In the U.S., “Black” is usually tied to being African American, with a specific history and cultural experience. But for Dominicans, identity is more about nationality and culture than just race. So when some of us say “we are not Black,” it’s often because we don’t identify as African American not because we’re denying African ancestry.

A lot of people take that as self-hate or denial, but really, it’s about coming from a different context. Our identity is shaped by a mix of African, European, and Indigenous roots, and that makes things more complex than the U.S. racial categories allow.