Activity 2: Dominicans and Black Americans: Identity Conflicts

Students will read the story of Jose Mendoza, a Dominican-American teenager, in Document 14, "Dominicans Face Assimilation in Black and White," by Gabriel Escobar.

Jose Mendoza is a black Latino, not sure whether he identifies with African-Americans or with Latinos. Students will discuss Jose's experiences at George Washington High School, and talk about whether they have similar feelings. Some questions for discussion:

What percentage of immigrants to New York City were Dominican in the 1990's?

What races are the Dominicans? How are racial attitudes in the United States different from those of the Dominican Republic?

How do African Americans feel about Afro-Latinos?

What are some common stereotypes about Latinos portrayed by the Spanish-language media in New York? What do the Latino students think of the Spanish-language media?

Students of other nationalities (Polish, Chinese, Arabic) could comment on negative stereotypes about themselves they see in the media.

How do Dominicans feel in general about Haitians? Why? How does this contribute to racial prejudice?

Students should comment on the statement, "Teenagers choose their race, going white or black, depending on their own skin tone." How do they feel about this? What does a teenager choose, who chooses to identify with American blacks? What does he lose, when he stops seeing himself as Dominican?

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