色情视频

鈥淣evertheless, I was never prouder than the moment the airport attendant identified me as an American鈥攚holly and unhyphenated鈥擲olamente Americana.鈥�

This summer, 色情视频 students studying abroad around the world are blogging about their experiences living in a new country. Check back each week to read their stories.

Title: Soy Americana
Author: Lorise A. Diamond, communication major, double minoring in sociology and honors interdisciplinary studies
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

I know what the stereotypical American looks like. The country of my birth identifies me as African-American. My own country misconstrues my national identity. However, a passage in my passport 鈥渞equests all whom may be concerned to permit the citizen/national of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection.鈥�

This is especially contemplative, considering how people of color are treated in the United States. Traveling abroad, I am no longer a suspicious, hyphenated or sub-American鈥擨 become a fully embodied U.S. citizen.

Preparing to board my flight from New York to Santo Domingo, my passport readied for inspection by multiple security and airline personnel, I took a deep breath and felt the heaviness of gravity weighing my feet to U.S. ground as I braved the jet bridge toward the plane. Three-and-a-half hours later, my passport received its first international stamp: Entrada, Rep煤blica Dominicana.

Waiting at the exit of the international disembarkation terminal of SDQ airport, one final checkpoint remained; 鈥�Cual es tu nacionalidad?鈥� the Dominican duty officer asked. Before I could decipher the fluent Spanish being hurled at me, the airline attendant assisting me through customs answered, 鈥�Ella es Americana.鈥� My face beamed proudly as the officer briefly scanned my passport, scrutinized my appearance, and then nodded for me to proceed through the terminal gate.

I blend in with Dominicans. Surrounded by people of color, I look like 99 percent of the people in the airport. The Islanders are proud descendants of multiple nationalities, primarily a mixture of Africa, Spain, and Italy. Asia, Denmark and France pepper the make-up of Dominican peoples due to both migration and colonialism. Despite this cultural cauldron, native-born citizens identify simply as Dominican. A hyphenated Dominican is unheard of. The duty officer鈥檚 question made me realize that I don鈥檛 look like the typical U.S. American citizen Dominicans might be expecting.

A byproduct of colonization, a skin-color hierarchy is apparent in the Dominican Republic. Haitian/Dominican relational tensions are high regarding Haitian immigration. Haiti鈥攅stablished through a revolution of African slaves who valiantly fought for their freedom鈥攊s one of the world鈥檚 poorest countries. Haitians are not welcome in the Dominican Republic, and there is political pressure to keep them out.

Typically, Dominicans speak a form of Spanish. Mostly, Haitians speak French. Possessing a mahogany complexion, Haitians are usually identified by their coarse hair texture and ebony-colored skin. Dominican legislative measures warrant the arrest and deportation of Dominican-born Haitians who are 鈥渞eturned鈥� to Haiti, a country they have never known, inhabited by people who speak an unfamiliar language.

A color hierarchy based on the physical characteristics of skin color, hair texture and facial features is a complex cultural issue for Dominicans. One example of the color hierarchy is evident at Bahia Principe, one of the numerous Dominican tourist resorts. The manufactured festivities did little to mask varying degrees of Black servitude and its resultant color hierarchy. Employees who are darker-skinned or indio鈥攁s Dominicans refer to indigenous or dark-skinned people鈥攚ork as cooks, landscapers and housekeepers (who wear uniforms straight out of an antebellum picture book). Those who have lighter skin work behind cash registers, reception and registration desks, serve food and drink (wearing modern, cruise ship type uniforms) and provide entertainment.

Furthermore, encounters with students鈥攍ike the ones attending Sur Futuro鈥攁 high school located in Najayo, along with those enrolled a Catholic elementary school in Boca de Nigua, reveal the worst schoolyard insult: calling someone a Haitian鈥攁n allusion to being dark-skinned and poor.

Ultimately, I posit a question to Universidad APEC students in Santo Domingo: 鈥淟ook at us,鈥� I encourage, glancing around the room into the diverse faces of our 色情视频 study abroad group. 鈥淒o we look like the Americans you assumed were coming today?鈥� An immediate and collective 鈥淣o鈥� met my query.

Traveling beyond my country鈥檚 borders, I embrace my rightful identity as a fully embodied citizen. Yes, the United States currently is grappling with its own growing pains, finding our way amidst a wave of white nationalism, complicated immigration issues, socioeconomic disparities, gender and skin color discrimination and more鈥攋ust like the Dominican Republic.

Nevertheless, I was never prouder than the moment the airport attendant identified me as an American鈥攚holly and unhyphenated鈥�Solamente Americana.

For more blog posts from 色情视频 students studying abroad this summer, visit the .