The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano

“What did Mami think? That nobody would notice the dirty walls because they would be too busy drooling over her tapetes? There’s a Puerto Rican expression that says some people try to ‘tapar el cielo con la mano’—to cover the sky with their hand. That was Mami. She was always covering up what she didn’t want to see, or putting something pretty on top of something ugly.”

Evelyn reflects on her mother’s tendency to prioritize appearances over addressing underlying issues within their home. Through the metaphor of “tapar el cielo con la mano” (covering the sky with one’s hand), Evelyn illustrates her mother’s futile attempts to conceal or beautify problems rather than confronting them directly. This metaphor highlights The Importance of Critically Examining History, especially as Evelyn observes that her mother’s reluctance to acknowledge and confront their family’s challenges has resulted in a pattern of denial and avoidance.

“‘Evelyn, Mami, remember?’ I yelled, correcting her. Ever since my fourteenth birthday last month, I told everybody I wanted to be called Evelyn. My full name is Rosa María Evelyn del Carmen Serrano. But I shortened it. El Barrio, Spanish Harlem, U.S.A., did not need another Rosa, María, or Carmen. […] I cut off half my name and chose Evelyn—it was the least Puerto Rican­sounding name I could have.”

By choosing to shorten her name to Evelyn, the protagonist seeks to distance herself from her Puerto Rican heritage. This act reflects her internalized societal biases and desire to assimilate. The juxtaposition of her full name, Rosa María Evelyn del Carmen Serrano, with the shortened version, Evelyn, suggests a rejection of traditional Hispanic identities in favor of a more anglicized one.

“At the end of the day when I got home from work, I was going to see the same people doing the same things. Nothing changes in El Barrio.”

The stagnation and lack of change that Evelyn perceives in her neighborhood emphasizes the sense of monotony and routine that characterizes life in El Barrio. It also suggests a sense of hopelessness and resignation, implying that the problems within the community are entrenched and insurmountable.

“Two weeks with Abuela felt like a month as the snipes between her and Mami grew sharper and sillier. They argued about everything.”

The tension between Evelyn’s mother and grandmother emphasizes The Importance of Critically Examining History. Their conflicts suggest unresolved familial dynamics and communication gaps, while their “snipes” emphasize the persistent nature of their arguments, indicating a deep-seated rift that extends beyond surface disagreements.

“‘I’m just saying that all this junk on television is going to put ideas in Evelyn’s head. Those kids out there sweeping should get a job. They are setting a bad example.’ Then to me he said, ‘If you think me and your mother work all day just so you can run around like a hippie, you got another thing coming, you hear me?’”

Evelyn’s stepfather highlights his disapproval of countercultural influences on Evelyn, suggesting a fear of cultural dilution or deviation from tradition. His reference to the Young Lords as “kids out there sweeping” diminishes their activism, portraying it as futile or misguided. Through his admonishment of Evelyn’s perceived rebelliousness, her stepfather underscores the generational and ideological divide within the family.

“‘Of course, I forgot,’ my mother spat. ‘You always have to help everybody in the world. Why don’t you clean your own house first? Sweep our apartment? Or the bodega? No, you want to sweep the streets. But you are not helping anybody!’

Abuela got up in Mami’s face. ‘I am helping you.’

‘What are you talking about? You say you’re going to help in the store, but you turn it into a place of politics—algo político. You say you’re going to help in the house, but you take over like you’re the only person living there. You say you’re going to help me and…and…’ Mami couldn’t finish.”

In this heated exchange between Mrs. Serrano and Abuela, the theme of The Power of Community Activism is underscored by their contrasting perspectives on activism and its impact on the family. Mrs. Serrano’s frustration with Abuela’s involvement with the Young Lords comes as a result of her perception of activism as disruptive and self-serving, while Abuela’s assertion that she is helping her daughter underscores her belief in the importance of preserving cultural identity and advocating for social justice.

“I could barely believe it. People had noticed East Harlem. We were in the newspaper.”

The fact that East Harlem is noticed and featured in the newspaper signifies a shift in public perception and acknowledgment of the neighborhood’s residents and their activism, illustrating the impact of the Young Lords’ protest on the community. As the group’s efforts bear fruit, the local community rallies around them, and the rising momentum results in positive change.

“‘Your grandfather is that one there.’ She pointed to one of the policemen in the big picture. ‘He was shooting into the people.’

Right then, Mami came home. […]

She gathered up the album and took it into her room, signaling that I shouldn’t say anything. At that moment, I knew I was now keeping a big secret.”

The juxtaposition of Evelyn’s grandmother’s disclosure with her mother’s immediate reaction underscores the tension between confronting uncomfortable truths and hiding from them. Learning about her grandfather marks a turning point in Evelyn’s journey of self-discovery, as she becomes aware of her family’s troubled past and the implications it holds for her own identity and sense of belonging within her community.

“‘Why are you bringing this into the house? Will you ever be done with it?’

‘I am just showing Evelyn about herself.’

‘By telling her lies about her grandfather?’

‘It is not a lie.’ […]

Like two little girls fighting over something they couldn’t do anything about, this fight went on and on.”

Evelyn’s mother expresses frustration with her grandmother for bringing up the family’s contentious history. On the other hand, Abuela’s insistence on sharing the family’s history, despite Mrs. Serrano’s resistance, reflects her desire to impart cultural knowledge and affirm Evelyn’s identity.

“‘I am sick of hearing about something that happened a long time ago. He was a policeman. It was his job to do what he was told to do. Like a policeman in this country.’

‘Tearing up old newspaper pictures does not make it go away. Tapando el cielo con la mano como siempre.’”

This conflict between Mrs. Serrano and Abuela encapsulates the theme of The Importance of Critically Examining History by exposing the tension between Abuela’s acknowledgment of past injustices and Mrs. Serrano’s attempt to conceal them. The use of the Spanish expression “Tapando el cielo con la mano” reinforces the idea of a futile attempt to cover up or hide the truth, and Abuela’s additional comment of “como siempre” (“as always”) implies that this aspect of Mrs. Serrano’s personality is a long-standing sore point.

“Walking by their workplace after school, I could see them, all long­haired and wearing jeans and eating take­out rice and beans and laughing and pointing and arguing. Watching them became a habit. Did they see me walking back and forth? Me—pretending I had something to do and somewhere to go, when all I really wanted was to see what made the Young Lords so passionate about whatever they were doing.”

Evelyn’s curiosity and fascination with the Young Lords reflects her desire to join their efforts in community engagement. The imagery of the Young Lords eating take-out rice and beans, a staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, emphasizes their shared cultural identity.

“The more I agreed with the Young Lords, the more my mother disagreed. The split between us grew stronger and we began sitting on different sides of the church each Sunday. It began slowly. […] Mami sat tight with her group of the old and frightened.”

Evelyn’s growing ideological divide with her mother is symbolized in the visual imagery of sitting on “different sides of the church,” a physical manifestation of their divergence that underscores the widening gap in their beliefs and values. Additionally, her dismissive characterization of Mrs. Serrano’s group as “the old and frightened” dismisses the deeper nuances at work.

“‘Police brutality…’ Angel was delighted and pranced around.

‘They didn’t have to be so rough.’ Migdalia was tearful and upset that once again her brother had been arrested.

‘Those Young Lords are crazy,’ said an old lady.

‘They are doing the right thing,’ said another carefully.

‘Que viva Puerto Rico libre...’

‘This is a house of the Lord…’

My head was spinning. Who was right?”

The residents’ opposing reactions to the Young Lords’ actions reflect The Power of Community Activism, and as the contrasting opinions bounce around inside the church walls, the growing conflict highlights the polarizing nature of the group’s efforts in the neighborhood.

“I thought about that golden wild boy who was brave enough to stand in the church and say ‘There is something wrong here! This is not a community.’ His eyes were bright, his skin coppery, he had full lips and what my mother called ‘pelo malo,’ bad hair, because it was kinky. How could hair be good or bad? Like it could behave well or badly on its own. Like it could say something nice and polite or say something mean and nasty. And how could you call hair bad that looked like a crown, and made you look taller, and like nobody could knock you down?”

Evelyn’s description of a Young Lord member challenges conventional standards of beauty. The protagonist’s questioning of the concept of “bad hair” highlights the arbitrary nature of societal judgments and underscores the importance of embracing one’s natural attributes as symbols of strength and resilience.

“‘Papi, this is important.’ […] ‘I feel like somebody now, Papi.’”

In this passage, Evelyn’s ardent tone encapsulates the theme of Affirming One’s Cultural Identity, and she expresses her newfound sense of self and belonging. She also highlights the Young Lords’ initiatives in helping her individual journey toward self-acceptance and cultural pride.

“‘Your abuela and I were never close. How could we be? She was always away working with the Nationalists all over the island.’

‘Who did you stay with?’

‘A few people. For a while, I stayed with an older cousin in Ponce. They were nice, they were doing all right, but I always felt I was taking from them.’

‘Taking what?’

‘I don’t know. Food. Space.’ Mami sighed. ‘When my cousin had a baby, she needed the room, so I had to leave. […] I didn’t see my mother much after that.’”

Mrs. Serrano exposes the impact of Abuela’s past political activism on her familial relationships, recounting the personal cost of her mother’s involvement with the Nationalists in Puerto Rico. Mrs. Serrano’s reflective tone conveys the emotional weight of her experiences, initiating a deeper exploration of the novel’s historical context and its impact on characters’ lives.

“I saw the same people looking down-and-out and angry that I saw in the street and fire escapes and staring out their windows every day, but now inside the church, they all began to look sharper, more energetic, and nicer.”

The contrast between the downtrodden demeanor of the residents on the streets and their revitalized appearance inside the church highlights the positive influence of community programs on their well-being. The shift from looking “down-and-out and angry” to appearing “sharper, more energetic, and nicer” suggests a sense of empowerment and rejuvenation fostered by the Young Lords’ efforts, emphasizing the transformative power of collective action and community support.

“I was glad Angel had a place to go during the Christmas break. Nobody had great heating in their apartments in the winter. Here there was heat. But there was another reason I was glad Angel had a place to go. He could get away from his father.”

Evelyn expresses relief that Angel has a refuge during the Christmas break, and her emotions highlight the practical benefits of community support, a central aspect of The Power of Community Activism. Evelyn’s concern for Angel’s well-being reflects her growing awareness of the role of community solidarity in addressing individual struggles within the neighborhood.

“I never thought of Puerto Ricans as having history. How stupid is that? I mean—everybody has history, right? People don’t just come out of nowhere.”

Evelyn’s realization of the richness and significance of Puerto Rican history connects to the themes of Affirming One’s Cultural Identity and The Importance of Critically Examining History, emphasizing the universal relevance of cultural knowledge of one’s origins, thus reinforcing the idea of cultural pride and self-affirmation.

“I turned to see what Mami was doing. She was staring at her mother. I was looking at my mother and she was looking at her mother. Mami was looking at Abuela the way you look at a puzzle and can’t quite figure it out. How many times had I looked at Mami the same way? But there was something else in Mami’s look that I’m sure was never in my look. My mother was looking at her mother with…longing. Like she missed her even though she was looking right at her.”

Evelyn’s observation of her mother’s gaze adds depth to the emotional tension among the three generations, highlighting the gap left by the unresolved dynamics within their family. Furthermore, the juxtaposition of Evelyn’s past perceptions with her mother’s current longing suggests a shift in perspective and a newfound understanding of their relationship.

“‘It is not fair that powerful people beat up smaller people. It happens everywhere and all the time. Sometimes the rich people make believe they are helping you, but they are not. Ever since I saw the killing at the Ponce Massacre, I wanted to fight for people who cannot fight for themselves. The people in that poem cannot fight for themselves.’ Abuela’s eyes were filled, not with tears but with possibility. She looked so beautiful, like she was an opening to something new and good. And I wanted to follow.”

Through her reference to the Ponce Massacre, Abuela contextualizes her commitment to social justice within the historical struggle of the Puerto Rican people. Additionally, the simile comparing Abuela to “an opening to something new and good” suggests her transformative influence on Evelyn, inspiring her to embrace activism and affirm her cultural identity.

“We watched the movie. I’m not sure people knew what to make of it, but it was really something. […] I didn’t really get it all but I did get this: that it wasn’t just us Puerto Ricans who lived in a culture that didn’t like us and that other people in the world lived in the same situation.”

Evelyn’s interpretation of the movie connects to The Importance of Critically Examining History by suggesting parallels between historical struggles and contemporary experiences of marginalization. The film inspires the community to reflect on the roots of social inequality by contextualizing their challenges within a historical framework, prompting a deeper understanding of the complexities of their own history and identity.

“The Young Lords were right. Making us hate the way we looked was a trick people in power played on us.”

Evelyn acknowledges the Young Lords’ insight into the manipulation of self-image by those in power, aligning with the theme of Affirming One’s Cultural Identity. The use of the word “trick” evokes a sense of deception and manipulation, highlighting the insidious nature of societal pressures to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty. Through this statement, Evelyn recognizes the importance of embracing one’s cultural identity and resisting external forces that seek to undermine it.