The African heritage hypothesis posits that the substantial African ancestry of Puerto Ricans explains why this group is less segregated from African-Americans than non-Hispanic whites. This pattern is unlike that of other Hispanic groups, who have been found to be highly segregated from African-Americans but modestly segregated from whites. The research presented here shows that Dominicans, another Hispanic group with substantial African ancestry, are also less segregated from African-Americans than whites. Dominicans, therefore, also appear to be conforming to the African heritage thesis by residing in neighborhoods with greater proximity to African-Americans than whites.
Argues that racialization of Dominican immigrants in the US and Puerto Rico has largely confined them to the secondary segment of the labor and housing markets. Based on research in Barrio Gandul in Santurce, a central city subdivision of the San Juan, Puerto Rico metropolitan area, and Washington Heights in Manhattan, New York City.