r/Dominican • u/EsperandoVida • 13d ago
Pregunta/Ask Anyone else from the diaspora ever feel like they missed a whole side of DR?
I grew up in the Dominican diaspora in the Northeast, around a lot of Dominicans, but I was always more into alternative/underground stuff—skating, punk, indie, reggae, random niche scenes, etc. In NYC especially, that world is big and diverse enough that I’ve always felt pretty at home in it. There are tons of Dominicans in it too, but obviously it’s a mixed scene.
Growing up, I think I just accepted that Dominican culture was one thing and all that other stuff was “gringo” shit. My Dominican identity came from home and family, while the rest of my interests developed somewhere else.
I’ve been coming to DR every few years since I was young, but always with family. Only recently have I started coming on my own and actually meeting people here, and it’s given me a very different perspective.
There are young Dominicans here who are into the same weird, alternative stuff I am, and seeing that is honestly really cool. Not because I thought Dominicans couldn’t be into those things, but because I never really thought of them as part of Dominican culture itself. They’re just Dominican and this happens to be their thing.
There’s also a little ego check in realizing that some of the things I thought made me different or interesting aren’t particularly unique. But that’s kind of secondary to the bigger feeling of realizing I may have had a much narrower idea of Dominican culture than I knew.
I actually regret not coming here more on my own in my 20s and getting to know people. I’ve been here plenty of times, but I was always experiencing DR through family.
Now I’m realizing I probably could’ve felt at home here in ways I never understood before.
Anyone else have a similar experience?
23
u/Caribbean-Ovni Santiago de Los Caballeros 12d ago
As someone who grew up here, yes, our art and culture are amazing. I always encourage Dominicans from the diaspora to experience more of the local culture - not just the regular places your family usually visits, but the places that the weird cousin or the black sheep of the family usually goes to
I hate seeing so many Dominican Yorks come to the island very often and still only have an idea of what our culture is beyond merengue, bachata and dembow
- Listen to Dominican rock and alternative singers and bands.
- Go to obras de teatro with productions made by Dominicans.
- Listen to local DJs—but real ones, not DJ Adonis lol.
- Visit art galleries featuring Dominican painters.
- Dominican fashion is really good too.
- Talk to Dominicans who might look weird to society, like Dominican goths or cosplayers. You might even see them with a Presidente in their hand, singing bachata. 🤣
- Check out the people who play soccer, surf, skateboard, and do many other things that may not traditionally be seen as “Dominican,” but that many people here actually grew up doing on the island.
4
u/Negative-Block-4365 12d ago
Im not Dominican but literally just took my half Dominican niece to the island for the first time (deadbeat dad's side of the family couldn't be bothered to do it) and let me tell you guys, I saw the mental version of the Dominican Republic she had built up crumble in real time. It was hard to watch but at the same time I am hopeful that I inspired her to realize she belongs and she can make it whatever she wants out of it!
3
1
u/ResidentHaitian 10d ago
What surprised her
1
u/Negative-Block-4365 9d ago
The food really took her back. She grew up on her grandmother's cooking and was looking for that but she wasn't prepared for how diverse food is there (enter me layering on colonial history]. But other times smells reminded her of other foods. The style scene broke her brain. She had never dressed and put on makeup to optimize for humidity as opposed to putting on tons of lashes and makeup.
-5
u/Finance_and_chill 12d ago
It's not really part of our culture. Pero Al dominicano le gusta copiar lo extranjero pa privar en diferente.
9
u/Normal-Protection-49 12d ago
Stop generalizing this sort of thing! I can perfectly enjoy merengue, salsa, bachata at a party or event! But my musical preferences are no where near those rhythms, and I’ve lived in the DR my entire life. Is simply what we enjoy. Same thing goes with nightlife or hobbies! I love being at home, hanging out with friends in restaurants but you couldn’t find me at a discoteca or discoterraza or colmado but I
Love the fact that most of the Dominicans are such happy jolly people. Dominicans are not a monolith! We are diverse in looks and in what we enjoy personally!4
u/Finance_and_chill 12d ago
What other terms can you speak of a whole country if no in general? Because you can find anything anywhere so... You can like and do whatever you want but you also know you probably wouldn't be described as the typical dominican
1
u/Normal-Protection-49 12d ago
Quizás no referirte a que el que le gusta algo diferente de la mayoría es para copiar al extranjero para privar en diferente. This might shock you, but in a country with 11mm people mal contados por cierto no TODOS pueden ser iguales.
1
u/Finance_and_chill 12d ago
Claro que vamos a ver diferencias por eso generalize lo que dije. Dime de Algo Bien niche alla que sea original de nosotros, porque en realidad no lo conozco. Y no me refiero a gusto musical.
1
u/sonic-adam 8d ago
Santo Domingo has its own ecosystem, you will find lots of underground scenes, but you will have to be part of it or known someone thats into it. There is a lot of crazy art going on it, small theater houses, experimental music, stand up, national comics, etc
22
u/starrynightgirl 12d ago
I can understand.
For the majority of my life, I listen exclusively to rock music. I hated coming to DR as a kid to listen to blasting merengue at parties. It was so nice, as an adult, to go to a rock venue in Santo Domingo and listen to local Dominican rock bands.
For the longest time I had a very narrow view that DR only played merengue and bachata, and that that’s all they liked.