The Determinant Factor

The issue discussed in Roberto Santiago’s Black and Latino essay is an issue I have thought about every now and then while growing up. Many people who glance at me in the street will simply assume that I am black. People a little closer to me know I am Dominican and refer to me as so. While in a predominantly white school where my sister and I were the only Hispanics, we were pushed into the group of black students at our school. I am not complaining because I felt way more comfortable with them then with the other white students. Even though they are my closest friends today, we share many differences in our cultures. The Black American, Caribbean and Hispanic culture have many similarities and differences. Roberto Santiago states, “the culture is the predominant and determinant factor.” While we shared similar skin tones with our friends, my sister and I had a category of our own due to he major differences in culture and language. I have grown to understand that all people from the Caribbean share African blood. I don’t deny my African heritage, for it is very prevalent in the Dominican culture. But the mixture that we Hispanics share with the Spanish and Indios of our countries make us different from others. I see why Roberto Santiago feels he is black and Latino. I just think of myself as Hispanic because I focus so much in the cultures but this essay has given me a new perspective and has definitely got me thinking.