An Insulting Apology

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.