The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano

Evelyn Serrano, the protagonist and first-person narrator of The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano, undergoes a profound journey of self-discovery and personal growth as she grapples with her identity, her heritage, and her evolving roles within her community. Initially, Evelyn struggles to reconcile her Puerto Rican roots with her desire to assimilate into American culture. This internal conflict manifests in her aversion to cultural markers and her attempts to conform to Eurocentric standards of beauty and identity. For example, she straightens her hair and adopts “the least Puerto Rican­sounding name” she can (14), and her interactions with her family and community are marked by a sense of apathy and frustration. Her internalized biases and societal pressures lead her to distance herself from her Puerto Rican roots, reflecting her deep-seated struggle with self-acceptance and cultural pride.

Through her interactions with her grandmother and her exposure to the activism of the Young Lords, Evelyn gains a deeper understanding of her cultural identity and the transformative power of community mobilization. Initially, she views her grandmother’s arrival with skepticism, perceiving her as a disruptive element in her family dynamics. However, Evelyn soon begins to recognize the significance of her grandmother’s presence and the wisdom she imparts.