Iam not african. africa is in me, but i cannot return. i am not taína. taíno is in me, but there is no way back. i am not european. europe lives in me, but i have no home there. how does the repetition of the phrase “i am not” to establish the author’s tone?

In this passage from 'Child of the Americas' the author writes the lines 'I am not african', 'I am not taína' and 'I am not european'. The repetition of the phrase 'I am not' in these three lines shows that the author does not want to be classified as african, taína or european but is confident and proud of her mixed cultural identity. She proudly accepts all parts of her mixed heritage and cultural identity and is unwilling to be classified as only african, taína or european.

what lesson are you referencing?

each morning i wrote my name

on the dusty cabinet, then crossed

the dining table in script, scrawled

in capitals on the backs of chairs,

practicing signatures like scales

while mother followed squirting

linseed from a burping can