• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • NEWS+OPINIONS
    • NEWS TO US
    • COLUMNS
      • APPARENT HORIZON
      • DEAR READER
      • Close
    • LONGFORM FEATURES
    • OPINIONS
    • EDITORIAL
    • Close
  • ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT
    • FILM
    • MUSIC
    • COMEDY
    • PERFORMING ARTS
    • VISUAL ARTS
    • Close
  • DINING+DRINKING
    • EATS
    • SIPS
    • Close
  • LIFESTYLE
    • CANNABIS
      • TALKING JOINTS MEMO
      • Close
    • WELLNESS
    • GTFO
    • Close
  • STUFF TO DO
  • TICKETS
  • ABOUT US
    • 5 DOUBLE-U’S
    • MASTHEAD
    • DISTRIBUTION
    • ADVERTISE
    • SUBMISSIONS
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • Close
  • BECOME A MEMBER

Dig Bos

The Dig - Boston's Only Newspaper

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG Year End 2020

‘YOU DON’T LOOK HAITIAN’

Written by GREG COOK Posted January 8, 2018 Filed Under: A+E, Visual Arts

Photos by Valerie Anselme
Photos by Valerie Anselme

 

That’s what people tell Valerie Anselme, but her photos show what Haitians really look like

 

“Anytime I say I’m Haitian, I’ve had people look at me and say, ‘You don’t look Haitian,’” photographer Valerie Anselme says.

 

“It’s not only happened to me, it’s happened to other people I know.”

 

Photo by Valerie Anselme
Photo by Valerie Anselme

 

The 26-year-old Boston native finds this a strange thing to hear—as someone who grew up steeped in Haitian culture as the child of Haitians who moved to the United States from their native island in the 1980s “looking for better opportunities.”

 

But the question would come up—at Haitian festivals, or when a Bunker Hill Community College classmate complimented her on her French pronunciation and she explained that she was Haitian-American and grew up singing French hymns in church.

 

“He looks at me and he looked genuinely confused. He’s like, ‘Really?’ Inside of me, I’m like, ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’”

 

Photo by Valerie Anselme
Photo by Valerie Anselme

 

Now studying photography and graphic design at Bridgewater State University, Anselme decided to use her camera to plumb the question: What do Haitians look like? Since beginning her “Faces of Haiti Project” (on Instagram) in November, she’s made portraits of more than 30 people. Her aim, she writes, “is to debunk the idea, mostly fed by media, that all Haitians look a ‘certain type of way’ and to show that we are diverse peoples.”

 

“I’m light skinned. A lot of time on social media or regular media when Haitians are portrayed, they’re darker toned,” Anselme says. “I wanted to take pictures of different Haitians I know or didn’t know. Haitians, we have a large variety of skin tones. It’s not just one ideal look.”

 

Photo by Valerie Anselme
Photo by Valerie Anselme

 

“There’s diversity in Haiti,” she adds.

 

But there’s prejudice from outside as well as inside the community.

 

Photo by Valerie Anselme
Photo by Valerie Anselme

 

“That’s prevalent in a lot of cultures,” Anselme says. “And you see it in the Haitian community. There’s a lot of colorism in terms of you’ll see some people preferring to have lighter skin than darker skin. Now people are embracing all colors. But there is that in the community, you’ll see the colorism sometimes.”

 

Greg Cook writes about art and more at Wonderland: a magazine of arts and cultures. This article is also published there.

GREG COOK
Website

Greg Cook runs the Wonderland blog (https://gregcookland.com/wonderland/) and is scheduled to begin painting a mural in Salem's Punto Urban Art Museum in October (http://puntourbanartmuseum.org).

More from author
  • GREG COOK
    https://digboston.com/author/greg-cook/
    VIRTUAL HONK FESTIVAL: SHOWING HOW SOMERVILLE'S CULTURAL PHENOMENON SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD
  • GREG COOK
    https://digboston.com/author/greg-cook/
    Black Lives Matter mural
    BLM TAG INSPIRES ARTIST’S SOMERVILLE MURAL
  • GREG COOK
    https://digboston.com/author/greg-cook/
    DIAS DE CONSUELO
  • GREG COOK
    https://digboston.com/author/greg-cook/
    Section of DETROIT RED. Illustrated by Zlatko Mitev
    DETROIT RED: MALCOLM X COMES OF AGE IN BOSTON

Filed Under: A+E, Visual Arts Tagged With: Boston, colorism, diversity, Essay, Haiti, Haitian, photographer, Photography, Valerie Anselme

WHAT’S NEW

IT'S HARDER THAN EVER TO FIND A BATHROOM IN BOSTON. WHAT'S THE CITY DOING ABOUT IT?

IT’S HARDER THAN EVER TO FIND A BATHROOM IN BOSTON. WHAT’S THE CITY DOING ABOUT IT?

ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION, PROTESTERS CALL FOR EVICTION MORATORIUM

ON NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION, PROTESTERS CALL FOR EVICTION MORATORIUM

WU AND CAMPBELL TO SPEAK AT MAYORAL CANDIDATE WEBINAR

WU AND CAMPBELL TO SPEAK AT MAYORAL CANDIDATE WEBINAR

Hard right wingers casually tour the Capitol during last week's attack. Via C-SPAN.

HOW TO DEFEAT THE HARD RIGHT

BAKER URGED TO SIGN GAME CHANGING CLIMATE BILL

BAKER URGED TO SIGN GAME CHANGING CLIMATE BILL

APPOINTED SOMERVILLE OFFICIAL SPURS OUTRAGE WITH TWEETS FROM DC MOB SCENE

APPOINTED SOMERVILLE OFFICIAL SPURS OUTRAGE WITH TWEETS FROM DC MOB SCENE

Primary Sidebar

HEMPIRE FREEDOM PACK 25% OFF

FEATURED EVENT

Most Popular

  • APPOINTED SOMERVILLE OFFICIAL SPURS OUTRAGE WITH TWEETS FROM DC MOB SCENE by MARC LEVY
  • INSIDE THE FIGHT TO DOCUMENT THE HORRORS AT AMERICA’S OLDEST WOMEN’S PRISON by SHELBY GREBBIN AND ISHA MARATHE
  • VIDEO: COP WHO BRAGGED THAT HE HIT PROTESTERS SHOWS HOW BAD APPLES THRIVE IN BOSTON by CHRIS FARAONE
  • THE WSJ FEATURE ON WORCESTER’S POLICE CHIEF IS PURE COPAGANDA by BILL SHANER
  • STATE LOOKS TO SPEND $75K TO PREVENT FUTURE STORROWINGS by DAN ATKINSON

READ CURRENT MEMBER EDITION

DIG Member 1.9 – 11/26/20

READ CURRENT STREET ISSUE

DIG Year End 2020

Footer

digbos

The candidates will be interviewed about the upcom The candidates will be interviewed about the upcoming race. https://digboston.com/wu-and-campbell-to-speak-at-mayoral-candidate-webinar/ #politics #mayor #campaign #Boston #Massachusetts
Participants took to the streets in the hope of sw Participants took to the streets in the hope of swaying the Biden administration. https://digboston.com/on-national-day-of-action-protesters-call-for-eviction-moratorium/ #housing #justice #protest #national #Boston #Massachusetts
“They refuse to respond to this humanitarian cri “They refuse to respond to this humanitarian crisis where people really need them. We’re just ignoring this problem and it’s getting worse and worse.” https://digboston.com/its-harder-than-ever-to-find-a-bathroom-in-boston-whats-the-city-doing-about-it/ #politics #unhoused #homeless #bathroom #public #health #Boston #Massachusetts
Environmental #justice and #climate change advocat Environmental #justice and #climate change advocates are pushing for its passage. https://digboston.com/baker-urged-to-sign-game-changing-climate-bill/ #environment #globalwarming #legislation #politics #Massachusetts
In short, it’s amazing. For details, check the # In short, it’s amazing. For details, check the #video … https://digboston.com/video-night-shifts-tea-party-is-subtle-love-for-people-who-hate-most-hard-teas/ #review #fun #beer @NightShiftBeer
HOW TO DEFEAT THE HARD RIGHT: Some thoughts on the HOW TO DEFEAT THE HARD RIGHT: Some thoughts on the Capitol attack and building a more democratic nation. The latest from DigBoston's @jasonpramas. https://digboston.com/how-to-defeat-the-hard-right/ #democracy #politics #Capitol #US #America #attack #Biden #Trump #grassroots #movement #analysis #strategy #MAGA
“Should Mayor Walsh be confirmed by the Senate, “Should Mayor Walsh be confirmed by the Senate, I am ready to take the reins and lead our city through these difficult times.” https://digboston.com/walsh-to-wash-janey-to-become-1st-black-boston-mayor-1st-woman-to-lead-city/ #politics #Boston #Massachusetts #BlackLivesMatter
APPOINTED #SOMERVILLE #OFFICIAL SPURS #OUTRAGE WIT APPOINTED #SOMERVILLE #OFFICIAL SPURS #OUTRAGE WITH TWEETS FROM DC #MOB SCENE: Mayor Curtatone says “We’re taking it seriously and doing our due diligence” https://digboston.com/appointed-somerville-official-spurs-outrage-with-tweets-from-dc-mob-scene/ #politics #controversy #Massachusetts #Capitol #Congress #WashingtonDC #MAGA #Trump
“If #Massachusetts agencies could skirt the publ “If #Massachusetts agencies could skirt the public records law by characterizing the receipt of documents as a loan, that would have been [an] invitation to a substantial amount of mischief.” https://buff.ly/3biXVf1 #transparency #politics
RECAP: #BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HEARING ON CREATION OF RECAP: #BOSTON CITY COUNCIL HEARING ON CREATION OF SANCTUARY SAFE SPACES⠀
https://digboston.com/recap-boston-city-council-hearing-on-creation-of-sanctuary-safe-spaces/ #politics #Massachusetts
Load More... Follow on Instagram
Social Buttons

DigBoston facebook DigBoston Twitter DigBoston Instagram

Masthead

About

Submissions

Advertise

Privacy Policy

Customer Service

Distribution

About Us

DigBoston is a one-stop nexus for everything worth doing or knowing in the Boston area. It's an alt-weekly, it's a website, it's an e-mail blast, it's a twitter account, it's that cool party that you were at last night ... hey, you're reading it, so it's gotta be good. For advertising inquiries: [email protected] To reach Editorial: [email protected] For internship opportunities: [email protected]