Happy Dominican Independence Day!
On February 27, 1844, Juan Pablo Duarte led the Dominicans to victory when the Dominican Republic declared independence from Haiti. Dominican Independence Day is celebrated every year on February 27th. The holiday honors the leaders of the secret society “La Trinitaria” and the Dominican patriots who fought for freedom. Duarte would be proud to see Dominican-Americans become historical members in medicine, sports, media, fashion, music, politics, and more. Here are just a few of my paisanos.
Rolando T. Acosta, First Dominican American New York County Supreme Court Judge:
Hon. Rolando T. Acosta has been Presiding Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, since May 2017.
During his tenure, the Court has modernized its systems—making the administration of justice more efficient and accessible to the public—and has enjoyed its highest level of productivity in history. Justice Acosta serves on the Commission to Reimagine the Future of New York’s Courts (and chairs its Working Group on Appellate Practice) and the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Free Expression in the Digital Age.
Justice Acosta’s judicial career began when he was elected to a countywide Civil Court judgeship in New York County in 1997. Prior to his judicial service, Acosta held various posts with the Legal Aid Society, including Attorney-in-Charge of the largest civil trial office and Director of Government and Community Affairs. He also served as First Deputy Commissioner and as Deputy Commissioner for Law Enforcement at the New York City Commission on Human Rights.
A proud graduate of Columbia College and Columbia Law School, Justice Acosta is the recipient of Columbia University’s Medal for Excellence and Columbia Law School’s Wien Prize for Social Responsibility.
He is a member of the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame, having earned four straight All-Eastern League (and All-Ivy League) honors. He was twice named Pitcher of the Year and led the Lions to two Ivy League championships.
Over forty years after graduating from Columbia College, Acosta still holds Columbia records for career and season victories. He has served on the Columbia Board of Trustees since 2011, where he Chairs the Public Affairs Committee and oversees Athletics.
Acosta also serves on the Board of the Columbia Alumni Association, is a member of the Dean’s Council of Columbia Law School, and was the keynote speaker at Columbia College’s 2020 Class Day.
Justice Acosta was raised in the South Bronx and Washington Heights, having immigrated from the Dominican Republic at the age of 14.
Dr. Juan Manuel Taveras Rodríguez:
Dr. Juan Manuel Taveras Rodríguez (September 27, 1919, Moca, Dominican Republic—March 28, 2002, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) Dr. Tavares / Rodriguez was regarded as the father of medical specialty in neuroradiology.
He co-authored the first textbook of this specialty and founded both the American Society of Neuroradiology and its journal. He was Professor Emeritus at Harvard Medical School and Radiologist-in-Chief Emeritus of the Massachusetts General Hospital.
Juan Manuel Taveras made important innovations in training, investigation, radiologic administration, and professional organization which had global impact on the broader spectrum of radiology and the neurosciences throughout the world.
He was also the main force behind the development of the Hospital General de la Plaza de la Salud in Santo Domingo, as well as its Centro de Diagnóstico, Medicina Avanzada, Laboratorio y Telemedicina (CEDIMAT), a state-of-the-art medical clinic for diagnosis and treatment, which has become one of the major centers for medical education in Latin America
Read: NBA Final’s and The Highest Paid Latino Player, Al Horford & His Wife Dominican Beauty Queen Amelia Vega
He received medical doctorates from both the University of Santo Domingo in 1943 and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1949, and completed a radiology residency under the direction of Dr. Arthur Finkelstein at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Juan Marichal born in the small farming village of Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic was the first Dominican inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.
Junot Díaz is the first Dominican American to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2008.
Junot Diaz has gained critical acclaim for his novels and short stories that explore themes of identity, race, immigration, and masculinity. Diaz was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1968 and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. He grew up in New Jersey and later attended Rutgers University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in English.
Diaz’s upbringing as a child of immigrants greatly influenced his writing, as he grappled with the complexities of navigating two different cultures. His first book, “Drown,” a collection of short stories published in 1996, draws heavily from his own experiences as a Dominican-American.
The book explores themes of family, poverty, and the immigrant experience, and it received critical acclaim for its raw, honest portrayal of life in the Dominican Republic and the United States.
In 2007, Diaz published his first novel, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” which went on to win numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2008. The novel follows the life of Oscar, a Dominican-American nerd who is obsessed with science fiction and fantasy literature.
The book weaves together multiple narratives, including the history of the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo, the struggles of Oscar’s immigrant family, and Oscar’s own quest for love and acceptance. “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” was widely praised for its masterful storytelling, vivid characters, and nuanced exploration of identity and cultural heritage.
Diaz’s second book, “This Is How You Lose Her,” a collection of short stories published in 2012, continues to explore themes of love, relationships, and the immigrant experience.
The book centers around Yunior, a recurring character in Diaz’s work who grapples with issues of infidelity, masculinity, and cultural identity. Like “Drown,” “This Is How You Lose Her” received critical acclaim for its raw, honest portrayal of life as a Dominican-American.
Diaz has won numerous awards and accolades for his writing, including a MacArthur “Genius” Grant in 2012, which recognized his outstanding contributions to the field of literature. In addition to his writing,
Diaz has also been an advocate for social justice and political activism. He has spoken out about issues such as immigration, police brutality, and the impact of colonialism on marginalized communities.
Diaz is a celebrated author whose work has explored the complexities of the immigrant experience, cultural identity, and the struggle for self-acceptance. His writing is marked by its raw, honest portrayal of life as a Dominican-American and its nuanced exploration of themes of race, gender, and sexuality.
Oscar De La Renta, World renowned Designer:
Oscar De La Renta was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and was one of the most famous designer of our times. He became internationally known when he dressed Jacqueline Kennedy in the 1960s.
Al Horford- Highest Paid Latino in the NBA:
Al Horford born in Puerto Plata is a professional basketball player who currently plays for the Boston Celtics and married to 2003 Miss Universe Amelia Vega.
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso was born June 3,1986 in Puerto Plata Dominican Republic. Nicknamed “Big Al”, Horford is a five-time NBA All-Star and is the highest paid Latin American basketball player. Big Al and his team The Boston Celtics are currently battling it out in the NBA finals with The Golden State Warriors.
Big Al’s father, Tito Horford, played in the NBA for three years and several more in other countries. In 2000, Horford and his family moved to Michigan (USA),there Al became a star in his high school basketball team. holds seven school records, including most career points (1,239).
He was drafted with the third overall pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, a team he played nine seasons with before signing with the Celtics, where he signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the Boston Celtics on July 8, and said he was looking forward to working with Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and the rest of the team to bring a championship trophy back to Boston.
He made his debut for the Celtics in their season opener on October 26, 2016. By making the NBA Finals, Horford has his 2022-23 salary guarantee jump from $14.5 million to $19.5 million. Horford will get the full $26.5 million in his contract guaranteed if the Celtics win the NBA Finals.
Horford is married to Dominican supermodel, actress, singer, and a former Miss Universe winner, Amelia Vega. She won the Miss Universe competition back in 2003.
Arlenis Sosa Peña is a Dominican super model. She is the current spokesmodel for Lancôme.
Juan Luis Guerra is a singer, songwriter and producer who has sold over 30 million records and won 15 Latin Grammy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and two Latin Billboard Music Awards and the list continues to grow.
Adriano Espaillat. First Dominican elected to the U.S. Congress:
On January 3, 2017 Adriano Espaillat made history as he was elected the first Dominican American, and first formerly undocumented immigrant, to become a U.S. Congressman.
He represents New York’s Thirteenth Congressional District, which includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill, and the north-west Bronx.
Espaillat’ s victory comes after losing two consecutive challenges to unseat longtime incumbent, Democratic congressman Charles Rangel in 2012 and 2014. The changing demographics in district could have fueled Espaillat’ s victory.
In the past, the African American population was the majority in the area. Currently the district is about 31 percent black, 24.6 percent white, 4.7 percent Asian. About 54 percent identify as Latino, and that population is made up of primarily Dominican-Americans.
