Once upon a Quinceanera

Quote #1



page # 26

" Another decade of mixing and politicizing, and by the eighties we ourselves began to claim that that's who we are. And although so took issues with the name and preffered calling themselves "Latinos" instead of "Hispanics," the bureaucratic brainstorm had turned into a reality: we had become La Raza, one people."



This quote explains that when they first came to America they were all scared and unsuficiant. But after a while they became stuck up and started getting technical with what they were calling each other. The narator was so surprised to hear what they all think about when they have there Quinseanera and how it reminds them of there homelands.

Well I am somewhat connected to this quote because when I go to like Arizona they call me some weaird names because I am not from there they think that I am all rich and have lots of stuff. When in reality I am just like them but I live and are from somewere else.



Why do you think that they fell like they have to call themselves something else to make them feel recognized?





Quote #2



"Quinceanera dreses form the backdrop of Diane Gonzales Bertrands sweet fifteen, as the protagonist is not Stephanie, the quinceanera, but Rita, a seamstree who make quinceanera dresses."



I fell that this quote has a lot of meaning because it is saying even though there are not a lot of quinceaneras going on in America we still need someone to make dresses. And that someone is Rita. Even though she does not have a lot of constomers she always has her hands full with a dress. She fells she has to be delicate. Rita is improtant to this story because if she did not immagrate from where she came from some girls would not have there dresses made.

It connects to me because if my great great gradfather and grandmother did not come here from Ireland I Would not be here. I probably would not have even been thought of. I kind of connect to the character Rita because she was esnt to America for a reason and she has fofilled that reason. Which was making those dresses.



Do you think that Rita will show someone else how to sew the dresses and they will take over her spot?