In Blood Cross, we also learn that the Haitian revolution involved not only human Black slaves revolting but Black vampires who were also enslaved. It seems that Blacks were specifically bred to encourage the witch gene during slavery. Bethany also has the distinction of being a witch/vamp. (pg131)ĭo you get it? Bethany is Black, no really SHE IS BLACK. Her sclera were brownish and her irises blacker than any I had ever seen, blacker than the People's, blacker than the darkest night. Unlike most vamps, whose skin paled after long years without the sun, her flesh was blue-black, her lips even darker. She had been a black woman when human and was now the blackest vampire I had ever seen. Hunter engages in a trope that we have nicknamed Blackety Black Black: Unfortunately, this does not mean that other races get the same sort of respectful treatment. It's refreshing and a wonderful change from what we're used to. I'm not expert on Cherokee history so I have no idea how realistic the portrayal is, but it does seem like there has been a genuine, strong effort to get this character and this knwoledge as right as possible - there has been some very good research here or the author has some very good personal knowledge.

We continue to learn more and mroe about Jane, her past and her heritage. She is not just native in name only as so often happens when we have a protagonist of colour. In this second book Jane learns more about her culture by going to a sweat lodge and going to water. One of things I loved about this story to begin with was having a protagonist of colour. This entire passage was cissexism personified.

If Hunter could not identify the gender in question she should have used a pronoun like s/he or hir, or ze however, in this particular example we know that the woman in person was dressed in female garb and therefore the correct pronoun should have been she. There is also the issue of her use of the derogatory she/he. Trans people are currently struggling for the right to be able to use the bathroom to which they identify and that entire passage plays upon the men in dresses/predator role that has been constructed to deny trans people their legal rights.

I was particularly disturbed by the above passage. Thanks to her - his? - histrionics, I was able to hand off my cell and camera to myself and not set off the metal detector as I scoot through. A multipierced cross-dresser in a skintight purplesequined evening gown - and nothing else - had started screaming about his right to go to the ladies' room, despite the clear evidence of male dangly bits jiggling against the purple dress. When the armed officer finally waved me through, he had to shout directions over a loud confrontation at the front door.

Blood Cross by Faith Hunter