violet-ines

[violet-ines]

Reunited.

[violet-ines]

[violet-ines]

[violet-ines]

One Piece High Fashion part 2 by Wisdm on Instagram

[violet-ines]

On Haiti's 220th anniversary

Two hundred and twenty years ago, former slaves and free people of color accomplished the seemingly impossible: defeating one of the most formidable European armies of the day and establishing a new state where bondage, as it existed before 1791, would be forever abolished.

For those who have followed this blog since 2013, you know that I (admin A) have rarely allowed myself any sentimentality when discussing Haitian history. I have tried to present a nuanced portrait of Haiti’s past by addressing the weight of the many isms that have plagued its history (colonialism, racism, neoliberalism…) and by taking a critical look at the role of Haitian leaders throughout all these episodes.

Two hundred and twenty years after the unthinkable, Haiti finds itself without a president, grappling with what seems to be a permanent problem of armed gangs, little security, renewed multifaceted tensions with its Dominican neighbour, and on the brink of a new UN occupation through a Kenyan mission. The young woman who started this blog a decade ago would have said that there are little reasons for us as Haitians to celebrate—not because of a difficulty appreciating the great shoulders on which we stand, but because, at twenty-two years old, I didn’t believe in what I felt was useless romanticism binding us to a distorted past while also blinding us to the reality of the disastrous present.

Today, it’s not so much that I find much to rejoice in given the current state of affairs. It’s that I realize, what is the point of all this if there is no hope? Why this blog, why study the history of Haiti at all, why care about the country? For those of us with family there, why not temporarily send money in the hope of helping them relocate here, there, and anywhere except Haiti? Why not congratulate the complete erosion of Haitian sovereignty, as post-1986 Haiti, and especially Haiti of the last two decades, has shown so vividly the complete utter failure of its foreign-backed governing class?

I don’t know what hope is supposed to look like in this situation. Hope for what? Hope for a change under what conditions, under whose authority? On what would this hope be grounded? Perhaps, despite the best efforts of my twenty-two-year-old self, I am becoming as naive and sentimental as the people I silently criticized then...

Perhaps, however, I recognize that Haiti does matter. Even the most cynical among us would admit that there is something profoundly radical in breaking the bonds of slavery, in affirming that people of African descent could not be stripped of their humanity, that there is something poetic in saying “no” in the face of impressive odds. Newly independent Haiti did not live up to some of the promises of its complicated Revolution. The 1825 French imposition of an indemnity severely affected freshly formed Haiti (beyond the 19th century), but it does not excuse the incompetence of Haitian governments, then and now. Haiti could, may have, and I certainly hope, will change, will remember what 1804 ought to have meant.

Perhaps, especially for the people who currently live in Haiti, particularly the women of all ages who face the constant threats of sexual violence, Haiti has a responsibility to itself, to its unprecedented idealism, to all of us.

Given all these reasons, I find it necessary to maintain a guarded optimism, acknowledging that ideas hold significance and possess the potential to materialize into reality.

[violet-ines]

Ascendance

[violet-ines]

You gotta love Prinnay’s beautiful work. They’re always so fun and creative.

Goldy locs

[violet-ines]

Nana ナナ (2000) Artworks Illustrated By: Ai Yazawa

[violet-ines]

Assorted Paintings on Linen Cloth By: Ikenaga Yasunari

[violet-ines]

Sivan Karim

[violet-ines]

Sailor Moon x Chanel 

Always nice to see new Naoko illustrations ^^

[violet-ines]

[violet-ines]

Celine the Witch, desi berserker design for Vi (https://elliot.tumblr.com/)

Thank you!

[violet-ines]

😭 😭 Bad & Boujee remix

[violet-ines]

you ever read a fanfic and just sit back and think...someone wrote something THIS good... and then just....published it on the internet....for free.....

[violet-ines]

This is trauma lmaooo, I still enjoy Yubisaki Milk tea but, Kagami is taken advantage of, she is a child and Kurokawa deserves better than Yoshinori.

I love Yubisaki Milk Tea. The story complexity and the characters.. Each character is so complex in their own way.

Some people write the story off as lolicon or pedophilia.

But I think their is much to learn about a person growing up, learning about themselves, their sexuality; experimenting with cross dressing, sexual desire, knowing what you want from a person and understanding these feelings and emotions you feel as you grow older.

I would have to say my favorite character is between Sumika Kagami and Kurokawa Mimano.

Kagami is a mature young girl, she does things with older men, but at the same time she hides how she really feels about everything inside. The only person she truly comfortable around is Hidari.

Kurokawa is an intelligent high school girl, she finds about the main character’s cross dressing secret and they become closer. They end up liking each other, but Yoshinori has a hard time choosing between her and his childhood friend Hidari. Either girl really wants to be with yoshinori regardless if they are second best to each other.. Putting her hurt feelings aside, she lets herself be used by Yoshinori.

I relate so well to Kurokawa..

[violet-ines]