“Please, this was 1969, and who cared about Puerto Rico in the old days anyway? Not me.”

The dismissive and almost contemptuous tone of this quote reflects Evelyn’s initial disregard for her own Puerto Rican heritage. At the same time, her comment situates the narrative in the societal marginalization and erasure of Puerto Rican history and culture that occurred during the 1960s, suggesting that Evelyn’s uninterested stance will soon shift as she becomes galvanized by the spirit of activism in her surroundings.

“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