Shadowshaper

In this section, Sierra not only learns that her brother, Juan, knows about the shadowshapers, but also that her older brother, Gael, was also offered the opportunity to learn these powers but turned it down. Sierra feels hurt that Grandpa Lázaro excluded her, especially when Juan suggests that Sierra was left out because she’s a girl: “You know Abuelo was all into his old-school machismo crap. He probably just didn’t think you’d get it” (110). Grandpa Lázaro grew up in a time where the men of the family were expected to provide for and protect the household, a belief held in many different cultures when Lázaro would have been coming of age.

In addition to these “old-school” ways of thinking, Juan also references Lázaro’s “machismo” (110), a term that refers particularly to men of Latin heritage. Machismo can have many meanings that can shift between specific Latin cultures, but generally it refers to a rigid code of masculinity where men take pride in being “men” (or the socially accepted construct of what a man should traditionally be), as well as being the head of the household. While not all aspects of machismo are negative, often women and those who do not conform to gender norms become victims of this aggrandized sense of masculinity.

In excluding Sierra from learning about the shadowshapers, Grandpa Lázaro holds to the traditional idea that the men of the family should be the protectors and carry on the family heritage. Gael and Juan were both offered opportunities to learn about shadowshaping, which Juan accepted and Gael rejected; Sierra never had a choice in the matter.

Despite initially being left out, it now seems that Sierra has unique gifts for protecting the family heritage. Though Sierra is only just learning about shadowshaping, she has already encountered the Sorrows, mythical beings that Robbie has only ever heard of. Grandpa Lázaro has also singled Sierra out to finish her mural and protect her family from what is coming. On one level, Grandpa Lázaro made a mistake by assuming that a granddaughter couldn’t carry on the same traditions as a grandson; but on a more symbolic level, Grandpa Lázaro has up until this point denied Sierra the opportunity to be in touch with her cultural roots and family legacy. There have been many instances in history where titles, property, and inheritances were always passed to a male heir, and over time, these practices have been questioned and altered; Shadowshaper suggests that another place where change needs to occur is in passing on cultural heritage through women as well as men. It is only by doing so that the culture can survive, whether it faces a physical threat like shadow monsters or an intangible threat like gentrification. 

Just as Sierra attempts to reconnect with her cultural traditions, Robbie honors his diverse ancestry. In Chapter 19, Robbie shows Sierra his tattoos, which pay a tribute to his heritage. The artwork on Robbie’s chest includes a Zulu warrior, a French soldier, and a Taíno, the indigenous people of the Caribbean. Robbie describes these tattoos as a special tribute to his heritage: “For me, they’re like the most sacred kind of mural. My personal source of power—ancestry" (126). Robbie’s heritage suggests a blend of several cultures, many different traditions, and histories that form him. Robbie’s own genetic makeup also reflects the cultural diversity of Bed Stuy, the Brooklyn neighborhood that Sierra calls home. Robbie does not choose one part of his ancestry to be superior to another; all receive their tribute and recognition in forming who he is. Similarly, though Sierra’s neighborhood is made up of many different backgrounds of people, all can get along with each other if they show each other’s culture the proper respect.

When a lack of respect occurs for others’ culture, it can result in issues like gentrification and cultural appropriation, both of which are referenced in the novel. In addition, Robbie tells Sierra about a throng haint, a shadow creature formed from many enslaved spirits forced together into one form, like the one that attacked Sierra in Chapter 16. This creature represents a lack of regard for cultural differences; it is the embodiment of several spirits forced together against their will in a form of supernatural slavery, and Sierra pieces together that it can only occur if a shadowshaper misuses their powers. Shadowshapers are meant to “work in tandem with spirits,” unifying their purposes together: “[…] it’s like a give and take, a relationship” (129). Someone who uses the shadowshaping powers to manipulate spirits into doing their bidding shows a lack of respect for the spirits involved, as well as for the cultural traditions and supernatural abilities that make shadowshaping possible.