Author Archives: Leslie Martinez

A Not So Ordinary Girl

Jaquira Diaz has been through so much that it makes you question, how did she get through it? Yes, she does get through everything, but she had a bunch of bumps in the road. Her grandmother that she loved so dearly, passed away, she got married at 18, then got divorced. Jaquira tried to get her GED but failed, she also joined the army and because everything in her life was going bad, she then drunk, smoked and did drugs a lot. She also got back together with her ex husband whom she moved into a townhouse with. “I couldn’t really see any future at all…a high school dropout with a GED…All I’d done over the past year was drink and smoke and snort coke. I’d done more drugs than homework.” (Diaz 211) After reading all of that, can you really blame Jaquira? Her life at that point was an unpredictable rollercoaster. She has dealt with so many issues and situations that have scarred her and when she hit rock bottom, she relied on the power and benefit of drugs and alcohol, which only makes things worse. This goes to show that Jaquira Diaz is one tough cookie, and nobody’s life is perfect and everyone deals with personal issues differently.

Ordinary Girls Analysis pt.2

The author of “Ordinary Girls”, Jaquira Diaz has had a rocky start to her childhood. From having a judgmental and if I may say, a racist grandmother, to a mentally ill mother whom she doesn’t have the best relationship with, to a father that she thought was her other half until she saw the real him. Jaquira experienced such heart felt and traumatizing events as she grew up that no child should. Throughout pages 63-142, Jaquira talks about her non-existing relationship with her mother and how she wishes she had the loving, caring mother she deserves. “We’re supposed to love our mothers. We’re supposed to trust them and need them and miss them when they’re gone. But what if that same person, the one who’s supposed to protect you, is also the one who hurts you the most?” (Diaz 66). This is such a strong piece of writing and it’s sad to know that she had this doubt about her mother and that there was a lack of love and comfort Jaquira received from her. “I remember when Mami and Papi were still together, how they’d scream at each other in their bedroom…Once, right before Papi left her for the last time, Mami grabbed me and Alaina, held us out in front of him. “Take a good look at them,”…”because once you leave, you will never see them again.” (Diaz 66). This is something that a child should ever have to experience nor hear. To experience it is one thing, but to remember it, means that it really impacted you and left a mark. Overall, Jaquira Diaz does have a set of tough skin that has allowed her to get through her heartbreaking and traumatic childhood.

Ordinary Girls Analysis Pt.1

Ordinary Girls is a memoir written by Jaquira Diaz, a Puerto Rican women. In this memoir she talks about her experiences growing up and how being a Puerto Rican women has impacted her life. In the beginning of her book, she has an introduction labeled “Girl Hood” and it’s an introduction not about her life specifically but what it means to be a girl and also live as one and the transition into women hood. The first couple of pages (pgs. 10-15) Diaz is reminiscing of the times she spent in Puerto Rico as a child in 1985 and the stories her father told her while her mother was ignoring him and smoking her cigarette and her brother asleep. She also mentions how her mother and father met when Jaquira’s mom was in high school and father in college. Jaquira then goes and introduces “La Otra”, the other women in pages (22-29). La Otra was a their neighbor that was in love with Jaquira’s father and tried to get as much information out of Jaquira about her father. The neighbor would ask her questions regarding her father and his interest and one day even sent him food and when Jaquira’s mom found that out, everything went downhill. “La Otra” had a huge impact on Jaquira’s life because Jaquira witnessed first hand how an outsider ruined her family and parents relationship. Jaquira also saw a side to her father that she never did, her father would lie to Jaquira and her mom and tell her that Jaquira was lying about the encounters he had with the neighbor. Many more real life and eye opening events take place after this one as well that has helped Jaquira Diaz become he women she is now.

Racial Justice Reads

What I expect from the book that I will read which is “Ordinary Girls” is to in some way connect with not only the author, but the book, and understand it. When I read “La Otra” by Jaquira Diaz, I was able to connect with her because of the Spanish terms she used. Hearing an author say some of the terms or phrases you heard growing up and still hear, feels like you’re at home and safe, it feels like you’re reading something meant for you. I hope to connect to “Ordinary Girls” the same way I did with “La Otra.” As I watched this video, I noticed that each author has their own stories and their own struggles. They’ve all been through so much to get to where they are now, and listening to they’re powerful words in their book makes you want to know, what caused them to write about that? Why? When Jaquira Diaz read a page from Ordinary Girls, I was able to reminisce and remember when I was growing up and since I have curly hair, it would be referred as “bad hair” since it’s usually big and thick. These authors have the gift of impacting so many peoples lives in many good ways. They each have a different background, Meredith being an albino filipino transgender women, Kiese being a black man, and Jaquira being a Puerto Rican woman. In other words, people will be able to relate to them, one way or the other.

My Expectations Letter

Dear class,

During this pandemic I’ve learned to cherish every moment we have and to have goals. My expectations in this semester is to just simply do my best and push myself to my limit. Entering this new milestone in my life means a lot as we’ve all had our ups and downs this past year and a half. My only expectation from you all is to support me and help me get to my goal which is to get a B or higher in this course.