Yesika Salgado - Brown Girl

Summary

The 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.