My African American studies teacher was taking about how Domincans, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans are black because of their heavy African slave ancestry. The Europeans brought slaves over the Carribbean islands because the Indian populations were dying out. And I told my friend about it and she was like "no! not all puerto ricans are black, some are white, some are indain"She makes me mad how she clearly has Black blood in her, that she denies being Black. I told her that here in American there is a race is defined, if you have one drop of Black blood or one Black ancestor in you no matter how light or you are you're Black. I mean how could all of the Puerto ricans, Dominicans, and Cubans be all miestizo if there were more slaves than Indians on the islands? What do you think about this?
2007-02-01 08:56:40 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
BTW-I'm a Jamaician and Domincan.
2007-02-01 08:57:35 · update #1
You teacher sounds like she is giving you very wrong advice. Though it is correct that in the carribean there are alot of people who have some african american in them they are not considered black.
As for your statement you are wrong I'm sad to say. I have a grandfather that was african american and I look whiter than Opie. So no one would even begin to call me african american. Your appearance will reflect what race people will define you as more than your actual ethnic background. I could say I was black under the definition you gave but no one would believe me.
With regards to your teacher she might have been talking about ethnicity which even if that were the case she would still be wrong. Because the correct term for the people listed in your comments is Latino. They are from the Latin, spanish speaking countries of central america, south america, north america and the carribean. Most all of these people will not identify with themselves as being called black, though most recognize their heritage, they are latino and proud of this as well.
I think I would ignore your teacher and chalk it up to ignorance. I studied history for several years and cant see anyone having a solid degree in history being this ignorant of the terminology with regards to the ethnic background of an entire region.
2007-02-01 09:11:09 · answer #1 · answered by Eric H 2 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Umm... I think that your teacher needs to do a little more reserch when It comes to Races in the Carribbean. I for one am Mexirican. Yes your teacher is right some what, Puertoricans, Cubans, Dominicans etc.. Do contain some Black bloodline but also you have to add the Spainsh, German, Irish, Scottish , Italian etc... I for one know that Puertorican have Spanish, Tiano indian, black, sottish, german and italian ansestory. Thats why you can see some ricans that look nothing like a latino , then you get the ones with Tiano traits, then you get the ones that look practically black etc..... This also goes for Cubans and Dominicans. Yes I do belive that I have black ansestory but truly I am Latino and very proud.
2007-02-01 12:22:17 · answer #2 · answered by ♠GrInD♠ 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think what you're saying makes a lot of sense, then it dosen't to a certain point, 'cause an argument can be made that not all puerto ricans are black. If you're from germany "for example" and you move your family to puerto rico because you love the culture and you have some kids there...are those kids black? nope, their still european, right?
2007-02-01 09:02:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm gonna base it on experiences and people I've met... - Brazilian vs PR = Puerto Rican (Brazilians are pretty cool too this one is pretty tough) - PR vs Jap = Puerto Rican - White Girls vs Korean = White Girls (Korean girls are pretty cool too they're jsut more into their own kind) - German vs. French = French (haven't met any german girls)
2016-05-24 02:57:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being from a country doesnt automatically mean you must be the stereotype. Thats like saying all mexican wear ponchos and all brown ppl wear turbans, its racist and plainly ignorant. I've had a puerto rican friend and he wasnt black. Some ppl need to over borders.
2007-02-01 09:03:20 · answer #5 · answered by I-Ponder 2 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Maybe she doesn't have black in her, not 100% of the inhabitants were black, we all have a common ancestor anyway, infact the inhabitants of Puerto Rico were indians and after taken by whites they sent the slaves to work with sugarcane, i have cousins from puerto rico and theyre not black at all, not even bloodline wise
2007-02-01 09:00:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
its society way of saying white are pure blood. I could say my parents who come from ghana are 100% percent black making me 100% black therefore any one else with some black bood in them is not a true black person they are just mixed race. So its just a way of some white people trying to keep their race "pure".
2007-02-04 04:34:01 · answer #7 · answered by Leo G 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
not all puerto ricans have black ancestry, same thing wit cubans. i have black in me, but i dont consider myself black either. n i have white in me too, but that doesnt mean i consider myself white. im just puerto rican!!! i agree wit ur friend. i got cousins n friends that're puerto rican n dont have any black in them at all.
btw i like ur questions
2007-02-01 11:43:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
yea theyre black why do you think cubans have hair like black women? theyre hair might be long but it sure aint like white hair. just cuz they dont look black dont mean they aint either! theyre's some black people that dont look black. and cuban ,puerto ricans, and dominicans dont really kno what they have in their blood they werent there when theyre ancestors were being made.
shes not saying that thier fully black either. shes sayin that they got some in them. read.
2007-02-01 09:04:47 · answer #9 · answered by Kimberly2010 3 · 3⤊ 5⤋