In ‘This is How You Lose Her’, a book of connected-ish short stories, Junot Diaz makes the point of his protagonist being from the Caribbean and of the African diaspora. Throughout the book (colourful and complex tales of migration, masculinity and of sucio womanisers extraordinaire), we come unexpectedly on references to women who are douglas and coco panyols and Laxmi who is ‘technically from Guyana’.
A brainiac writer/academic of Dominican Republic origin, Diaz’s work rouses thought about privilege and gender and ethnic ‘othering’. The book is full of talk, the author capturing with brio how people can act and speak in the language of prejudices when with friends, in families and communities (in private spheres).
Like so many books about the Caribbean and like so many discussions we have about ourselves, the book keeps describing women in tones- mulatto, negra, blanquita, morena.
I am not sure if that literary preoccupation with skin colour is peculiar to the Caribbean, but what appears to be the case is that the dread of skin darkness, the preference for light, has some global resonance.
In the pharmacies and beauty salons in Bangkok, any number of products that promise ‘whitening’. Skins creams for whitening, face moisturizer for whitening, even deodorants promise the whitening of the underarms. I found a tamarind soap about which I was so excited for the sheer creativity of the idea. But that soap too, its magical chemical property was its whitening agent.
And the products work if you count ashy lime-like residue on the skin like so much gym shoe whitener pre Nike.
The language of whitening is used with calculation for the market. And it is this point that Junot Diaz makes in this video below: the triumph of the European aesthetic, which also applies to literature, has momentum because the world of peoples, across continents and ethnicities, embrace it with gusto.
And indeed defend it, as when we stubbornly claim that the majority of African descent women who go through their whole lives, straightening, weaving and wigging their hair are only expressing ‘fashion choice’.
This is what the political sociologists would call hegemony. Cultural influences that are so dominant and dominating as to be the ’natural’ order of things.
Here is the Junot Diaz exchange.
I just finished it and much much preferred this collection to Oscar Wao. He’s very good with gender, race and love. It just felt personal. Or maybe I was so caught up in the romance of the living breathing Yunior it spilled over into the work. Thanks for the heads up and the link. I’ve noticed though that it seems infinitely easier to talk about gender than it is to talk about race. Really talk about it. From the hair business to shade business maybe the political in this case is too personal. With gender how the political become personal feels a bit more obvious (Patriarchy, God, blah blah) and I guess as a result easier to discuss. All the race talk seems very shallow and slogan-y…sure ‘black is beautiful’ but how many people actually believe it?
Roberta I was discussing with a colleague our loss here in Barbados at your move to Asia. We will continue to feel that loss but we also continue to enjoy your insights and to share in the rich experiences that you are having in that new setting. Your Muse seems fully awake.
Here in Tobago, ironically I observe the flip side. Surprisingly, tourism and related enterprising activities abounds; new restaurnts, ecorelated trades in jewellery and art, cultural activities. Not to mention, the well kept landscapes- I guess color me orange can work!!??
Yes, so back to your point. Last night at Sunday School in Buccoo, i estimated 100 to 150 attendees, majority (white) tourists comprising groups of university students as well as mature couples. They were also seen as far as Speyside enjoying Jemmas by the Sea (amazing food, but wait an hour as she was packed with both foreign and local (trini) patrons).
White tourists continue to seek the beauty of the dark skin, albeit in the process getting burned. Natural hairstyles including the big fro intersperse the weaves, colored hairstyles as well amongst the trinbagonians.
Yes, I am sure someone will respond there is a difference; please do.
Thanks Roberta. As usual informative and provocative. I was interested in the reaction of women who are normally first to respond and was struck by the fact that the reponses were predominantly male.
I know that the hair issue is sensitive with women. I was surprised to see that after the black power era and the Afro styles faded into an historical moment, we have gone a step further with blond and red to brown hair being the craze. The triumph of the European aesthetic as Diaz calls it seems to me to be complete in this domain.
The whiteners are particularly popular in Asia, but also have penetrated Africa. I am not aware of the use of these products in the Caribbean. I am grateful that you have begun this discussion
Can’ wait to read it soon! I like the way he just puts it out there. No race issues in MIT, and Asian women are dating white guys. I wonder if I could teach English in Bangkok. Hmmm…
I was recently confronted with the “… language of prejudice with … family …” and the obsession with light-skin and was deeply hurt by it. The more things change, the more they stay the same…
Interesting discussion. Will have to look for his work. Never heard of him before.
Nice one Andy. Shaved heads as markers of absence perhaps? As a 57yo and someone who has periodically shaved my head over the past few years I will have to pause next time and consider whether the urge is to be cool vs uncool or not so old vs old. Or perhaps something else? Come to think of it my scalp will be paler after shaving too. Lots of unexamined issues here.
Thanks as usual Roberta. Sharing with my psychology students. Perhaps it will help them appreciate the art in our work
Very interesting perspective by Diaz. I have to read more of his work, he is extremely articulate and fresh. His thoughts on privilege and what we do to preserve white power are intriguing. Many thanks Roberta.
Finally, Andy……..Andy……
To balance the spotlight on those poor women desperate to whiten their faces/skins/armpits/other body parts that well bred men do not mention in polite conversation and certainly not in the hearing of women, let me also raise the issue of men past the age of 27 who, at the first sign of balding or greying, shave their heads hoping to look cool rather than old. This guy is age 43 – way too young to be bald headed.