My Broken Language

1. Quiara's multicultural upbringing shapes her identity and artistic voice

"I was the gulf between English and Spanish."

Cultural fusion. Quiara Alegría Hudes grows up in a vibrant, multilingual environment in West Philadelphia. Her Puerto Rican mother, Virginia, practices Santería and speaks Spanish, while her Jewish father speaks English. This cultural divide becomes a defining feature of Quiara's childhood and shapes her artistic sensibilities.

Language barriers. Quiara navigates between languages and cultures, often serving as a bridge for her family. She experiences:

• English at school and with her father
• Spanish with her mother and extended family
• Spanglish as a hybrid form of communication
• Yoruba and Lukumí through her mother's spiritual practices

This linguistic diversity enriches Quiara's worldview but also creates challenges in finding her own voice and identity.

2. Family tragedies and silences fuel Quiara's quest for self-expression

"Silence=Death"

Unspoken pain. Quiara's family experiences numerous tragedies, including deaths from AIDS and drug addiction. However, these losses are often shrouded in silence and shame, creating a sense of disconnect and confusion for young Quiara.

Breaking the silence. As Quiara grows older, she begins to understand the importance of giving voice to these experiences:

• Creates an AIDS quilt at her high school
• Writes an essay about her cousin Tico's death from AIDS
• Seeks out artists who speak openly about taboo subjects

This quest to break the silence becomes a driving force in Quiara's artistic development, pushing her to find ways to express the unspoken truths of her family and community.

3. Music becomes Quiara's first language of emotional exploration

"Music had been a window onto humanity, diasporic to the marrow."

Diverse influences. Quiara's musical education spans a wide range of genres and traditions:

• Classical piano lessons
• Latin American and Caribbean music from her family
• Jazz and experimental music at Yale
• Neo-soul and R&B in Philadelphia

Emotional outlet. Music provides Quiara with a means to express herself when words fail. She finds solace and connection through:

• Composing original pieces
• Performing with various groups and artists
• Exploring the intersection of music and storytelling

However, as Quiara's artistic journey progresses, she begins to feel the limitations of music alone in fully expressing her complex cultural identity and experiences.

4. Yale challenges Quiara's cultural identity and artistic direction

"Which part of that divide did I fall on?"

Cultural disconnect. At Yale, Quiara experiences a profound sense of displacement:

• Struggles to relate to her wealthy, predominantly white classmates
• Feels inadequate in her knowledge of Western classical music
• Grapples with impostor syndrome and self-doubt

Artistic limitations. The rigid structure of Yale's music program leaves Quiara feeling creatively stifled:

• Focus on atonal and twelve-tone composition feels disconnected from her cultural roots
• Lack of representation of Latin American and African American musical traditions
• Growing realization that music alone may not be sufficient to express her complex identity

This period of struggle ultimately leads Quiara to question her artistic path and seek new forms of expression.

5. Quiara discovers her true calling as a writer and storyteller

"Mom, can we go to Titi Ginny's this weekend?"

Awakening. Quiara begins to recognize the power of storytelling in capturing her family's experiences and her own identity:

• Writes a musical, "Sweat of the River, Sweat of the Ocean," exploring Santería and family dynamics
• Receives encouragement from her mother to pursue writing professionally
• Applies to graduate programs in playwriting

Finding purpose. Writing allows Quiara to:

• Give voice to the silences in her family history
• Explore the complexities of her multicultural background
• Connect with audiences through shared experiences of love, loss, and identity

This realization marks a turning point in Quiara's artistic journey, setting her on the path to becoming a playwright and author.

6. Paula Vogel mentors Quiara in breaking language barriers

"Your Spanish is broken?" Paula said. "Then write your broken Spanish."

Artistic liberation. Under Paula Vogel's guidance at Brown University, Quiara learns to embrace the unique aspects of her language and cultural background:

• Encouraged to use Spanglish and non-standard English in her writing
• Introduced to playwrights who challenge linguistic and cultural norms
• Given permission to explore taboo subjects and unconventional storytelling techniques

Expanding horizons. Paula's mentorship helps Quiara:

• Overcome feelings of inadequacy about her literary knowledge
• Discover new playwrights and theatrical traditions
• Develop a personalized reading list to fill gaps in her education

This supportive environment allows Quiara to find confidence in her unique voice and perspective as a writer.

7. Quiara embraces her broken language to find her authentic voice

"Break, break, break my mother tongue"

Linguistic freedom. Quiara learns to celebrate the imperfections and idiosyncrasies of her multilingual background:

• Incorporates Spanglish, Yoruba, and non-standard English into her writing
• Explores the rhythms and cadences of spoken language in her dialogue
• Uses language barriers and misunderstandings as sources of drama and comedy

Cultural authenticity. By embracing her "broken language," Quiara is able to:

• Authentically represent her family's experiences and cultural heritage
• Challenge traditional notions of "proper" English in literature and theater
• Create a unique voice that resonates with audiences from diverse backgrounds

This acceptance of her linguistic and cultural complexity becomes the foundation of Quiara's success as a playwright and author, allowing her to tell stories that bridge divides and give voice to underrepresented communities.

Last updated: October 27, 2024