Negra is Blanca’s more devious sister. While Blanca is religious and adamantly opposed to using drugs and breaking the law, Negra has been sneaking out to party since she was a teenager. She has her finger on the pulse of Spanish Harlem’s street gossip (both legal and illegal) and divulges many important plot points to the story’s main characters. Negra has a passionate but violent relationship with her husband, Victor.
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Deborah “Negra” Saldivia Character Timeline in Bodega Dreams
The timeline below shows where the character Deborah “Negra” Saldivia appears in Bodega Dreams. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Round 3: Willie Bodega Don’t Sell Rocks. Willie Bodega Sells Dreams.
...leaves with Sapo. Julio pleads with Blanca, and she storms off to call her sister Negra (her real name is Deborah, but people call her Negra on account of her being...
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Book 1, Round 7: For Being a Cabrón
Julio seeks out Blanca’s sister Negra to make contact with Vera. Negra lives in the projects on 100th Street and First...
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Julio calls Negra from the hospital, explaining that he needs to contact Vera. Negra is suspicious, but she...
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...avoid street politics to solve this girl’s immigration problem. Blanca wonders if she should ask Negra, but she’s hesitant because Negra is a handful.
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Negra and Blanca are total opposites: while Blanca was drawn to the church as an adolescent,...
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...sham marriage for the paperwork. She urges Julio to ask around on the street. Suddenly, Negra calls to tell Blanca about the drama with Victor; Julio is relieved at the distraction....
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Book 1, Round 9: Knockout: Underground Economy
The next day, Julio and Blanca move into their new apartment with the help of Negra and Victor. Victor is still healing from his stab wound, but they’re both acting very...
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Book 2, Round 2: Everyone’s a Thief
...who are kissing and greeting him. Julio tells Nazario that he’s planning to take Blanca, Negra, and Vera out to dinner so that Bodega can bump into them at the restaurant,...
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Book 2, Round 5: The War Was in Full Bloom
...in church. Blanca retorts that she hates Julio’s preachy moods and changes the subject to Negra.
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Blanca tells Julio that Negra is in the hospital— Victor beat her up. Negra wants Julio to have Bodega take...
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...Julio looks around the neighborhood for Sapo’s car without any luck. Julio wants to visit Negra to find out what she knows, but hospital visiting hours are over. If Negra tells...
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Book 2, Round 10: The Saddest Part is Turning Off the Lights
...the baby is born. Blanca hangs up, and the apartment suddenly feels empty and dark. Negra calls next, reminding Julio that she wants to have Victor beaten up. Julio is annoyed....
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Book 2, Round 12: Knockout: The Way a Hero Sandwich Dies in the Garment District at Twelve O’Clock in the Afternoon
Later that day, Negra knocks on Julio’s door. Julio is too sad to answer between Bodega’s death and Blanca’s...
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