Latin American population is very varied, ranging from very white European looks to all sorts of darker (not always from African descent), and racial tensions are also quite common in several countries. That doesn't mean I find it justifiable, but I don't think it's surprising. sadly, they developed pretty much in every country where slavery of Africans was a thing. Racial stereotypes aren't exclusive to the U.S. Quite frankly, I expected better from this author. That last detail about Gertrudis's son can be overlooked of course, and is fine for the story, but the oversexed, dancing, aggressive Gertrudis because of her black heritage, and the greedy, rich 'China man' are just lame. Lastly, Gertrudis is only a quarter 'negro', and her child is even less than that, I highly doubt he would have skin so dark as to make his parents guess his 'one drop' of black blood at birth, not unless Gertrudis's partner had some 'negro' genetics as well that he was unaware of. It plays into an already well established stereotype about Chinese people that persists to this day.Īlso, Gertrudis, 'the mulatto's child.' Gertrudis is so oversexed she sets a shower on fire! (magical realism but still) then she *has* to join a brothel in order to 'quench the fire within.' She is also a fantastic dancer, even though no one else in her family is, because, you know, black people are *always* good dancers, as well as horny.Īgain, these details, may seem small to a white person who does not have to personally encounter them, but people of color have to live with these inaccurate and well established stereotypes even now, well into the 21st century.

The description of the 'China man' who, managed to find an opportunity in the midst of what was surely an inhospitable environment, sounded bitter and racist. However, for a book written not so long ago, I noticed some racial stereotypes that were simply unnecessary and harmful. I applaud the author for giving readers a glimpse into Mexican land owning high society during the turn of the last century.

Like water for chocolate book