Josiah Navappo

“He spoke slowly. “You know, you might think you are strong by holding on to all of this, but I think letting it go might make you stronger.”
― Alyssa Hall, And Then I Heard the Quiet

“Be tough as a wolf lest wolves eat you.”
― Murray Bailey, The Prisoner of Acre

“Yet the upcoming year was going to be a new phase of my life. I would get to follow my big
 
brother to the big house. I had reached that golden age of six. Finally, I was going to experience

the real deal. This was no appetizer, or tater tots, or French fries. This was the whole Ore-Ida. I would be amongst thechaos like all the neighborhood kids. Everyone that knew Jerry would get to know me, too.
Since we were at Aunt Kathy’s, I had to curtail my exuberance. We had nothing like the freedom at mom’s shack. So, I did my best to remain out of sight. But those efforts were futile. School was just hours away. I really couldn’t contain myself without medication or God forbid, a good old-fashioned ass beating.
Well, Aunt Kathy implored me to settle down. She kept issuing threat after threat with such statements, “Boy, do I needto beat the black off of you,” or “Gorilla will be your name when

I’m finish!” Yes, I got the message but beating my butt wasn’t going to be enough. Heck, I had been waiting for three long, long years just to join Jerry. Anything short of a bullet wasn’t going to stop me.”
― Harold Phifer, My Bully, My Aunt, & Her Final Gift

“You boys must always remember your roots, everything that makes you Puerto Rican. Don’t ever lose the stain of the plantain,” Isa said.”
― Margarita Barresi, A Delicate Marriage