The Mulatto Republic: Class, Race, and Dominican National Identity

211 Pages·2014·2.064 MB·English

by  April J. Mayes

The Mulatto Republic
University Press of Florida
Florida A&M University, Tallahassee
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Florida Gulf Coast University, Ft. Myers
Florida International University, Miami
Florida State University, Tallahassee
New College of Florida, Sarasota
University of Central Florida, Orlando
University of Florida, Gainesville
University of North Florida, Jacksonville
University of South Florida, Tampa
University of West Florida, Pensacola

(cid:1)(cid:2)(cid:1)
THE MULATTO REPUBLIC
Class, Race, and Dominican National Identity
(cid:1) (cid:1)
(cid:2)
April J. Mayes
University Press of Florida
Gainesville/Tallahassee/Tampa/Boca Raton
Pensacola/Orlando/Miami/Jacksonville/Ft. Myers/Sarasota
Copyright 2014 by April J. Mayes
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America. This book is printed on Glatfelter Natures Book,
a paper certified under the standards of the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). It is a
recycled stock that contains 30 percent post-consumer waste and is acid free.
This book may be available in an electronic edition.
19 18 17 16 15 14 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mayes, April J., author.
The Mulatto Republic : class, race, and Dominican national identity / April J. Mayes.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8130-4919-9
1. Ethnicity—Dominican Republic. 2. Racially mixed people—Race identity—Domini-
can Republic. 3. National characteristics, Dominican. 4. Racism—Dominican Republic.
5. Race awareness—Dominican Republic. 6. Social classes—Dominican Republic.
7. Dominican Republic—Race relations. I. Title.
F1941.A1M39 2014
305.80097293—dc23 2013038957
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
http://www.upf.com
For Mom, Miriam, and Nayeem

CONTENTS
List of Illustrations viii
List of Tables ix
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 1
1. Debating Dominicanidad in the Nineteenth Century 15
2. The Changing Landscape of Power in the Sugar-Growing East 36
3. The Culture of Progress in San Pedro de Macorís 61
4. Policing the Urban Poor 78
5. Debating Dominicans’ Race during the U.S. Occupation 95
6. Gender and Hispanidad in the New Era 116
Conclusion 141
Notes 147
Works Cited 171
Index 187
ILLUSTRATIONS
Figures
3.1. “Bellísimo Grupo” of women, 1915 73
3.2. Josefa Báez, floral queen, 1909 73
3.3. Ramón Fernández, criminal, 1909 74
3.4. Luis María Espinal, criminal, 1909 74
3.5. Nueva panadería del Sr. J. Parra Alba, 1909 75
3.6. Colegio Eugenio María de Hostos, 1910 76
3.7. Escuela “La Caridad,” 1910 76
4.1. Ingenio Porvenir, c. 1940s 79
4.2. Samuel Isaac with friends, c. 1940s 87
4.3. West Indians with railcar, c. 1940s 87
5.1. Porvenir baseball team, 1940s 105
6.1. Evangelina Rodríguez, date unknown 120
6.2. Petronila Angélica Gómez, date unknown 126
6.3. Ercilia Pepín, date unknown 129
6.4. Acción Feminista Dominicana, c. 1930s 132
6.5. Abigaíl Mejía, date unknown 133
6.6. Acción Feminista Dominicana campaigning for women’s votes,
c. 1942 134
Maps
2.1. San Pedro de Macorís Province 40
3.1. San Pedro de Macorís, 1890s 62
TABLES
2.1. Sugar estates in San Pedro de Macorís, 1870s–1880s 43
2.2. Principal sugar enterprises in the Province of San Pedro de Macorís,
1925 45
3.1. San Pedro de Macorís street names, 1932 77
4.1. Crimes for the week of December 21, 1897 82
4.2. Offenses committed by prisoners in the San Pedro de Macorís jail,
December 1897 82
4.3. Nationality and occupation of those accused of coach/cart-related
violations, 1915–1916 85
4.4.Origin and sex of those charged with scandalous behavior and
mistreatment, 1915–1916 86