Race / Identity

Question 1

Definition of Race

Answer 1

Race isn’t a fixed concept; Race is a historical construct that has different meanings in different places, there is no consistent definitions and often times views can be inaccurate and oversimplified

Question 2

US

Answer 2

People are either black or white; Anyone with a degree of African ancestry makes them black

Question 3

1 Drop Rule

Answer 3

Idea that 1 ancestor determines how you are viewed; 1 African ancestry = = “black” in US

Question 4

Americas (Latin America / Caribbean)

Answer 4

Black, white, and in - between; Any degree of non-African ancestry makes them not black; More focused on physical appearance than biology; Mix-race / intermarriage is very common; Children might be a different “race” from their parents

Question 5

Wealth in Americas

Answer 5

Class + Culture involved:
Different form of racial prejudice; White people have money; Colonels are never black no matter how dark their skin

Question 6

North America

Answer 6

Race is biological - Biology = Destiny

Question 7

Hispaniola

Answer 7

Haiti + Dominican Republic

Question 8

Haiti

Answer 8

Black population dominated the country - African ancestry; Plantation slaves

Question 9

Dominican Republic

Answer 9

Dominant population: Mulatto who identify with their Spanish ancestors; Doesn’t let people know they are mulatto (not on their identity cards) or have African roots because blacks are treated badly in this country

Question 10

3 Major groups in DR

Answer 10

White, India, Dark Indian

Question 11

1 Major group in Haiti

Answer 11

Only Haitian descents are “black”

Question 12

White people in both societies

Answer 12

White people remained privileged; White person gets job even if he’s less qualified than black person

Question 13

Dominican Republic Appearance

Answer 13

Being / looking white is the freedom to opportunity; Appearance counts more than ancestry, so most Dominicans wants to look as white as possible (changing their hair from afro to straight) -> However:
Hair treatment is very expensive -> Only the rich can straighten their hair that made them look refined (3 times a year); Looking white is another class other than color: Differentiate the rich and poor

Question 14

Wealth in DR

Answer 14

Poor = “Black”; Dark-skinned Dominicans who wants to be black can’t identify as black; As long as you have food, you are “Dark Indian”

Question 15

Marriage in DR

Answer 15

Marrying black = Worry about social position; In white families, children who marry blacks gets disinherited; Prefer marrying lighter skinned people -> Improve their own race -> Children have a higher chance of being whiter: More social mobility

Question 16

DC (1 drop rule)

Answer 16

Any white ancestry cane make you white; Important bc race is not a universal rule; Race is a social construct / socially constructed idea (can change); Chosen to identify more to their European ancestry than their indigenous or African ancestry

Question 17

Haiti (1 drop)

Answer 17

Much higher percentage who are more African ancestry and mulatto or mestizo; Higher African population; Not a lot of Christianity - doesn’t like Catholic Christian; Identify as opposite of Dominicans

Question 18

Batey

Answer 18

Sugar Plantation in Dominican Republic; Sugar harvest - laborers from Haiti; Haitian workers aren’t allow to leave the plantations