In this last section of the book the Dominican government and its political injustices were explained in great intensity. Juan Bosch the PRD presidential candidate in 1962 advocated for the draft of a new constitution. However, the elite of the Dominican Republic felt that Bosch's ideals were too radical and that he was a threat to the church, businessmen, landowners, and the military of the country. He soon began to be depicted as a communist which sparked the creation of many anti-Bosch movements. The people of Dominican Republic feared he would become another Fidel Castro who at the time had usurped control of Cuba through communism. In 1963 Bosch was overthrown by a military coup and the Dominican Civil War began. The Dominican army under President Johnson and the United States fought against the constitucionalistas or the supporters of Bosch. The United States invaded the D.R to help ease the violence and pandemonium in the island. Eventhough the United States had intentions to imperialize Quisqueya, they used excuses like saving the island from communism to invade. The government then fell back into the hands of the Dominicans where Balaguer became president leaving Bosch without position. Balaguer in fact, sent for the death of Bosch supporters which resulted in the death of more then 350 activists in less then five months. In addition, Balaguer supported the International Development of the country. In particular, the United States financed an infrastructure which lured foreign investors to the island. Balaguer built schools, clinics, highways, bridges, streets, and ports all over the country. The Dominican Republic became one of Latin America's dominant powers with its immense foreign investment. Balaguer went out of power and Antonio Guzman came into power from 1978 to 1982. However, nepotism and self-embetterment were his ultimate goals. Guzman completely disregarded the people of the island and made himself and his family rich leaving the island in debt. Balaguer then returned to power in 1986, and was portrayed as the last hope for democracy to many Dominicans.
Quote:
"In the faces of the Dominican people, there are visible traces of cross-racial hybridization. Today one readily witnesses the society's amalgam of diverse skin hues, hair textures, and other distinctive racial-group characteristics" (Cambeira 212).
Reaction:
I completely agree with Cambeira's explanation for Dominican diversity. The mix and unison of Spanish, African, and Taino influences in the Dominican Republic have shaped dramatically the Dominican appearance. Dominicans range from tall to short, very dark skin to caramel and even European white. How about the hair, there are the Dominicans with the sleek Spanish hair, to the kinky African hair, or the curly bunch. Some of us have green eyes with blonde hair and fine noses. In particular, many people confuse me for an Indian when I straighten my hair, and its clearly the fact I have native roots grounded in me. To show how diverse Dominicans are, let us use my family as an example. I never thought of this as much, but really we do not look alike at all. In my household my father looks like a European and so does my mother with her naturally blonde hair and my father with his blue eyed father. My brother Robert looks like a Spanish just like my sister Jeanny disregarding her thick body and curly hair. My little sister and I are the darkest in my household. Eventhough our parents are very light, my grandmothers from both sides are as dark as night. My mother's mom looks like an Indian with her long black hair and cinnamon complexion and my father's mother looks like an African, with her kinky naps and dark skin. But aren't we all Dominicans?
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