History of Cuba

Abstract

For the overall aesthetics of the piece, I decided that each silhouette would take the form of a mask so each design would help portray the experiences lived by Black Cubans. I explored the racialized experiences of Black Cubans through the three eras of the Pre/Colonial (1500-1898), Neocolonial (1899-1959), and Revolutionary (1959-Today) periods throughout Cuban history. I attempted to balance the impact of racism and inequity between experiences and cultural significance within my designs. My decision to have a minimal background outside of the masks comes from our time watching the “Black in Cuba” documentary, participants, academics, and everyday non-Black Cubans continued to conflate the experiences of Black Cubans with those of People of Color, and despite the masks portraying this specific racialized experience, I wanted the background to further the idea that this a Black experience.