Yesika Salgado - Brown Girl

Button Poetry

13 Jan 201501:50

Summary

TLDRThe script narrates the life of a Latina girl named Jessica, the daughter of immigrants, who faces stereotypes and hardships. Despite societal labels and the expectation to prioritize household chores over education, she finds her voice through reading and writing. As a translator for her Spanish-speaking parents, she struggles with language barriers but remains a dreamer, inspired by Latina authors, and aspires to turn her dreams into actions, embracing her skin color as a symbol of beauty.

Takeaways

🏠 'I am brown girl' - The speaker identifies herself as a brown girl, setting the stage for her personal narrative.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 'Daughter of border hoppers' - She comes from a family of immigrants, suggesting a background of struggle and resilience.
🏢 'Mami cleans houses too fancy for us to live in' - Her mother's work is contrasted with their own living conditions, highlighting class and economic disparities.
🚗 'Papi parks cars too nice to ever dream of' - Her father's job also contrasts with their reality, emphasizing the gap between their work and aspirations.
👭 'I am one of three sisters' - She is part of a larger family unit, indicating a sense of community and shared experiences.
🗣️ 'Men yell Welfare, At Mami' - The family faces derogatory comments, indicating the stigma and prejudice they encounter.
📚 'I like reading, I like writing' - Despite societal expectations, she has a passion for literacy and intellectual pursuits.
🌐 'I think in English, But my tongue is dressed in Spanish' - She experiences a cultural and linguistic duality, common among bilingual individuals.
🌐 'I am a dreamer' - She aspires to more than her current circumstances, embodying the spirit of hope and ambition.
📖 'I learned to do This all on my own' - She is self-taught, showing determination and independence in her pursuit of knowledge.
🌟 'And my skin color, well, my skin color, Only makes it That much more beautiful' - She embraces her identity and finds beauty in her heritage.

Q & A

What is the narrator's ethnic background?
-The narrator is a Latina, the daughter of immigrants who moved to a new country for a better life.
What kind of work does the narrator's mother do?
-The narrator's mother cleans houses that are too fancy for their family to live in.
What is the father's occupation?
-The narrator's father parks cars that are too nice for them to dream of owning.
How many siblings does the narrator have?
-The narrator has two sisters, making them one of three sisters.
What stereotypes does the narrator face?
-The narrator is labeled with derogatory terms such as 'Welfare' and is seen as someone who should be doing more practical tasks like cooking or cleaning.
What is the significance of the name 'Jessica' to the narrator?
-The name 'Jessica' was originally associated with a wealthy girl whose family the narrator's mother used to work for, symbolizing a borrowed identity.
What are the narrator's skills and interests?
-The narrator enjoys reading and writing, and is skilled at translating various documents and instructions for their parents.
In what language does the narrator think?
-The narrator thinks in English but speaks Spanish.
What challenges does the narrator face with language?
-The narrator sometimes struggles to find the right word in either English or Spanish.
What derogatory terms has the narrator been called?
-The narrator has been called 'Wetback,' 'Spic,' 'Beaner,' and sometimes 'Illegal.'
What significant event happened in the narrator's life?
-The narrator became a statistic by dropping out of high school.
Who are some of the authors that inspired the narrator?
-The narrator is inspired by authors such as Sandra Cisneros, Isabel Allende, and Julia Alvarez, all of whom are Latina women who write about their experiences.
How does the narrator view their own identity?
-The narrator sees themselves as a dreamer who is slowly becoming a doer, and they embrace their skin color as a source of beauty.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Identity and Struggle

The speaker, Jessica, introduces herself as a Latina girl from a working-class family. Her parents are immigrants who work hard to provide for their family, with her mother cleaning houses and her father parking cars. Jessica is one of three sisters and faces derogatory terms due to her ethnicity. She expresses her love for reading and writing, which is seen as unusual in her community where time is often spent on more practical tasks. Despite the challenges, she sees herself as a dreamer and a writer, inspired by authors like Sandra Cisneros, Isabel Allende, and Julia Alvarez. Jessica also translates various documents for her parents, highlighting her bilingual identity. She acknowledges the prejudice she faces, including being called illegal, and shares her experience of dropping out of high school. However, she remains determined to grow and achieve her dreams, embracing her skin color as a source of beauty.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Latina

Latina refers to a woman of Latin American origin or descent. In the context of the script, the speaker identifies as a Latina, which is a key aspect of her identity. It is used to highlight the cultural and social experiences of being a Latina, such as the stereotypes and challenges she faces, like being associated with welfare or being yelled at in public.

💡Dreamer

A 'Dreamer' typically refers to an undocumented immigrant who was brought to the United States as a child. The term is also used to describe someone who has aspirations and dreams for a better future despite obstacles. In the script, the speaker identifies as a dreamer, indicating her aspirations for a better life and her resilience in the face of adversity.

💡Translator

A translator is someone who translates written or spoken material from one language to another. The speaker describes herself as a translator for her parents, which shows her role as a bridge between her family's native Spanish-speaking culture and the English-speaking world. This role is significant as it highlights the challenges of navigating two languages and cultures.

💡Wetback

The term 'wetback' is a derogatory term used to describe Mexican immigrants, particularly those who cross the border illegally. It is mentioned in the script to illustrate the kind of racial slurs and discrimination the speaker has faced, reflecting the harsh realities of being an immigrant in a new country.

💡Spic

'spic' is another derogatory term used to describe people of Latin American origin. In the script, it is used to show the racial prejudice and the negative labels that are often attached to individuals based on their ethnicity, which can have a profound impact on their self-esteem and identity.

💡Beaner

'Beaner' is a racial slur directed at people of Latin American descent, particularly Mexicans. The mention of this term in the script serves to underscore the speaker's experiences with racism and the derogatory language that is often used to demean and dehumanize people of color.

💡Illegal

The term 'illegal' is used in the script to describe the way some people are labeled based on their immigration status. It highlights the stigma and the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, who are often reduced to their legal status rather than being seen as individuals with dreams and aspirations.

💡Daughter

The speaker refers to herself as a daughter, emphasizing the familial and cultural ties that bind her to her parents and her heritage. It also signifies the responsibilities and expectations that come with being a daughter in her culture, such as helping her mother with work.

💡Language

Language is a system of communication used by a particular community. In the script, the speaker discusses the struggle with language, feeling a disconnect between her thoughts in English and her native Spanish. This highlights the complexities of being bilingual and the challenges of expressing oneself fully in two languages.

💡Writer

A writer is someone who writes, especially as an occupation or with an emphasis on creative writing. The speaker identifies as a writer, which is a central theme of the script. Despite dropping out of high school, she continues to write, showing her determination and the power of writing as a form of self-expression and empowerment.

💡Brown

The term 'brown' is used to describe the speaker's skin color, which is a significant aspect of her identity. It is also a symbol of the broader community of people of color who face discrimination and prejudice. The speaker embraces her skin color, asserting that it adds to her beauty, which is a powerful statement of self-affirmation and pride.

Highlights

The narrator identifies as a brown girl, daughter of immigrant parents.

Her mother cleans houses that are too fancy for their family to live in.

Her father parks cars that are too nice for them to dream of owning.

The narrator is one of three sisters and experiences derogatory remarks.

She is identified as Latina and enjoys reading and writing.

Other Latinos find it amusing that she likes reading and writing.

The narrator's mother works hard to support the family.

Her name, Jessica, was borrowed from a rich girl her mother used to work for.

The narrator is a dreamer and good at translating for her parents.

She translates various documents and instructions for her Spanish-speaking parents.

The narrator thinks in English but speaks in Spanish.

She often finds herself missing words in both English and Spanish.

The narrator has been called derogatory names such as 'Wetback', 'Spic', and 'Beaner'.

She became a statistic after dropping out of high school.

Despite dropping out, the narrator continues to be a writer.

The narrator learned to write on her own, inspired by authors like Sandra Cisneros, Isabel Allende, and Julia Alvarez.

These authors are all brown girls born into Spanish-speaking backgrounds and later translated into English.

The narrator's parents knew what they needed and immigrated to achieve it.

The narrator is still a dreamer and is slowly becoming a doer.

She embraces her skin color as it adds to her beauty.