In the Casta painting De Espanol, e India, nace Mestiza, there is evident racial mixing occurring, as a native Mexican woman and a Spanish man created the child. This occurred with frequency in Mexico when the Spanish arrived, which blended both cultures and created a racial blur for many Mexicans today. In the painting, it is evident how different both Mexican and Spanish cultures are. For one, the woman is dressed in traditional native clothing unique to her tribe possibly, and the artist shows the native foods of Mexico. In comparison, the Spanish man wears formal attire that signifies power within his culture. The mestiza is a product of the racial mixing, and usually have a higher social status than the native parent due to Spanish heritage, However, there was still colorism against tanned or darker-skinned individuals. Skin color can be a determinant of status. An example in the book would be Nana Reja, as she is described to be "very black" and works as a wet nurse for generations in the Morales family in the Murmur of Bees (Segovia). There have also been depictions of lower-class characters in the book that are implied to have a skin color that was not pale or light-skinned. The Morales family is an example of that, as they are wealthy and of Spanish descent, therefore able to have the opportunity for wealth and power over the Mexican people. Overall, "race" became a factor that would depict your status and what amount of respect you deserved in the eyes of government and society itself.
Smarthistory, director. Pride and Anxiety in New Spain: Francisco Clapera, Set of Sixteen Casta Paintings, c. 1775. Youtube, 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opdr_qnGPcw&feature=emb_title.
Clapera, Francisco. “De Espanol, e India, Nace Mestiza.” Clapera, Casta Paintings Francisco Clapera, Set of Sixteen Casta Paintings, c. 1775, 51.1 x 39.6 Cm (Denver Art Museum), 1775, www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/25255963507/.
“1 - Blue Boy, White Boy.” The Murmur of Bees, by Sofia Segovia, Amazon Publishing, 2019, p. 20.