Summary:
Rural and suburban Dominican families take extreme pride in their conucos. Conucos are a small plot of cultivated land set for the family's vegetable garden. Dominicanos grow platanos, yuca, batata, yautia, and mapuey in these fields. These conucos are usually visited on the weekends where the entire family comes together and kills a goat or a pig and feasts for the day. In addition, Los Tainos or a group of indigenous people, immensely influenced the vocabulary of Dominicans. In particular, the words barbaco: barbecue, bohio: palm house, guagua: bus, hamaca: hammock, and mani: peanut are all words derived from the Tainos. Also, most of the fishes found in waters of la Quisqueya still have their Taino names. On another note, when the Spanish arrived in Dominican Republic in 1492, there goal was to find gold and become rich. Luckily, la Quisqueya had exactly what they needed. As a result of their ambition, the Spanish tried exterminating the Tainos so that they could stay with all of the island's riches. In fact, the Spanish created an intense system of labor called the Encomienda. Encomenderos, usually Spaniards, were given the right to collect tribute and demand manual labor from the Tainos. Quickly this system enslaved the entire indigenous population and with the help of Small Pox, the Tainos became annihilated. In particular, the Tainos were overworked and exploited to death. There was no compensation for their labor, so many of their family members died of starvation. Friars such as Antonio de Montesinos, Pedro de Cordova, and Bartolome de las Casasa, raised protests to denounce this malicious system of labor. Furthermore, a very bold Taino, started a rebellion against the Spanish. Enriquillo also known as El Primer Heroe de America, launched guerilla attacks against the Spaniards and created secured villages for women, children, and elders.With the help of Cimmarrones or runaway African slaves, Enriquillo was able to succeed for many years. Even though so many efforts were made to restore the Tainos at the time, Christopher Columbus and the Spanish made it impossible with the encomienda.
Quote:
"This strange but very useful and practical lexicon enriched the Spanish language... mainly in the form of nouns, these words can be heard quite casually among the people in various parts of the island" (Cambeira 42).
Reaction:
I never really noticed how every day words derived from the language of the Tainos. I knew many Spanish words derived from Arabic but since the Tainos were exterminated, I never thought I used them in my conversations. It still shocks me how Dominicans have worked so hard to preserve their history. In the Dominican Republic, there are museums and sites dedicated particularly for Tainos. At first I felt I would be cheating myself by reading about the Dominican history, but I did not know half of the information I have learned in these two posts. La Quisqueya has a very interesting history and as a Dominican American, I feel very ignorant in Dominican topics especially politics. This book has widened my own horizon in ways that benefit me.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
La Republica Dominicana : Quisqueya la Bella by Alan Cambeira
Summary:
The Dominican Republic also recognized as "La Quisqueya" is a beautiful island in the caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dominican Republic shares its western border with the French country, Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. In addition, the national tree in la Republica Dominicana is mahogany or caoba. Most Dominican homes are saturated with furniture made of mahogany. Furthermore, Santo Domingo's national bird is the Cotica Parrot, and most Dominican teens train these loritos to repeat every word they say for months. In fact, competitions are made in Dominican barrios with these parrots, the goal is to test which bird can recite the most bad words. Also, Los Dominicanos are huge baseball lovers and players. By the age of 5, Dominican little boys already aspire to be professional baseball players. Most Dominicans believe making it to the major leagues is the only way out of poverty. In fact, more then half of 300 professional Dominican ball players who play for North American leagues, come from San Pedro de Macoris. When there is no money for baseballs and bats, water caps and brooms substitute these equipments. In addition, sugarcane cultivation has been a prominient source of trade in Santo Domingo since 1506. However, many Dominican sugar cultivaters have remained destitute since the prosperous sugar economy made its way particularly to the Dominican elite and foreign investors. The poor who worked these fields, were not able to benefit from the abundance of sugar in their country since they were payed so little money for their work. Eventhough the Dominican Republic is portrayed as a country of ultimate bliss and perfection for tourists, immense poverty and dejection roams through the unpaved streets of the country. Part of this problem is the 4 billion dollar debt Dominican Republic has with the United States. On another note, the first residents of la Republica Dominicana were the Arawak Indians. This group of indigenous people called the island Hayti which means the Land of Mountains referring to the mountain chains in present day Haiti. Then the Tainos arrived in 3000 BC naming the island Quisqueya or Earth Mother. This name La Quisqueya has remained in Dominican culture. In particular, many grocery stores in D.R. as well as families have named their children and properties Quisqueya. Then the renown name La Espanola, was what Christopher Columbus called the island in 1492. In other words, the Dominican Republic has acquired different names throughout its history.
Quote:
"It was in 1833 that Duarte conceived the country's independence under the glorious banner 'Dios, Patria y Libertad, Republica Dominicana' "(Cambeira 28).
Reaction:
As a Dominican myself, when I hear the phrase Dios, Patria, y Libertad, I imminently smile. When my ancestors fought for our independence from Spain, France, and Haiti, they used these words to restore their nationalism and pride. Dios and Patria are very important words to Dominicans; In fact, every Dominican mentions God before they do anything. For example, when a Dominican especially the older ones have anything to accomplish, they say Si Dios Quiere: If God wants to. Then when Patria comes into the picture, every Dominican raises their flag and screams how proud they are of being Dominican. I have never met a group of people with the exception of Mexicans, who feel so much nationalism and respect for their country. The exact way to make any Dominican really angry is to say something insulting or pejorative towards their people. It pains them very deeply since they feel this ardent love and respect for their country.
The Dominican Republic also recognized as "La Quisqueya" is a beautiful island in the caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. The Dominican Republic shares its western border with the French country, Haiti on the island of Hispaniola. In addition, the national tree in la Republica Dominicana is mahogany or caoba. Most Dominican homes are saturated with furniture made of mahogany. Furthermore, Santo Domingo's national bird is the Cotica Parrot, and most Dominican teens train these loritos to repeat every word they say for months. In fact, competitions are made in Dominican barrios with these parrots, the goal is to test which bird can recite the most bad words. Also, Los Dominicanos are huge baseball lovers and players. By the age of 5, Dominican little boys already aspire to be professional baseball players. Most Dominicans believe making it to the major leagues is the only way out of poverty. In fact, more then half of 300 professional Dominican ball players who play for North American leagues, come from San Pedro de Macoris. When there is no money for baseballs and bats, water caps and brooms substitute these equipments. In addition, sugarcane cultivation has been a prominient source of trade in Santo Domingo since 1506. However, many Dominican sugar cultivaters have remained destitute since the prosperous sugar economy made its way particularly to the Dominican elite and foreign investors. The poor who worked these fields, were not able to benefit from the abundance of sugar in their country since they were payed so little money for their work. Eventhough the Dominican Republic is portrayed as a country of ultimate bliss and perfection for tourists, immense poverty and dejection roams through the unpaved streets of the country. Part of this problem is the 4 billion dollar debt Dominican Republic has with the United States. On another note, the first residents of la Republica Dominicana were the Arawak Indians. This group of indigenous people called the island Hayti which means the Land of Mountains referring to the mountain chains in present day Haiti. Then the Tainos arrived in 3000 BC naming the island Quisqueya or Earth Mother. This name La Quisqueya has remained in Dominican culture. In particular, many grocery stores in D.R. as well as families have named their children and properties Quisqueya. Then the renown name La Espanola, was what Christopher Columbus called the island in 1492. In other words, the Dominican Republic has acquired different names throughout its history.
Quote:
"It was in 1833 that Duarte conceived the country's independence under the glorious banner 'Dios, Patria y Libertad, Republica Dominicana' "(Cambeira 28).
Reaction:
As a Dominican myself, when I hear the phrase Dios, Patria, y Libertad, I imminently smile. When my ancestors fought for our independence from Spain, France, and Haiti, they used these words to restore their nationalism and pride. Dios and Patria are very important words to Dominicans; In fact, every Dominican mentions God before they do anything. For example, when a Dominican especially the older ones have anything to accomplish, they say Si Dios Quiere: If God wants to. Then when Patria comes into the picture, every Dominican raises their flag and screams how proud they are of being Dominican. I have never met a group of people with the exception of Mexicans, who feel so much nationalism and respect for their country. The exact way to make any Dominican really angry is to say something insulting or pejorative towards their people. It pains them very deeply since they feel this ardent love and respect for their country.
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