Dominican Identity Essay

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The Dominican Republic has undergone significant changes, much of which has taken place within confines of national and racial identities. The cultural significance of being Dominican has been centered on racial mixture and appreciation of Hispanic culture. In addition, the national identity of the Dominican population has focused and remains focused on the notions relative to racial constructs as populations moved through the borders from 1500-1800. In essence, being of Dominican origin has moved away from the African past of the communities, with construction and subsequent articulation of Dominican identity, which is expressed in terms of being mixed race, Hispanic speaking, catholic and deviation from African origin.
The Dominican Republic, …show more content…

In addition, race and class relations also contributed to the emergence of antihaitianismo ideologies across the Dominican state. The Dominican elites undertook efforts to impose their respective ideologies over the alternative and competing popular ideals of Dominican nationhood. The Spanish colonial regime played the first role in the establishment and reproduction of racism and other prejudices that were directed against specific racial and colored groups such as the Taino Indians and subsequent populations of Mestizos, and against blacks and mulattos.
Additionally, the presence of socioeconomic differentiation that manifested alongside racial and color related prejudices took place upon the establishment of the Haitian republic in the year 1804. Elites in the Dominican society utilized popular culture, racial differences, imported ideologies and socioeconomic differences contributed towards the manipulation of histories and the development of a number of myths, a sense of false consciousness and a prejudices related to Dominicans and Haitians. Such factors provided a basis for the emergence of the strong ideology of

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