Tania in Little Haiti
DAHLIA MALLEBRANCHE, Tania in Little Haiti, 2024, Digital photography
Throughout my life, I was always embarrassed to admit that I was Haitian. I never fully embraced my culture because people constantly made fun of us. We were either portrayed as “poor, dark, ugly,” or worse. Some people were even shocked to find out I was Haitian, simply because of how we were represented in the media.
That changed in 2017 when I took a trip to Haiti for a cousin’s wedding—someone I had never met. It was during that trip that I finally embraced my culture. Although I was treated well, the language barrier led to some uncomfortable moments. I understood everything people said to me, but my responses weren’t always clear. My family jokingly called me “Moun Blan,” which means “white person.” To them, it was just a playful joke, but I took it personally. They laughed when I mispronounced certain words, ones I thought I was saying correctly, only for me to realize later that my accent gave me away.
I struggled to get the accent right, but I didn’t let that stop me from learning the language. I was determined to connect with my culture by any means necessary, even if it meant being laughed at for a while. And I’m glad I did. Four years later, in 2021, I took a solo trip to Haiti for my birthday—despite the ongoing chaos in the country at the time. Though I still had a lot to learn, I managed to navigate on my own without relying on my mom or aunt for translations. I could finally communicate properly with my cousins, and for the first time, I truly felt like I belonged—not just an outsider looking in.
From a young age, I’ve been drawn to Japanese culture and streetwear fashion—a fascination that began through exploring the internet. Nicki Minaj’s “Harajuku Barbie” era was a major influence; seeing a Black woman embrace the vibrant, playful aesthetics of Harajuku fashion was empowering for me as a young Black girl.
Coming from a Haitian background, I’ve also developed a deep appreciation for the bold colors and abstract elements that define my culture. This series merges these two influences, creating a space where both Black and Haitian women can see themselves reflected in the fashion industry.
Dahlia Mallebranche is a Haitian-American artist based in New York. She studied at Related Media and works primarily in fashion and portrait photography, using the medium to create characters and stories drawn from her imagination. Her work has been exhibited at The Museum at FIT’s Unseen Memory & Threshold exhibition.