Pedro's Theory
Marcos Gonsalez
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Rural New Jersey and NYC provide the canvas for the haunting, introspective ruminations of Marcos Gonsalez's memoir Pedro's Theory. Marcos grew up in rural New Jersey with a boricua mother and undocumented father originally from Mexico. Marcos faces prejudice and discrimination at school from many white students, and internalizes their feelings that speaking Spanish and being dark-skinned are inferior. Only when he arrives at college in NYC is he able to begin to interrogate his own colorism and the harm he has perpetuated on himself and family. Gonsalez's critical eye turns to numerous themes in short chapters with cogent paragraphing, including his own ease at jumping into the stereotypical cisgender "gay friend" to affluent white privileged fellow students and 20 somethings. While his open sexuality is liberating in part, he feels as though he must walk a certain way on a restricted stage. He also lies about having a father from Mexico for many years, hiding it, before coming to terms with the fallacy of this prejudiced thinking. An engrossing memoir that directly confronts intergenerational trauma, internalized prejudices, and colorism in relation to and within the Latinx community. |
Marcos Gonsalez is an essayist and professor of literature. His work has appeared in Literary Hub, Inside Higher Education, Ploughshares, Catapult, The New Inquiry, and elsewhere. He lives in New York City.
Pedro's Theory is publication by Melville House and is available for purchase.
Pedro's Theory is publication by Melville House and is available for purchase.
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