I Am A Dominican York

BY Led Black (@Led_Black)

Dominican York - Dyckman Street

I am a Dominican York. According to the Urban Dictionary, a Dominican York is either a Dominican immigrant living and working in New York City or an American-born person of Dominican descent who was raised in NYC.

Originally the term was used derisively to refer to the drug dealers and criminals that were deported back to the Dominican Republic after being incarcerated in the states. Dominican New Yorkers have been slowly adopting the term over the years, sans the negative connotations.

I am a Dominican York. That term succinctly defines my existence. I was born in the U.S., but was raised in the Dominican Republic from when I was three months old until the age of five. Inside my little apartment in Washington Heights, it was the Dominican Republic; Mami ruled, Merengue played and mangu eaten, but outside of it, New York City and its accoutrements; Hip-Hop, graffiti and pizza beckoned.

I am a Dominican York. My parents on the other hand, even though they have lived here since the early 70′s, are Dominican. My mom has only a few words in her English language repertoire and while my dad has a more extensive vocabulary, the words he knows are usually curses and only uttered when he is inebriated. I still recall with horror the one incident that encapsulated our different and divergent worldviews.

On this particular day, when I was about 10 years old, my dad came home from the vivero with a guinea fowl. Called simply a guinea in Spanish, this bird is nothing like a chicken. First of all, its feathers are dark, it is bigger and the damn thing slunk around my apartment in a menacing, don’t F-with-me manner. After my dad had his fill of laughing at me, he took the guinea to the bathroom. Let’s just say that poor guinea expired. After the deed was done, my mom promptly took the guinea, cooked it and served it with the de jure rice and beans. While I have to admit that scary-looking guinea tasted really good, I remember thinking, even at that young age; dude this is America, slaughtering an animal in an apartment is not cool. I retold that story to a fellow Dominican York and his response was telling, “Man, that’s nothing, when I was a kid, my uncle brought home a live goat.” Ouch!

I am a Dominican York. I am, simultaneously, inherently Dominican and quintessentially American. I am the best of both worlds. I’m not just a Dominican-American but a Dominican New Yorker from Washington Heights, which is another breed entirely. I have the hard-wired hustle of the Dominican mixed with the never say die ethos of a New Yorker. That is hustle squared.

I am a Dominican York.

Pa’lante – Siempre Pa’lante. Word!

Check it out:

Dominican-American Félix Sánchez Wins Olympic Gold For Abuelita 

From Washington Heights to Washington D.C.

Dominican Independence Day Gone Viral

DR Independence Day Gala @ The Hispanic Society of America

We invite you to subscribe to the Uptown Love newsletter, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter, or e-mail us at [email protected].

You Might Also Like

  • Mando
    December 24, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    Much appraciated for these insightful words Led. I also claim DRNY.

  • Alicia
    January 31, 2013 at 1:56 pm

    ‘I am the best of both worlds.’ its who we are. DRNY! right here!

  • vladi
    March 2, 2013 at 2:07 pm

    Word up. I always say that we, in Washington Heights, are a different breed. It seems like that’s something that only the insiders know, though. Nevertheless, I couldn’t be prouder. DRNY

  • Kaity
    May 29, 2013 at 5:24 am

    I just wanted to tell you that I really admire your work. This article definitely hit home. I could not agree more with you and Vladi … We Dominicans from the Heights are just a different breed. 🙂

    • admin
      May 29, 2013 at 5:41 am

      Kaity – thanks for the love. It is appreciated.

      Led

  • Tony "Tone" Vega
    March 29, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    The first time that I was called a Dominican York, was while on vacation in DR years ago. I just got so fucking mad, because the way that I looked at it back then was, I was a full Dominican, because I was born there. It’s just that I have been living in the states since the age of three. Now, I embrace being called a Dominican York. LOL!