AJ Lopez, La Manzana

AJ Lopez
La Manzana
Bleach and ink on cotton, embroidery floss, thread

This piece is inspired by the metaphor of the apple; appearing Indigenous or Hispanic on the outside while in reality being entirely white on the inside. The metaphor was explained to me when I first came to Fort Lewis College and have since felt like the best explanation of my cultural identity. I can be perceived as an Indigenous or Hispanic person but do not have the cultural connection because of assimilation, shame, and the privileging of white culture in American society. My tanned skin and Spanish last name are all that I have left, and they represent an immense loss that I will never fully understand.

As Fort Lewis College reconciles its history, I think it is important that we acknowledge the complexities of identity in relation to the history and efforts of assimilation in America. Mixed identity is like a tangle of roots; overlapping, wrinkled and hidden from view.

This piece is for my family and for anyone else who feels like an “apple”.