1937

Krik? Krak! Is a collection of short stories written by a Haitian American author Edwidge Danticat. The title of the book in itself is unique. In Haiti when a story is requested the story teller would say krik? , and the audience members, ready to receive the story, would respond with krak! In the book Danticat is telling a story of her culture, heartache, love, sadness, hope, and death; painting a picture of her soul and the souls of her people. Krik? Krak! Is a book composed of Haiti’s tortured history, and the political reason which led to many fleeing the country. Let’s take a look at the story “Nineteen-thirty seven” This story was filled with sadness, and then ultimately the idea of hope. I believe the author established the transition to hope, because although you’re suffering you have to have an air of hope, and optimism or else you’re going to succumb to depression. The story was about a young girl by the name of Josephine, and her mother being incarcerated unjustly, and being labeled as a witch. The title of the story acts as a reminder, in 1937 there was a massacre against the Haitians by the people of the Dominican Republic, Josephine’s mother, and many other women, called themselves the daughters of the water because they were the ones that survived. In a way I think this fact led them to believe they were somewhat invincible, because in the text when Josephine asked her mother if the allegations of her flying were true her mother responded with “Perhaps you don’t remember. All of the women who came with us to the river, they could go to the moon and back if that is what they wanted” In the story Josephine never wanted to cry, let alone talk to her mother. I believe this was because she wanted to appear strong, and show her mother that everything was going to be alright. At the same time, the Madonna statue that they had would cry, showing that suffering wasn’t gone, and although on the outside you may look strong, on the inside you can be tearing apart.