I had no idea one of my favorite actress and Columbiana star Zoe Saldana is of Haitian decent.
The actress who is currently pregnant with twins is often described as Dominican or American, but in her recent commercial for beauty brand L’oreal, her background is described as Dominican, Haitian, Puerto Rican and Lebanese .
Since I don’t know whether or not she’s mentioned it before, I certainly just learned something new about her.
Two years ago, in an article posted by Urban Bush Babes, they posted an excerpt of an interview where Zoe explained her frustration with people in the Dominican republic questioning whether she’s Dominican or American.
“When I go to the D.R., the press in Santo Domingo always asks, “¿Qué te consideras, dominicana o americana?” (What do you consider yourself, Dominican or American?) I don’t understand it, and it’s the same people asking the same question. So I say, time and time again, “Yo soy una mujer negra.” (“I am a black woman.”) [They go,] “Oh, no, tú eres trigueñita.” (“Oh no, you are ‘dark skinned’”) I’m like, “No! Let’s get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra.” (“I am a black woman).”
And According to Wiki,
Zoe Yadira Saldaña Nazario known as Zoë Saldana or Zoe Saldana, is an American actress and dancer. Saldana was born in Passaic, New Jersey. Her father, Aridio Saldaña, was from the Dominican Republic, and her mother, Asalia Nazario, is from Puerto Rico.She has often spoken of her pride in being from a Latin culture.
She also has Haitian and Lebanese roots. Her first languages are English and Spanish. She spent the majority of her early childhood growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York. She has two sisters, named Cisely and Mariel. Her father died in a car accident when she was nine years old, and Saldaña and her mother subsequently moved to the Dominican Republic.The family returned to Queens after her sophomore year in high school. – Continue Reading Here
She only played a Columbian role. She’s born from Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and grew up in the Dominican Republic.
She may claim that she’s black because she was born in the U.S. where being politically correct is the norm. Doesn’t mean she is correct. The truth is she has African, Arabic and European roots. A ‘mulatto’ would be the term, however, that is as offensive a word as “black” is. However, by using the word “black” she dilutes dialogue. I was born in New York from Dominican and Puerto Rican parents and my roots are Middle Eastern, Jewish, German, West African, and Taino Indian.
There were no Taino indian left at the time of the Mass importation of Slaves from Africa to the new world….. Anyone from the Dominican republic who says other wise is an idiot….. Even the Spaniards current or otherwise and anyone with olive skins from the Mediteranean area have African roots…. Do you people read at all…. The Moors conquered most of southern Europe, they were Africans from Northern Africa….. Get a grip….. I am African American Haitian and European….. Who gives a crap… we are all product of European colonialism…. So my skin is dark, therefore you are better than me… please….. tell that a white man… why is it that the Dominican republic never went back to Spain or became a part of the US, because they refuse you…. too many blacks…..period….
Some Blacks will do anything not to be called “Black”.
By RACE, she’s a black woman…PERIOD! Hispanic is not a race.
You have no knowledge. Trying to say that there were no Taino people left in Dominican Republic or elsewhere? Keep believing those lies from the European enslavers. And, almost everything else you are saying is based on assumptions and presumptions about Dominicans or Latinos in general. Of course, you have Haitian ascendants, you should realize what European propaganda has done. The history books are written by the conquerors. Basically, the conquerors tell you to not believe in folklore or oral history.
That’s what Black means in America though. If not for the one drop rule, Black Americans would probably claim African/European/Native American roots rather than a Black identity.
yo shes black uncle tom