The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano

After attending a church service, Evelyn and her mother encounter a group of young men known as Young Lords, who are cleaning the streets and distributing flyers. Their presence prompts discussion among the adults about the group’s intentions in the neighborhood, with Evelyn’s mother dismissing them as “hippies.” At the family bodega, Evelyn’s stepfather expresses contempt for hippie culture and cautions Evelyn against associating with it. This pronouncement angers Evelyn, prompting her to leave and reflect on the situation as she walks through the neighborhood and critiques the effectiveness of the Young Lords’ cleaning efforts.

Evelyn strolls through different neighborhoods until she encounters her coworker Dolores. Dolores is accompanied by college students who are assisting her mother with book research. Evelyn joins them in Dolores’s apartment, noticing its liberal decor and intellectual atmosphere. During a brief discussion over civil rights movements, Evelyn involuntarily reveals that her grandmother keeps pictures of the Ponce Massacre. Feeling out of place in the resulting discussion, she abruptly leaves, angrily returning home.

Evelyn skips church and spends the day alone at home. Going outside to enjoy the weather, she oversees Angel’s father physically reprimanding him. Evelyn’s grandmother offers explanations for the incident, suggesting that the anger of Angel’s father stems from the challenges of life.