Cocolo
Encyclopedia
Cocolo is a slang
term common in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean
used sometimes to refer to non-Hispanic
African descendants (usually African Americans). It is also a term used to refer to people from Anglophone
and Francophone
Caribbean
in Spanish-speaking countries and the Cocolos of San Pedro de Macoris
, Puerto Plata
and the Samana Peninsula
in the Dominican Republic
.
This is similar to the differentiation of a common term of creole
and an ethnic group like the Creoles of Louisiana
. The usage, outside of the specific ethnicity of the Cocolos of San Pedro de Macoris
, is vague, and at times the word can mean all blacks or all the poor of any race or those that identify with the Afro-Latino culture and music, such as Salsa
and other Spanish Afro-Caribbean musical genres. It is a term which is often used with pride to refer to oneself, yet can be taken as an insult when others use it.
, Puerto Plata, and other areas to work on the docks and sugar cane plantations at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries
The descendants of the African-American freed slaves who live on the Samaná
peninsula are never called "cocolos," however. They are referred to as "Los Americanos" ("The Americans").
This word migrated to Puerto Rico
where it was used by some to refer to dark-skinned Dominicans and Africans in general. In 1937, however, it only meant Black in Puerto Rico. Later, the term "cocolo" would become a slang term describing the subculture which followed Afro-Latino music, especially Salsa
as opposed to rock music (those were called "rockeros"). In the Puerto Rico of late 1970s and early 1980s, the rivalry between "cocolos" and "rockeros" was similar to the rivalry between the Rockers
and the Mods in 1960s England
.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term common in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
used sometimes to refer to non-Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
African descendants (usually African Americans). It is also a term used to refer to people from Anglophone
Anglophone Caribbean
The term Commonwealth Caribbean is used to refer to the independent English-speaking countries of the Caribbean region. Upon a country's full independence from the United Kingdom, Anglophone Caribbean or Commonwealth Caribbean traditionally becomes the preferred sub-regional term as a replacement...
and Francophone
Francophone
The adjective francophone means French-speaking, typically as primary language, whether referring to individuals, groups, or places. Often, the word is used as a noun to describe a natively French-speaking person....
Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
in Spanish-speaking countries and the Cocolos of San Pedro de Macoris
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata
Puerto Plata is one of the northern provinces of the Dominican Republic. The area has become an increasingly popular tourist attraction since the late 1990s mainly due to its fine beaches...
and the Samana Peninsula
Samaná Peninsula
The Samaná Península is a peninsula in Dominican Republic situated in the province of Samaná. The Samaná Peninsula is connected to the rest of the state by the isthmus of Samaná. The Peninsula contains many beaches, especially in the city of Santa Bárbara de Samaná. It contains 3 rivers. The main...
in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
This is similar to the differentiation of a common term of creole
Creole peoples
The term Creole and its cognates in other languages — such as crioulo, criollo, créole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kreol, kriulo, kriol, krio, etc. — have been applied to people in different countries and epochs, with rather different meanings...
and an ethnic group like the Creoles of Louisiana
Louisiana Creole people
Louisiana Creole people refers to those who are descended from the colonial settlers in Louisiana, especially those of French and Spanish descent. The term was first used during colonial times by the settlers to refer to those who were born in the colony, as opposed to those born in the Old World...
. The usage, outside of the specific ethnicity of the Cocolos of San Pedro de Macoris
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, is vague, and at times the word can mean all blacks or all the poor of any race or those that identify with the Afro-Latino culture and music, such as Salsa
Salsa (dance)
Salsa is a syncretic dance form with origins in Cuba as the meeting point of Spanish and African cultures.Salsa is normally a partner dance, although there are recognized solo forms such as solo dancing "suelta" and "Rueda de Casino" where multiple couples exchange partners in a circle...
and other Spanish Afro-Caribbean musical genres. It is a term which is often used with pride to refer to oneself, yet can be taken as an insult when others use it.
Origin
The origin of the word is unclear. In the Dominican Republic, "Cocolo" is used only to refer to Caribbean descendants who came to the cities of San Pedro de MacorisSan Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
, Puerto Plata, and other areas to work on the docks and sugar cane plantations at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries
The descendants of the African-American freed slaves who live on the Samaná
Samaná
Samaná is a province of the Dominican Republic. Its capital is Santa Bárbara de Samaná, usually known as Samaná.Samaná is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean in the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic. It is known for its mountains of which it is almost entirely formed...
peninsula are never called "cocolos," however. They are referred to as "Los Americanos" ("The Americans").
This word migrated to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
where it was used by some to refer to dark-skinned Dominicans and Africans in general. In 1937, however, it only meant Black in Puerto Rico. Later, the term "cocolo" would become a slang term describing the subculture which followed Afro-Latino music, especially Salsa
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
as opposed to rock music (those were called "rockeros"). In the Puerto Rico of late 1970s and early 1980s, the rivalry between "cocolos" and "rockeros" was similar to the rivalry between the Rockers
Rocker (subculture)
Rockers, leather boys or ton-up boys are a biker subculture that originated in the United Kingdom during the 1950s. It was mainly centered around British cafe racer motorcycles and rock and roll music....
and the Mods in 1960s England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.