An Insulting Apology

Published in El Nacional
(Dominican Republic ) on 21 April 2012
by Eduardo Álvarez (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Robin Salomon . Edited by Gillian Palmer.
Thirty one senators of the Dominican Liberation Party have criticized the world’s Africans and blacks with an unusual "note of apology" that should either be taken as a genuine blunder, or as an insulting attack against President Obama. It takes tremendous ignorance to believe that being black or of African descent is offensive. "Do not defend me, my friend," Obama would have said, not without some disgust at the trivial and sloppy way in which some backwards legislators take advantage of his origins, clinging to their fundamental beliefs.

Tasteless, opportunistic and politicking, the note from the Dominican Senate to President Obama took as its pretext the passing comment that Hipolito Mejia supposedly made regarding the leader's origin. The American representatives in the country must have felt embarrassed by the sad spectacle of certain legislators trying to be funny, who in essence put their fingers in their eyes, not to mention elsewhere. Flattery has never before been so untimely and unwise, not even when President Morales Languasco gave our customs and sovereignty to the Americans.

It is unusual that so many leaders have agreed to come to such a serious conclusion, which was so hasty and senseless. Since when, for pity’s sake, is being black and having relatives from the black continent a disgrace? [To make amends is to give respect back to someone who has been insulted]. People feel more humiliated by ethnic and social references made about them when they do not accept or embrace their origins.

This is not the case for Obama. His wife, Michelle Obama, is black just like the president. Being authentic and accepting is one of their handicaps. He invited his African grandparents to the White House. However, he does not put any effort in saying that his mother is a white American.

We Dominicans keep a cheerful ethnic syncretism that is expressed in the merengue. It is common that black or mulatto people become lucky in winning the love of white women when they succeed in business, politics or sports. Cupid is a very selective and racist angel when looking for partners for Dominican ballplayers or politicians, both mulatto or colored.


Treinta y un senadores del PLD se han despachando con una insólita “nota de desagravio” que, más bien, debe entenderse como un real disparate, una insultante agresión contra el presidente Obama, los africanos y los negros del mundo. Hay que ser un tremendo ignorante para entender que ser negro o descendiente de africano es ofensivo. No me defiendas, compadre, habrá comentado Obama, no sin cierto disgusto por la trivial y descompuesta forma cómo unos atrasados legisladores sacar provecho de su origen, colgándose de su fundillo.

Desafinada, politiquera y oportunista, la nota del Senado dominicano al presidente Obama, toma como pretexto la simple mención que supuestamente hizo Hipólito Mejía del origen del mandatario. La representación norteamericana en el país tiene que haber sentido vergüenza ajena frente al triste espectáculo de unos legisladores que tratando de ser gracioso les meten los dedos en los ojos, para no decir en otra parte. Nunca antes la lisonja había sido tan inoportuna e imprudente. Ni cuando el presidente Morales Languaso entregó nuestra aduanas y soberanía a los norteamericanos.

Es insólito que tantas cabezas se hayan puesto de acuerdo para tomar una decisión sumamente grave, apresurada y sin sentido. ¿Desde cuándo, carajo, ser negro y tener parientes en el continente negro es una deshonra? [Desagraviar es devolver la honra a alguien insultado]. Una persona se siente humillada acercas de las alusiones étnicas y sociales que se hacen de él cuando no se acepta ni asume sus orígenes.

Este no es el caso de Obama. Michel Obama, su esposa, es negra como el Presidente. Ser autentico y asumirse es uno de sus hándicap. Invitó a sus abuelos africanos a la Casa Blanca. Sin embargo, no pone Ningún empeño en decir que su madre es una blanca americana.

Los dominicanos guardamos un alegre sincretismo étnico, expresado en el merengue. Es frecuente que un negro o mulato llegue a ser afortunado conquistando el amor de mujeres blancas cuando triunfa en los negocios, la política o en los deportes. Cupido resulta un ángel muy electivo y racista a la hora de buscar parejas para peloteros y políticos dominicanos, mulatos o de color.
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