Ca’ren Franklin Dr. Vargas 30 April 2024 While exploring the complex ideas and motifs woven throughout my artistic endeavor, a remarkable resemblance emerges between Nella Larsen's groundbreaking book Passing and the symbolic meaning embedded in Erzulie's Skirt. Both are important platforms for investigating identity, exploring dualism in dimensions, and scrutinizing the standards that are currently in place in society. In her novel Passing, Nella Larsen masterfully explores racist occurrences and the intricacies of racial identity in early 20th-century America. Within this rich tapestry, one such instance is when Irene Redfield, who has a fair complexion, encounters discrimination in her native community because of her choice to identify as African American. Her …show more content…
Another manifestation of racial dynamics in Passing is Clare Kendry's purposeful decision to disguise herself as white, a strategic maneuver aimed at acquiring societal privileges. Clare's strategic move not only exposes the harsh realities of racial discrimination and the limited options that African Americans faced at the time, but also reveals a sad aspect of internalized racism that was pervasive in African American circles. This portrayal highlights the severe psychological toll of societal bias, forcing people to sacrifice their intrinsic individuality for societal recognition. In Ana-Maurine Lara's Erzulie Skirt, the investigation of racial identity is inextricably linked to the cultural and spiritual fabric of Haitian culture. The story takes place on the busy streets of Port-au-Prince and follows the journey of Azaka, a young Haitian lady dealing with the complexities of identity development in a milieu marked by colonial relics and indigenous