Haitian Culture In Edwidge Danticat's Krik? Krak

Ayiti, by Roxanne Gay, and Krik? Krak!, by Edwidge Danticat are collections of short stories about Haiti and its people, which gives the readers insight into the complex Haitian diaspora experience. Both authors successfully empower the voiceless by sharing stories that give a glimpse into the struggles and hardships that Haitians face. The collections seek to offer a deeper view into Haitian society and covers an array of themes such as the politics of survival, assimilation, resiliency, and feminist culture in Haiti. [In particular, both collections explore the Haitian immigrant experience and illustrate the notions on cultural identity, home, and family relationships. Krik? Krak? studies the experiences of the Haitian immigrant experience

While the sea is typically used in Caribbean literature as a symbol for fear or separation, Danticat uses it to show that the diaspora is neither here (Haiti) nor there (US) though is slowly spreading across boundaries. Though Danticat reveals metaphorical features of the diaspora with the sea, her use of the metaphor also raises some questions related to identity such as at what point does a refugee become “American”? Or how far can a refugee go until they are no longer considered Haitian? These are both questions that Danticat continues to address later in the collection.

Danticat then moves into the Haitian diasporic experience in the United States with the stories “New York Day Women” and “Caroline’s Wedding.” “New York Day Women” is similar to “Night Women” in the sense that both mothers are living secret lives from their children and are attempting to agency in their lives. The story follows Suzette, an American born Haitian who has assimilated into the American culture, and her Haitian mother to give insight into how the immigration experience has affected family