A Cup of Water Under My Bed

Hernández notes, “Writing is how I leave my family and how I take them with me” (179). How does she do this throughout the memoir?

How does Hernández’s use of the Spanish language throughout the text foster her argument, “There are many languages, many kinds of Spanish and English, of brown women and borders that do not shift beneath our feet but simply grow with every step we take” (19)?

Why did Hernández title her memoir A Cup of Water Under My Bed? What is the title’s significance? Does it apply to a specific moment in her life, or does she carry this idea with her?

What expectations did Hernández’s parents and aunts place on her? What obligations did she feel toward them? Have you ever found yourself in a similar position?

Hernández writes, “A woman I once dated asked me why I still spoke to my family” (176). Use evidence from the memoir to answer this question.

How does writing help Hernández to better understand her parents as individuals?

How does the final scene on the bus in San Francisco mirror Hernández’s familial experiences? What is she truly looking for there?

Describe the racism that Hernández experienced and witnessed while working at the New York Times. How did these events contribute to her disillusionment with her job and her move to Colorlines?