Kelly (Dean), 103–4, 105
King, Rodney, 110, 111
Koch, Ed, 50
L
la africana, 192, 193, 228
la india, 225–26
Latinos
American-born, 107–8, 138–39, 158, 265–66
culture of, 235
Family Tree DNA and, 151–52, 158
Life is Precious program and, 271–75
migration to New York City of, 208–10
New York City born, 107–8
as prototypical New Americans, 260
racial/census classification of, 151–52, 164, 235, 265–66
Raquel’s email about identity of American, 265–66
resentment/harassment of, 62, 139
as “sisters,” 71, 104
transcultural Americano, 207
whiteness and, 235
See also Dominicans; Haitians
Lavoe, Héctor, 6, 18
Leonicio: Maria as caretaker of, 94–95
Life is Precious (suicide prevention program), 271–75
Ligiah’s bordello, 14–16
Lisa (Raquel’s friend/camerawoman), 175, 178, 182, 186, 187, 188
Lizardo, Angel
appearance of, 85, 91
changes name to Infinite Reality, 108–9
girlfriends of, 111–12
Maria’s relationship with, 108–9, 114
Maria’s visits with, 132
military/law enforcement career of, 127
new identity of, 108–9
in Philadelphia, 106, 108–9, 111–12
Raquel as girlfriend of, 87–88, 89, 92, 111, 129
Raquel introduced to, 85–86
Raquel’s “death” and, 130
Raquel’s move to Pittsburgh and, 116
Raquel’s relationship with, 76, 100, 127
religion and, 109–11, 127
as singer, 101–2
at Temple University, 101, 111, 114
at tennis courts, 85–86
views about whites of, 111
in Virginia, 132
womanizing of, 129
Lizardo, Emilio (Angel’s father), 90, 91, 92, 141
Lizardo, Maria (Angel’s mother)
Angel-Raquel relationship and, 88, 92, 100, 101, 111–12
Angel’s introduction to Raquel and, 85–86
Angel’s new identity and, 108–9
appearance of, 89–90, 113
Blackie-Charo relationship and, 100–101
Casimiro and, 89, 90, 91, 92–93, 94, 95, 101, 106–7, 109, 111, 112, 127, 137, 140
Casimiro’s son and, 94, 97, 140
children of, 90
death of, 140–41
depression of, 106–7, 127–28, 130–31
dreams of, 114, 116, 130, 156
Eduardo-Raquel relationship and, 114, 116
Eduardo’s insult of, 88
Fat Maria’s jealousy of, 128, 129
in Florida, 137, 140
illness/cancer of, 109, 114, 127, 140–41
as Leonicio’s caretaker, 94–95
as mourner, 92, 94, 95
paranoia of, 137
personality of, 89–90
Raquel dream of, 114, 116, 130
and Raquel as poet, 135
Raquel’s depression and, 139
Raquel’s (neighbor) story and, 98, 99
Raquel’s Pittsburgh move and, 116, 124, 126–27, 128
Raquel’s relationship with, 89, 101, 112, 130–31, 134–35, 156, 251
Raquel’s visits with, 91–95, 96–101, 102, 113–14, 129–30, 132, 136
Raquel’s walking in high heels and, 228
religion and, 110
Rocío-Raquel relationship and, 133–34
Santo Domingo visits by, 130, 132
St. Michael painting of, 91, 112, 214
views about Dominican men of, 101
LL Cool J, 81
logos, 156, 157, 269
Lopez, Awilda, 170–71, 172
Los Peladeros (Ismael’s lover), 241
Love, Monie, 84, 103
Luperón, Gregorio, 250
M
Mahatma Gandhi School (Santo Domingo): Raquel as student at, 49, 230–32
Majluta, Jacobo, 245
Malcolm X, 109
Mancebo, Antonio (Rocío’s brother/Raquel’s uncle)
ancestry DNA project and, 197, 204–5
brothel experiences of, 14–17
childhood and youth of, 4, 5, 14–17
Eduardo’s views about Dominicans and, 47
Ercilia Rabassa memories of, 239
family gathering at home of, 194–96
father’s relationship with, 13–17
as homosexual, 13–17
photographs of, 210
Raquel rejoining Eduardo in New York and, 41
Raquel’s childhood and youth and, 22, 26
and rescue of Rocío from Pascal, 38–40
Rocío-Eduardo relationship and, 6, 11–12
Rocío’s relationship with, 4, 5, 17
Rocío’s second husband and, 195
Mancebo, Don Manuel “Papa” (maternal grandfather)
ancestry DNA project and, 243, 244, 259–61
Antonio’s bordello visits and, 14–17
Antonio’s feelings about, 204
Antonio’s relationship with, 13–17
appearance of, 5
childhood/youth of, 244
death of, 196
Doña Dolores’s relationship with, 40
Ercilia Cepeda and, 63
and family gathering at Antonio’s home, 194, 195, 196
influence on Raquel of, 205
photographs of, 210, 211
Raquel’s childhood/youth and, 22, 26, 40–41, 43, 49, 68, 244–45
Raquel’s relationship with, 89
and Raquel’s return to New York City with Eduardo, 40–41
relocation from Santo Domingo to U.S. of, 194
Rocío-Eduardo relationship and, 6, 10, 11–12, 18
Rocío-Eduardo wedding and, 11
Rocío-Pascal relationship and, 40–41
Rocío-Raquel relationship and, 73
Rocío’s relationship with, 5, 13, 18
Rocío’s second husband and, 195
wedding of, 210
womanizing of, 13
Mancebo, Doña Dolores Valdez “Mama” (maternal grandmother)
ancestry of, 197, 243–44
Antonio’s homosexuality and, 14
appearance of, 13
Don Manuel’s relationship with, 40
and Eduardo-Raquel home in New York City, 45
Eduardo’s views about Dominicans and, 47
Ercilia Rabassa Cepeda and, 63
family background of, 12
family gathering at Antonio’s home and, 194, 195
personality and character of, 12–13
photographs loaned to Raquel by, 210–11
photographs of, 210
Raquel’s childhood/youth and, 22, 26, 27, 40–41, 42, 43, 45, 49, 51, 68, 245
Raquel’s Morocco trip and, 174
Raquel’s relationship with, 89, 133–34
relocation from Santo Domingo to U.S. of, 194
Rocío-Eduardo relationship and, 6, 10–12
Rocío-Eduardo wedding and, 11, 13
Rocío-Pascal relationship and, 27, 28, 40–41
Rocío-Raquel relationship and, 73, 133–34, 173
Rocío’s relationship with, 12, 13, 19, 27, 202
self-image of, 13
views about Dominican men of, 8
wedding of, 210
Mancebo, Elpidio (Raquel’s great-grandfather), 211, 243
Mancebo, Emilia (Raquel’s great-grandmother), 211, 243
Mancebo, Paloma (Raquel’s aunt)
ancestry DNA project and, 242–44, 248
appearance of, 4–5, 242
childhood and youth of, 4–5, 210
Eduardo’s views about Dominicans and, 47
photographs of,
210
Raquel’s childhood/youth and, 22, 41, 47, 51
Raquel’s rejoining Eduardo in New York and, 41
Raquel’s relationship with, 213, 242, 251, 257
Raquel’s trips to Santo Domingo and, 213, 242–45, 248, 251–52
Rocío-Eduardo introduction and, 5–6
Rocío-Raquel relationship and, 242, 243
Rocío’s relationship with, 4–5
Mancebo, Rocío. See Cepeda, Rocío Mancebo (mother)
Maria (prostitute), 15
Maria (Moncho’s wife) “Fat Maria,” 126, 128, 129
Marmolejo (surname), 257
MC Lyte, 103, 153
McAllister, Dickie, 31–32, 33–34, 35
McVeigh, Timothy, 138
Mead, Margaret, 271
Mejia, Hipólito, 207
Michelle (Rocío’s daughter), 197–99, 201–2, 204, 205
Milagros (Priscilla’s mother), 79, 80–81
Mintz, Jane, 117–18, 121–22
missionaries, Catholic, 68, 72
Moncho (Doña Amparo’s son), 126, 128
Monk (Raquel’s boyfriend), 139–40
Morgan, Joan, 136
Morocco, Raquel’s trip to, 176–90
cheesiest moment on, 187
Fez and, 180, 181, 182–84, 190
fortune teller and, 183–84, 190
Lisa as camerawoman on, 175
preparation for, 174
purpose of, 173, 175
Rabat and, 177–80
Sahara desert and, 185–88
Tangier and, 180, 188–90
Volubilis ruins and, 181
world music festival in, 173
Mossel, Thijs Volchertz, 209
Moya, Emilia Jimenez, 237
Moya Pons, Frank, 217, 251, 252, 253–57
music
Dominican, 249
Raquel’s feelings about, 70, 101–2
spiritual Islamic, 180–81
See also type of music or performer
music publicist: Raquel as, 136
Mykah Nyne, 131
mythos, 156, 157, 269
N
Nancy’s Nightclub (bordello), 16
Natalie (Maria’s neighbor), 96, 97, 98, 106–7, 109, 111–12, 113–14, 116, 128
The Nation of Gods and Earths, 109–10
Nation of Islam, 109
National Geographic Society, 150–51
neighbors
Eduardo’s dream about car accident involving, 166
in New York City, 45–46
See also specific person
New Word magazine: Raquel as poetry editor of, 131–32
New York City
botanicas in, 225–26
Eduardo’s neighbors in, 45–46
fortune tellers in, 255
Hawkins murder in, 102
Latina teen suicides in, 272
Latino migration to, 208–10
Latinos born in, 107–8
Maria’s dream about Raquel leaving, 114, 130
Maria’s views about, 137
race in, 138–39
Raquel rejoins Eduardo in, 40–41, 42–43, 245
Raquel’s feelings/views about, 22, 41, 70, 124, 137–38, 141, 212, 258, 259
Raquel’s return from Pittsburgh to, 125, 131
relocation of Dominicans from, 140
Rocío and Eduardo’s early days in, 18–21
Rocío’s views about, 3, 24
welfare system in, 170–71
novelty store: Raquel’s work in, 131, 132
Number One (Pittsburgh tennis player), 118–20
Nuyorican Poets Cafe (New York City), 131
N.W.A., 110
O
Obama, Barack, 157, 177, 260
O’Connell, Ms. (Raquel’s English teacher), 113
P
Pacheco, Johnny, 6
Palais Jamaï (Morocco), 182–83
Paraíso (Santo Domingo): Mancebo home in, 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 22, 23, 25, 38, 40, 211, 223, 242, 244, 245
Parsley Massacre, 251
Pataki, George, 171
Paz, Octavio, 126
piano: Raquel’s playing of, 52, 53, 59
Pickover, Clifford, 145
Pinson, Rav DovBer, 267–69
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
race relations in, 122–23, 124–25, 135
Raquel in college in, 115–24, 130
Plug One (aka Posdnuos), 84, 85
Plug Two (aka Trugoy), 84, 85
Poe, Edgar Allan, 106
police
Eduardo-Raquel relationship and, 69–70
in Morocco, 188
in Pittsburgh, 123
Rodney King case and, 110
Prandis, Francisca (Ercilia’s mother), 12, 238–39
Public Enemy, 70, 110
Puerto Rico: ancestry in, 234–35
Q
Queen Latifah, 103
Queens, New York: American Airlines crash in, 137
R
R&B music, 136
Rabassa, Don Pedro (paternal grandfather), 12, 63, 239
Rabassa, Ercilia. See Cepeda, Ercilia Rabassa
Rabat, Morocco: Raquel’s trip to, 177–80
race
in Brooklyn, 135
cultural context of, 235
definition of, 151–52
Latinos and, 151–52
in New York City, 138–39
in Pittsburgh, 122–23, 124–25, 135
Raquel as writer about, 135
Raquel’s travels and, 154–57
See also ancestry DNA project; specific race
radio station: Raquel’s internship at, 124
RAMO, 57–58, 72
rap music, 55, 59–60, 68, 131, 132, 208
“Rapture” (Blondie song), 42, 47
Raquel (Maria’s neighbor), 97–100, 101, 130
Rebecca (Ercilia’s daughter), 222
reconciliation: Raquel’s thoughts about truth and, 172, 269
Red Alert (DJ), 54–55
reincarnation, 268
religion
of Dominicans, 250
Raquel and, 64–65, 68, 72
See also Catholicism; specific person
Rich, Adrienne, 59
Roberto (Maria’s son), 90, 94
Rodrigues, Jan (aka Juan Rodriguez), 209–10
Rodríguez, José Luis “El Puma,” 195
Romano, Casilda. See Cepeda, Casilda Romano
Romano, Natividad, 238
Rosie. See Cepeda, Rocío “Mami” (mother)
Run-DMC, 76
Russell Simmons’ Oneworld magazine:
Raquel as editor of, 141
S
Sacha (Raquel’s husband). See Jenkins, Sacha
Sahara desert: Raquel’s trip to, 185–88
salsa dancing, 101
San Francisco, California
Raquel with Rocío and Pascal in, 29–40, 204
Rocío-Pascal move to, 28
Santeria music, 180
Santo Domingo/Dominican Republic
caul bearers in, 165
Cepeda family roots in, 4
Colonial Zone in, 217, 226, 227, 230, 231, 234, 245, 252–53
as first permanent European settlement in New World, 193
Haitians in, 213, 216
history of, 212, 217–21, 253–57
Maria’s (Lizardo) visit to, 130, 132
Mercado Modelo in, 213–16
mitochondrial DNA survey in, 221
New York City compared with, 44
Raquel’s ancestry trips to, 198, 206–13, 216–17, 221–23, 224–41, 242–45, 248, 251–57
Raquel’s childhood visits to, 22, 26, 27, 40–41
Raquel’s feelings/views about, 22, 23, 68, 89, 211–12, 259
Raquel’s international film festival trip to, 213–16
return of Dominicans to, 140
Rocío-Raquel childhood apartment in, 252–53
Rocío-Raquel return to, 39
Roc�
�o’s views about, 12
slavery and, 192–93, 219, 220, 233, 234, 246–47, 251–52, 253–57, 263
U.S. relations with, 248–49, 250
See also Paraíso
Sara (Esperanza’s friend), 7, 24–25
Saturday Night Live (TV show), 222
September 11, 2001, 196
Sheeba (Raquel’s friend), 83–84, 85, 114
Sierra Leone: Raquel’s trip to, 154–56, 170, 172, 272
Simmons, Russell, 76, 85, 131
“sisters”: Blacks and Latinos as, 71, 104
slavery
Chickasaw Indians and, 157
Dominican history and, 192–93, 219, 220, 233, 234, 246–47, 251–52, 253–57, 263
Morocco and, 179
Moya Pons–Raquel conversation about, 252, 253–57
records about, 251–52, 254–55, 263
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, 261–62
The Smoke House (Pascal’s San Francisco shop), 29, 30, 39
Sosa, Sammy, 256
Spain
history of Caribbean islands and, 192–93
Jaén Province in, 257
spiritual Islamic music, 180–81
St. Catherine’s school, 105
St. Michael painting, Maria Lizardo’s, 91, 112, 214
St. Thaddeus school: Raquel as student at, 49–51, 65, 66, 67, 68, 80, 83, 104, 117, 128–29, 162, 229–30
street sweeper story, Sierra Leone, 170, 172
Sucesos newspaper, 101
Supreme Mathematics (Clarence 13X), 110
T
Taíno people, 218–19, 220–21, 225, 227, 232–34, 243, 244, 246, 247, 252, 262–64, 274
Tanaisha (Raquel’s Pittsburgh roommate), 118
Tangier, Morocco: Raquel’s trip to, 180, 188–90
Tate, Greg, 136
Temple University: Angel at, 101, 111, 114
tennis
Eduardo’s interest in, 48, 49, 63, 65, 69, 70, 112, 114, 118, 230
and Raquel as tennis player, 48, 49, 52, 55, 57, 59, 63, 65, 66, 69, 70, 81–82, 85–86, 112, 116, 117, 118–20, 230
Time: A Traveler’s Guide (Pickover), 145
time machine
ancestral DNA project as, 145
Eduardo’s interest in, 145, 148–49
Titi. See Xiomara
travel, Raquel’s
ancestry DNA project and, 154
Djali as travel buddy for, 206
race and, 154–57
Raquel’s views about, 154–57, 175
for tennis tournaments, 116
See also specific trip
Trujillo, Rafael, 12, 165, 168, 207, 238, 250–51
truth: Raquel’s thoughts about reconciliation and, 172, 269
V
Valdez, Don Felipe (Raquel’s maternal great-grandfather), 12, 13
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