The Dominican Racial Imaginary: Surveying the Landscape of Race and Nation in Hispaniola (Critical Caribbean Studies) Paperback – Illustrated, November 18, 2016

In Milagros Ricourt’s book The Dominican Racial Imaginary: Surveying the Landscape of Race and Nation in Hispaniola, we explore the one question we all wonder and that is why do Dominicans neglect their African heritage? The question has even been simplified to why do Dominicans and Haitians not get along? Readers learn that the official policies of the Dominican government are discriminatory against those who come from Haiti. Ricourt explains that Dominicans trace their heritage to Europeans roots to distinguish themselves from their Haitian neighbors that are classified as Africans. The complex relationship between Dominicans and Haitians can be traced back to resentments that the Spanish elites had towards the neighboring French colony. Dominican history was mostly written from the slaveholder’s perspective, who were loyal to their Spanish heritage. The author suggests that although the Dominican authorities have made great effort in trying to erase the African roots of the Dominican society, it is still present in many cultural behaviors. After reading the book, I was very upset with the ideology that these people had, and even more upset that they could not accept where they truly came from. However, I do not blame the people, as much as I blame the dictator who was in power at the time, Trujillo. We learn about his dictatorship, as well as the people's impact because of it. The books touches on other topics such as vodou as well, and how common it is within the Haitian community, but the author wanted to shed some light on Dominican Vodou. All I can say is, I appreciate this book for all of the information it contains, and how well put together it is.

In her ethnographic study Dominican Racial Imaginary, Milagros Ricourt pursues the racial, social, and political history of Hispaniola. Being born in the Dominican Republic and also being part of the Dominican diaspora in the United States, she has witnessed two different notions of what is to be Dominican and how Dominicans racially self-identify in each place, from self-categorizing as white to embracing African roots. This experience generates questions that she answers after spending time in the border region and researching the colonial history of the Dominica Republic and Haiti.I found very interesting when Ricourt writes about parallels between Cuban orishas and the mysteries of Dominican Vodou that emerged in the midst of resistance to slavery.The author does a phenomenal job going through history searching for answers to explain the development of the Dominican Racial Imaginary.

It provides clarity and understanding of occurrences In the Hispaniola and how they came to be. It is very educational and exposes the hypocrisies that have created stereotypes of Africans, Haitians, and Tainos.

Interesting book to read. Prescribed “textbook” for my History of Hispaniola class. After the semester, I can see myself reading the book on my personal time. The author is very informative

Full of preconceived ,prejudiced ideas full of denigration to the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THE MOST HOSPITALARY COUNTRY BESIDES USA. WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

Great book. We are using for a class. Very quick read. The one negative is the really light print. I can only read in certain area because of how light it is.

excellent book

Haiti violently invaded The Dominican people 14 times, Dominican people never invaded Haiti, so let’s start with that facts. The one that stick in Dominican mind for all time was the 1805 “Deguello De Moca” (beheading of Moca) this genocide got the name because after slaughtering entire town of Moca, Desalines’s Army beheaded 40 children in the middle of the Altar at the church of Moca.. This act alone did more psychological trauma for a Dominican standpoint as to what constitutes a Haitian.After invading Dominican side in 1822 and occupying for 22 years. Boyer, deported the family with the most cultural values taking their possession away to pay for their pay independence with France. Since Haiti constitution no white man could own or hold government office ( it stood in effect until 1920 when American invaded and forced a change). Haitian went on to forbid Spanish, closed all church and confiscated their possessions, forbid all religious holidays and Christian Mass, closed all our schools including the oldest university in the America, implemented Code Rural, a semi slave system first implemented in Haiti by Henry Christophe in 1818, tried to change our customs. The trauma under Haitian Yoke was so deed that Dominican population of 63,000 with no army went to war for their independence against Haiti a population of almost 750,000 and the Army that beat Napoleon.After Dominican Republic gained their independence Haitian kept through the times invading peacefully and in 1929 DR gave to Haiti 10% of its territory.The authors failed to mention any of that above and basically with no evidence other than always bringing “Trujillo to dismiss any barbaric act done by Haitian, hides all under the sun to paint haitian as victim and Dominicans people as oppressor. These liberal educated children of Dominican parents tend to see racism through the lens of the USA one drop rule. Dominican come in all colors human nature can produce and our culture is of Spanish from our language, religion, customs, aspirations, etc as oppose to haiti who are mostly African culture. This book is very deceiving and waste of time and money and a propaganda driven, all in an effort for Dominican Republic to fusion with Haiti to fix their problems. Do not buy this junk!!!