According to Oxford Reference cultural identity is, “The definition of groups or individuals (by themselves or others) in terms of cultural or subcultural categories (including ethnicity, nationality, language, religion, and gender).” The idea of how cultural identity is formed is explored by the Haitian-American novelist, Edwidge Danticat in her book the Farming of Bones which tells the story of Amabelle Desir, a Haitian-born woman living in the Dominican Republic and the horrors that she faces during the Parsley Massacre. Dominican-born artist Firelei Baez also explores the idea of the evolution of women’s self-concept as a result of historical bigotry in her paintings. Edwidge Danticat and Firelei Baez explore how racial discrimination…show more content… Señor Pico represents the tyranny of the Dominican upper class and their discrimination of Haitians due to their skin color. Many of her interactions with Señor Pico illustrate his hatred toward Amabelle. Due to her lack of power or control, Amabelle must suffer the injustice of his actions which subdues her growth as an individual. After the baptism of Rosalinda, Amabelle waits outside for the ceremony to end. When Señor Pico and Señora Valencia come out of the chapel Amabelle, “leaned forward and grazed Rosalinda’s cheeks with {her} lips{...}Señor Pico yanked his wife’s arm and pulled her away”(119). Señor Pico believes that because Amabelle is black, she is not worthy to kiss his child. After the Generalissimo gave the order to eradicate the Haitians, Señor Pico tries to suppress the crowd of angry cane workers near his house, and Amabelle is caught up in the ensuing chaos. While she is running she heard, “Amabelle, out of the road!”(157). Amabelle thinks to herself, “ He shouted, as if my being there was a sign of disrespect to him and his house”(157). Amabelle recognizes that he is a terrible, racist man, and does not allow his opinion make her feel bad about herself. She has evolved from the last confrontation with Señor Pico. There is no question in Amabelle’s…show more content… The acrylic and ink on linen artwork depicts a black woman wearing an elaborate tignon, which is an intricate headdress that free women of color had to wear according to law in New Orleans to minimize their attractiveness to white men. The only feature of the haunting torso is eyes: dark, sorrowful eyes that express the pain of how collectively women were repressed based on the arbitrary color of their skin. The dark color of the pupil contrasts dramatically with the white to highlight the concept of racial inequality. So these eyes are especially sorrowful because women were oppressed and limited in their occupations and freedom, even though they were not slaves. The women’s skin is an acrylic blend and wash of greens, browns, and streaks of red. Brown symbolizes the beauty of the actual color of her skin, while green represents growth and eventual freedom of choice. Whereas, the red depicts blood and injustice of the massacres and cruelty to people based on their skin color. The smear of pink in the neck represent Baez’s celebration of femininity, hope, and compassion all fundamental qualities of a liberated woman. The unusual blending of the colors highlights women facing racial persecution which leaves emotional scars that don’t seem to go away because
