What is the main idea of Cuando era puertorriquena?
The main theme of the story is identity. Whenever Negi looks inside herself, she finds deep rifts in her cultural and ethnic identity.
Why are Jíbaros confusing to Esmeralda?
“Jíbara”: Why are jíbaros confusing to Esmeralda? Sample response: On the radio, jíbaros are presented as independent, close to nature, and proud nationalists, and Esmeralda has always wanted to be one. She loves the songs and poems that celebrate them.
How does Papi define imperialism?
Imperialists, as Papi describes them, “expect us to do things their way, even in our country.” According to the “experts,” native Puerto Ricans would be better off with “peaches in heavy syrup …
What is the summary of When I Was Puerto Rican?
Esmeralda Santiago is the oldest child her parents have together, although her father has an older daughter she doesn’t know about. Her parents’ relationship is damaged as her mother suspects her father is having an affair. Amid the drama, one of Esmeralda’s siblings, Raymond, gets badly injured in a bicycle accident.
Why was when I was Puerto Rican written?
Santiago wrote about her childhood in Puerto Rico and her life transition to New York in her debut memoir, “When I was Puerto Rican.” It was a book, she said, written in English but lived in Spanish, as it chronicled the formation of her new multicultural identity.
Who is Tato in When I Was Puerto Rican?
Tío Cucho is one of Negi’s uncles in Santurce. He sees a woman named Rita, and Mami tells him he can’t bring Rita to her house.
Why does Negi want to stay with her papi?
She loves Papi, but she also believes that he sees other women behind her back and believes that this is to be expected of men in general. She desperately wants to be self-sufficient in their relationship, leading to be one of the first mothers in Macún to get a job.
What is Papi’s definition of a sin?
What did Negi’s Papi say a sin is? something that makes God angry.
What happened at the end of When I Was Puerto Rican?
During her audition, Negi forgets a lot of her English and struggles through her monologue. She fears she’ll never get out of Brooklyn. In the epilogue, Negi returns to the Performing Arts High School ten years after graduation to see her mentor.
When were Puerto Rican quotes important?
When I Was Puerto Rican Important Quotes
- “I push my cart away, toward the apple and pears of my adulthood, their nearly seedless ripeness predictable and bittersweet”
- “I lay on my pillow, whimpering, wondering how the termites knew I’d disobeyed my mother”
Why did Esmeralda’s mother take pride in her work?
The factory offers Mami an opportunity to explore life outside the barrio. She takes great pride in her work, not only because it brings much needed cash into the household, but because she has independence.