Baseball player
   * Bartolo Colón Baseball player
   * Carlos Cruz (1938-1970) World boxing champion
   * Vladimir Guerrero Basball Player
   * Leo Cruz world boxing champion, Carlos' younger brother
   * Edward Vinicio Espinal Soccer player
   * Mary Joe Fernández Tennis Player
   * Julio Franco Baseball player
   * Joan Guzman World boxing champion
   * Juan Guzmán World boxing champion
   * Genaro De Leon Tennis player
   * Felipe López NBA basketball player
   * Juan Marichal Baseball Hall of Famer
   * Pedro Martínez Cy Young Award winning baseball player
   * Eleoncio Mercedes 1985) World boxing champion
   * Raúl Mondesí Baseball player
   * David Ortiz Baseball player
   * Albert Pujols Baseball player. 2001 National League Rookie of the Year
   * Manny Ramírez Baseball player
   * José Reyes Baseball player
   * Domingo Ernesto (Monchin) Pichardo Baseball Executive
   * Sammy Sosa Baseball player
   * Félix Sánchez Olympic gold medal winning hurdler
   * Rafael Veras Long distance runner (5k to Marathons)
   * Hector Wagner Baseball player (Pitcher)
   * Luis Castillo Football Player NFLNational Football League
   * Charlie Villanueva Basketball Player NBA
   * Francisco Garcia Basketball Player NBA
   * El Bronco #1 Pro Wrestler
   * Jack Veneno Pro Wrestler
   * Relámpago Hernández Pro Wrestler


Notes and references

  1. ^ 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)
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ "B03001. HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY SPECIFIC ORIGIN - Universe: TOTAL POPULATION". 2006 American Community Survey. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  4. ^ "Custom Table - American FactFinder; C03001. HISPANIC OR LATINO ORIGIN BY SPECIFIC ORIGIN". 2006 American Community Survey, 2006 Puerto Rico Community Survey. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-05-01. {{cite web}}: Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_2_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_3_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_4_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_5_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_6_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_7_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_8_EST" ignored (help); Text "ACS_2006_EST_G2000_C03001.C03001_9_EST" ignored (help)
  5. ^ Rodriguez, Carla E. (2000). Changing Race: Latinos, the Census, and the History of Ethnicity in the United States. New York University Press. pp. p. 9. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ Latinos: Remaking America. Berkeley: University of California Press. June 17, 2002. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Ancestry Map of Dominican Communities". Epodunk.com. Retrieved 2008-01-26.
  8. ^ "Top 101 cities with the most residents born in the Dominican Republic (population 500+)". city-data.com. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
  9. ^ Castro, Max J. (2002). The Dominican Diaspora Revisited, Dominicans and Dominican-Americans in a New Century.
  10. ^ "DANR - Dominican American National Roundtable". Retrieved 2008-06-09.
  11. ^ Yahaira Castro (2004-10-26). "FRONTLINE/WORLD. Election 2004 - Dominican Republic". Retrieved 2008-06-09. {{cite web}}: Text "PBS" ignored (help)
  12. ^ "Dr. Rosa Perez-Perdomo addresses DANR 10th Annual National Conference".
  13. ^ "Dr. Eduardo Sanchez addresses DANR 8th Annual National Conference".
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