A Dominican artist from Connecticut is challenging the generic beauty standards that have plagued Afrolatinx communities for eons, like the obsession for straight hair over hair in its natural state, or petite bodies over fuller ones.
Through a comic book titled Pajón Comic, Crystal Rodriguez showcases her own personal struggle with her hair and her curves. She depicts what most Afro-Latinos go through when it comes to viewing their image in society. The 23-year-old started creating the comic book back in April, and has uploaded several pages of her art on Instagram.
So far, Rodriguez has created two comic books. One focuses on the term “Pajon,” which is a slang term used to describe a Latina’s curly head or afro. The phrase usually has a negative connotation to it, because of the way it’s used to depict afro-textured hair.
“I wanted to highlight the everyday struggle Afrolatinxs go through when developing their self worth,” she told The Huffington Post. “This comic is for the Afrolatinxs [who] have kept childhood traumas locked away in our hearts because good children are supposed to be silent and beautiful with our straightened hair, faldas (girdles) y media panties (pantyhose).”
The cover of the comic book features a set of two cousins. The younger one boasting curly hair look discontent with it, as she complains to her older kin who has apparently straighter locks.
As the issues unfold the older woman spends a chunk of time reflecting on how and why she decides to straighten her hair, but also how that seemingly innocuous choice affects her younger family member.
On the second installment of her comic, Rodriguez challenges the many standards that are foisted onto young Latinxs against their usually naturally curvy figures, and conform to a more Eurocentric slim body.
And then lastly, she challenges again the idea of straight hair being the trend to follow.
Yet regardless of the self-loathing episodes the protagonist in these comics goes through, she ends up finding solace in and acceptance of who she is. “La Niña who once hated her “squiggly” hair grew to love herself regardless of anyone’s actions. She drew strength from a divine well inside her soul,” Rodriguez captioned the picture on the ‘gram. “Listened to an ancient voice that reminded her she was a Queen. Today she is an important figure in black identity and Afro Latinx identity politics. Her research and poetry has been published and widely shared.”
“I wanted to deconstruct and decolonize my relationship to my body for my sake but also for the little ones in my family that are forming their identities and self-esteem based on the adults in their lives,” Rodriguez said. “I hope this comic can help us better understand our intersecting identities, harmful cultural conditioning and how to recognize opportunities to honor our differences, whether it is our racial, gender or sexual identities.”