The Dominican Women of Mia Beauty Studio Vote Clinton
Dominicans make up the largest Latino group in New York City, numbering at around 800,000. Many of them live in the northern Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood, where Dyckman Street is lined with Dominican clothing stores, bars and beauty salons.
The women of Mia Beauty Studio on 255 Dyckman Street are, unanimously, Clinton supporters. Between giving manicures and haircuts, all the women who were eligible to vote made their way to the polls today.
Elizabeth, a customer at the salon, had a smartphone glued to her ear, listening to Spanish-language radio giving U.S. election predictions. Early returns were coming in. “Si! Hillary is winning!” she exclaimed, with approval from the other women of the salon. Maria, a hair stylist, responded, “Thank God!”
Bachata and reggaeton music played while the women worked and ordered takeout dinners. The atmosphere was tense — normal conversations were interrupted every time someone checked a phone for election results.
Patricia Martinez, the owner of Mia Beauty Studio, said she has been eligible to vote for the past seven years, but only voted for the first time this year. She said she voted for Hillary Clinton because she wants a female in the nation’s most powerful office — and she’d like to see a continuation of President Obama’s policies.
“Anything but Trump,” said Martinez. “He has been very violent with his comments about women. I am Latina and the same remarks are made about Latinos. I am an American citizen but I don’t like the way he has talked about immigrants, especially Mexicans, because Mexicans are very hardworking.”
Martinez said that Inwood, a heavily Dominican area, is voting Democrat this election.
“Business was slow today in the salon because everyone was voting,” said Martinez, “but I hope people are in the street tomorrow, celebrating the election results.”
