As a child of color growing up in white suburbia, I often struggled with not understanding why I could never fit in perfectly and it deeply impacted my sense of self.
The white, American and heteropatriarchal standards pervasive in American culture and society are largely cultivated by the media. Although there are numerous examples of this cliché, the children’s book series Dick and Jane, in particular, had an extensive career from the 20s-60s. Reaching many young, impressionable children while simultaneously encouraging this dangerous standard, it develops an insecurity when parts of one’s life do not align with the picturesque appearance of white suburbia. Specifically for people of color, taking root in a sense of ugliness and unworthiness.
For my project, I have chosen to recreate the family from this book series but with people of color so as to highlight the abnormality of such a representation. I have kept elements of the white world in each to show that no matter how hard people of color try to conform to these standards, they are always reminded of their lack of whiteness and of belonging.
