When I Was Puerto Rican Chapter Summary & Analysis - Jibara and Fighting Naked Summary

Jibara and Fighting Naked Summary and Analysis

The story begins with "Jibara." Esmeralda Santiago is four years old when she and her family - consisting of her father Pablito, her mother Ramona and her little sisters Delsa and Norma - move to Macun. They live in a house of tin and Esmeralda almost immediately burns her fingers. She is called Negi by her family and her mother tells her that almost everyone has a real name that is known to the government and a nickname known to family and friends. In Esmeralda's case, she is called Negi, short for Negrita because she is so dark. Esmeralda recalls her mother telling her to stay out of the way of her father's working on the house but her father says that she can stay and help. She picks up wood to be used as kindling for the kitchen fires and is covered with termites. The insects bite her and...
(read more)