Capes of a Different Color – Acrylic by Lisa Brunetti
“It gripped him: that cross was not the cross of Christ, but the cross of the Ku Klux Klan. He had a cross of salvation round his throat and they were burning one to tell him that they hated him! No! He did not want that! ” Richard Wright – Native Son, Pubished 1940
(Ecuador) – As various towns and cities throughout Ecuador prepare for tomorrow’s Good Friday Procession, I will be tucked away in the cloud forest and hope to finish the above painting.
Re: 2015 Procession — Although I had read and admired photos of Quito’s parade, I experienced a visual shock from seeing thousands of capes and pointed hats/masks that reminded me of Mississippi’s KKK dark history. Last year’s post illustrates my Quito experience. (See: THE IRONY OF COSTUME)
My peers and I grew up in a time of innocence, and I knew ‘of’ the KKK but never witnessed the violence, hatred or intimidation… I well remember the first time I read Richard Wright’s books, and I was instantly ashamed of a past that I knew through topics that were hurriedly mentioned in hushed and embarrassed whispers… The evil reputation of the white-costumed racists never seemed real until his writings seared into my conscience.
Until those hooded figures reopened my wounds, Ecuador seemed far removed from the KKK history; this painting will help exorcise that ‘guilty-by-association’ remorse.
On a much-lighter note, I am compiling a list of birds seen near the houses and ponds on just a tiny slice of the 100+ hectare property. So far there are over 90 species identified by little ole me! Those “UFB” photos will fly your way soon, and I hope that you birders out there can help identify some of the mystery birds.
(Valencia scored for Ecuador, and the crowd in the restaurant went electric!)
It’s time to get back to the property for a mix of birding and painting tomorrow. What will you be doing this holiday weekend?
Happy Easter to all!
Z
You have solved a mystery for me – friends found a bottle of alcohol that was covered in one of those purple cloaks. I was so curious as to the meaning. You always teach me something 🙂 Hope you are well!!
Ha! I think Jama has a modest parade each week… It would be interseting to see the purple cloak!
The Klan was a part of 1920s life in Iowa, too. They were deeply involved in local elections (as well as an Iowa Senate race) and were known as much for their opposition to Catholics and Jews as to Blacks. One of the biggest rallies in the state took place in Knoxville, Iowa: I believe in 1924.
In my grandparents’ town, it was opposition to Catholics that was primary. This verse from a Klan song tells the tale:
“Oh, I’d rather be a Klansman,
In a robe of snowy white,
Than be a Roman Catholic priest
In a robe as dark as night.”
In a roundabout way, the Klan was responsible for my being raised as a Methodist. I didn’t know the story until my dad told it to me in the early 70s. Where families are involved, there always are surprises.
A Happy Easter to you, Lisa!
Thanks for your interesting feedback. Wow, so that’s how your family became Methodist! History has a way of nudging people,cultures into unique directions. Happy Easter to you, too.. Whenever I look at the ‘orange lemons’ dotting the trees, I think of Easter eggs!
Grandma did it. I need to write that story!
Oh yes you do need to share that, and it will be a great story!
The hoods are indeed creepy!
Your painting will hopefully, dispel some of your demons of the ugly past of KKK. It certainly would sort of freak me out, as well, seeing all the capes for the first time. I wish you a very happy Easter, Lisa!
Vey interesting and a bit creepy!
Happy Easter! 🙂
Hugh said it: the hoods are creepy. I am glad you are trying to exorcize your past with this painting. At times, though, it feels as if there are not enough paintings, stories, music and video to exorcize all that was done – and is still being done.
Good luck on this project. The colors of the hoods are lovely, and that helps, but still, a jolt runs through me each time is see one, no matter the color.
Lisa, I would be flinching at their sight as well. Especially, since the demonic lot still exists here in the states with active support for a demagogue candidate. It gives me the willies. Keith
Lisa, glad you explained the painting – love the colors and your use of space. We had the KKK in Canada also, on a smaller scale, but I recall hearing stories about them. Fortunately they don’t have the power they once did. Happy Easter to you – my grandchildren planted jelly beans in their raised garden and will look for “surprises” in the garden on Easter Sunday morning. We had a snowstorm yesterday so they will have to dig for them!
Although I’m sure the purple outfits for Ecuador’s Semana Santa have a different symbolism, just the style of their face veils and hats has imprinted hatred, cruelty and bigotry on my brain thanks to my (very limited) knowledge of the KKK. I grew up in Australia and still that outfit symbolizes evil. It’s hard to look at.
Alison