Lol this is the underlying problem behind the obsession of how Dominicans identify, sexual politics. If Dominicans looked like Zimbabweans, there wouldn’t be any discussion.
The 3 groups with the most African ancestry (dna) in the new world are Black Americans, Jamaicans and Haitians, yet if I stated to each one individually that they look alike there would be disagreement.
Most would liken themselves to a mixed race population
then in the same breath call these folks self-hating when phenotype and genetics corroborate this.
While there may be overlap like anywhere in the diáspora. Put it this way. You can tell the difference quite easily. When I’m in a supermarket (supermercado) and someone says “moreno” I’m the only to respond. Despite there being from my vantage point similarity in skin tones. Not only is it a colloquial word for negro at times they are asking lowkey also trying to see where I’m from. They can tell I’m not Dominican, they know I’m not Haitian, but where? And that’s confirmed when I speak. I really only hear black Americans say this, never the other way around. That needs to be unpacked.
Another thing is when they do say it is meant to be in a flattering way. Again the mentioning of this is one sided.