My Father's Hands
Daisy's father migrated from this country to New Jersey, even though the weather and culture there really suited him.
What is "Cuba"?
While working at this major newspaper, Daisy began to realize how the media "blacks out" or ignores the stories of people of color.
What is "The New York Times"?
Daisy notes that in her family’s culture, "womanhood" was often synonymous with this role, making her own path feel like a betrayal of tradition.
What is "motherhood (or being a wife)"?
This is the primary language Daisy's family spoke at home, which she later felt created a "bilingual" divide between her private life and her public education.
What is "Spanish"?
Daisy’s family lived by this financial philosophy, preferring to pay for everything in this form rather than using credit cards or loans.
What is "cash"?
This is the specific "religion" Daisy’s father practiced, sometimes having rituals performed in the basement of the house.
What is "santería"?
This is the specific "physical" event mentioned in the title that serves as a metaphor for the lack of racial discourse in Daisy's childhood.
What is "the power outage in 1977 (blackout)"?
This is the specific identity Daisy begins to claim in this chapter, though she struggles to find a Spanish word that carries the same meaning without being a slur.
What is "queer (or bisexual)"?
To protect the house from evil spirits, Daisy’s mother and Tía Chuchi placed this specific object under the beds.
What are "cups of water"?
This is the Spanish word for "rich people" used in the chapter title, representing those whom Daisy’s family believes are the only ones allowed to have debt.
What is "ricos"?
This substance is the primary source of conflict and "silence" in the household, often leading to her father's unpredictable behavior.
What is "alcohol"?
Daisy discusses how her family used this specific Spanish term to describe people with darker skin, often revealing internalized racism.
What is "negrito" or "moreno"?
During a conversation with her mother, Daisy realizes that her mother’s greatest fear isn't just the "kiss," but that Daisy will end up this way—living without a family or protection.
What is "alone" or "on her own"?
Daisy’s Tía Chuchi often consulted these spiritual practitioners, blending Catholic traditions with folk healing and Santería.
What are "santeras, espiritistas, curanderas, or the Women Who Know"?
Daisy realizes that for her white peers, this specific financial tool is seen as a way to "build a future," while her family sees it only as a dangerous trap.
What is "credit (or credit cards)"?
Unlike the "women’s magic" of the water cups, Daisy views her father’s power as being rooted in this—the physical ability to provide and repair.
What is "manual labor", "carpentry" etc.?
This is the name of the "Aunt" whose stories about Cuba and race relations Daisy finds herself re-examining with a more critical, adult lens.
Who is "Tía Chuchi"?
This is the specific "physical" act Daisy describes as a turning point in her self-discovery, which she contrasts with the religious expectations of her youth.
What is "kissing a woman"?
Daisy describes the cultural tension of growing up in this New Jersey city, a hub for many Colombian and Cuban immigrants.
What is "Union City, New Jersey"?
This is the major life milestone Daisy pursues that might require her to take out thousands in loans, a move that feels like a betrayal of her family's values.
What is "a college education"?
This is the specific emotion that Daisy feels when she realizes her father wordlessly peels fruit for her or fixes things around her apartment.
What is "love," "affection," or "fondness" etc.?
In this chapter, Daisy explores the concept of "passing," specifically how her family identified with this racial category to distance themselves from Blackness.
What is "white" or "blanco"?
Daisy reflects on how her family used "silence" as a weapon; if a topic wasn't spoken of in this language, it effectively didn't exist in their world.
What is "Spanish"?
These religious figures or "Great Powers" were often invoked by Daisy’s family members to provide protection and guidance through rituals.
What are "the orishas" (the Seven African Powers: Elegguá, Obatala, Yemayá, Oshún, Changó, Ogun, Orunmila)?
Daisy describes how her father viewed these institutions with deep suspicion, preferring to keep money "closer to home" or in tangible assets.
What are "banks"?