When I Was Puerto Rican

This review paper will be evaluating and discussing the book “When I was Puerto Rican” by Esmeralda Santiago and some of its important themes. This book does an amazing job at giving a voice to countless minorities who have faced similar situations, struggles and triumphs that many of the characters in the book experience. It serves an important purpose by allowing a candid view into the lives of so many who are often misunderstood and misrepresented. There are many important themes that are addressed in this book that contribute to its overall experience. Due to its nature, a wide variety of themes are touched on from race all the way to human sexuality. Two of the important themes that play a major role in defining this work will be thoroughly
One instance can be observed when in the chapter “Fighting Naked” she is repeatedly exposed to the concept of a “Puta”. She quickly identifies and associates being a “puta” with the chief sin a man can commit. This may naturally have turned her off from wanting to be associated with or developing into the image she had of a “puta”. She understood that puta’s showed off their breasts by the way they dressed and displayed their bodies freely. She also understood that puta’s seemed to possess power over men. This could have very easily turned her away from ever wanting to be that kind of a woman and could have categorized the type of behavior associated with putas as sexually abnormal or
Things she was exposed to because of her social class may have helped repulse her to her current situation and act as motivation to help propel her to great success. On page 122 of the book, there is a situation where the teacher refers to “Jibaros” as ignorant. This situation infuriated her and she called out in response “I’m not ignorant”. Being privileged can sometimes lead to lethargy and complacency. Esmeralda had to work for what she was given and this helped drive her to a new level of maturity and