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41. I Been Grown
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in With the Fire on High, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Coming of Age and Teen Parenthood
Creativity vs. Professional Norms
Food and Connection
Caregiving, Independence, and Identity
Support, Community, and Mentorship
Summary
Analysis
On Sunday night, ’Buela is busy watching the news while Emoni studies for her ServSafe test and waits for Babygirl to get back from Tyrone’s. Suddenly, ’Buela gasps: a hurricane is threatening Puerto Rico. The last time a hurricane hit, Emoni and ’Buela couldn’t get ahold of Julio for three weeks. Emoni had never been more frightened, even when she was in labor—and her mom didn’t survive labor. Ignoring her hurt feelings, Emoni calls Julio and asks if he’s seen the forecast. Normally, he shrugs her concern off, but he assures her that the barbershop is storing provisions and has a generator. He’s keeping people safe. He can hear ’Buela say that he needs to fly to Philadelphia, and he tells Emoni that he’s not leaving. Puerto Rico is his home, and he needs to help his home and his community.
Emoni might find Julio trying and exasperating at times, but she does love him and want him to be safe from dangerous natural disasters. Indeed, noting that Emoni was more afraid during the hurricane than she was during labor highlights how much she cares about Julio, despite his faults as a parent. However, as Julio explains why he won’t leave Puerto Rico, it again shows Emoni that she and ’Buela come second to her dad’s life and community in Puerto Rico. It contributes to her sense that he cares more about other people than he does about her, his daughter—something that’s difficult for Emoni to grasp as a parent herself.
Themes
