Growing Up Dominican in Central Florida: in Honor of Dominican Independence Day

By Alexis Tinsley

Only one island in the Caribbean has three Independence Days on the calendar.

The side of the Island of Hispaniola that would become the Dominican Republic, gained its first glimmer of independence in 1804, swept up in Haiti’s slave revolt for independence from France, along with other islands in the Greater Antilles.

Shortly after in 1821, the Spanish colony that remained on Hispaniola temporarily broke away from Spain’s authority. And finally, on February 27, 1844, the Dominican Republic won full autonomy from Haiti and marked a third Independence Day for the nation.

In the light of this forty-year struggle for independence, one might expect that the Dominican Republic would have a loud and proud way of celebrating their culture on their Independence Days, but Dominican culture enjoys more exuberant expression on other holidays instead.

“The day we celebrate Dominican culture the most with food, music, and dancing is on Nochebuena,” Brendalin Caceres said. Caceres is an entrepreneur and the co-founder of the Latina-owned clothing brand Brendalin and Cora in Orlando, where Dominicans now constitute the third largest Hispanic nationality in the metropolitan area.

“My favorite thing about Dominican culture is dancing. My dad and I love to dance together. We are happy and welcoming through our style of dancing.”

 

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Immigrating from Santo Domingo at a young age, Caceres describes her childhood growing up Dominican in the US as “all about working hard, staying true and remembering that staying in this country is not something that a lot of people get a chance to do”.

Ensuring that she did not forget about her Dominican background, her family required her to speak only Spanish at home and celebrated Semana Santa every year, accompanied by the traditional dishes of habichuelas con dulce.

Caceres thanks her Dominican upbringing for showing her that it is a blessing to live in the US.

“It would have been very hard for me to accomplish the things that I have accomplished here in DR. It wouldn’t have been impossible, but harder simply because of the opportunities and resources that are available in this country for everyone that comes here.”

For Caceres, the Dominican culture has everything to do with her accomplishments and motivation to create a path by starting something of her own, because it reminds her daily of the sacrifices her parents made for her to be here in the U.S.

Beyond holidays, a simple family gathering on the weekends can also provide an excuse for Dominicans to celebrate their culture. Carolyn Moore experienced this first-hand growing up surrounded by close relatives on Saturdays when they would throw BBQ parties and have family beach days in their adopted homeland of Florida.

 

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Moore is the Orlando-based entrepreneur behind the skincare company, Lion and Loki.

Similar to Caceres, Moore immigrated to the US from Santo Domingo at a young age.

Immigrating and being the oldest of many children, Carolyn describes her childhood growing up in a Dominican household as “strict but grateful to have family.”

She mentions the culture of family, warmth, and togetherness being her favorite things about Dominican culture.

“No matter if we know each other or not, Dominicans always make you feel like family. The neighbors sit on their porch and always greet you when you walk by. You have that bond because you’re from the same country.”

The Dominican influence thrives in Central Florida, where they perpetuate their Island culture and entrepreneurial spirit. Here in Central Florida, Dominican businesses such as hair salons, restaurants, and Latin clubs carry the styles, flavors, and rhythms of the culture.

Historian Johan Huizinga once said, “If we are to preserve culture we must continue to create it.” Dominicans in Central Florida are continuing to create their vibrant culture in new contexts, preserving the facets they most value, even when living a thousand miles away from their Island.