The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano

Sonia Manzano’s The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano delves into the experiences of a young Latina grappling with her cultural identity. Evelyn, the protagonist, navigates a complex world where the societal pressures to assimilate clash with her burgeoning sense of pride and militancy within the Puerto Rican community. The novel explores this theme through Evelyn’s evolving relationship with her family, her community, and her own self-perception.

Evelyn’s internalized sense of inferiority regarding her cultural background is evident throughout her self-criticism and her apathy toward her community. She constantly judges her physical appearance through a Eurocentric lens, striving to straighten her hair to achieve a more socially acceptable texture and adopting “the least Puerto Rican­sounding name” possible (14). A similar phenomenon takes place in the Puerto Rican community, with Mrs. Serrano reinforcing this negativity by referring to curly, coiled hair as “bad hair,” thereby perpetuating a beauty standard that disparages Afro-Latinx features. Such choices reflect a deep-seated aversion to non-white features within Evelyn’s world, casting them are somehow inferior and consequently influencing her self-perception.

Evelyn’s discomfort extends beyond her physical appearance, as the narrative also offers glimpses into the protagonist’s initial disdain for her surroundings.