Chicano History.
Written on December 28, 2009
Spring 2004-Final Exam
1. The Chicanos suffered a great deal while trying to make a living by working in fields. Farmers have been abusing migrant farm workers for a very long time, and even though some conditions have improved since the 1930′s, they are still treated unfairly.
It is extremely difficult for migrant workers to fight for their right because a lot of the workers are illegal immigrants. In the past, employers were able to exploit migrant workers. This would make them afraid to demand a higher pay or go on strike. An article from the San Francisco Chronicle states that, “in past decades, labor unions often saw immigrant workers as the enemy, accusing them of depressing wages and breaking strikes” (Greenhouse 1). Now, unions are starting to accept migrant workers by trying to change laws so that they can stand up for themselves without the fear of being deported.
Before Lech Walesa and the time of the unions, employers for many reasons treated immigrants poorly. Most immigrants didn’t have much of an education if any and they usually couldn’t speak English. These people had to perform “back braking” labor usually for about 12 hours a day. They were paid so little that they could barely afford to feed their families. The worst part about being a migrant worker was that they didn’t have a voice. There only choice was to continue working for hours on end, because if they didn’t or couldn’t, they would not be able to survive.
I think that migrant workers should have more rights. I think that illegal immigrants should have the same rights as anyone else, mainly because they are human beings. I don’t think it is that big of a deal that they don’t pay taxes because they are paid so little. I think that it should be easier for them to get citizen ship. Every solution can be argued with a problem it would create. This is why at the end of Los Dos Mundos, there isn’t a direct solution. As an amateur on the subject, it seems to me that this is a problem that can’t be solved.
2. Bilingual Education, Elian Gonzalez/U.S-Cuban Immigration Policy, and .
Bilingual Education: All of the posters and presentations were very interesting. But my favorite poster and oral report was bilingual education. They discussed the two-way bilingual education, and how it is the most successful. I think it is such a great idea to have half of the day taught in Spanish and the other half taught in English. This pushes the students to learn both languages while applying it to their schoolwork. They also talked about the need for bilingual education because so many different languages are being spoken these days.
Elian Gonzalez/U.S-Cuban Immigration Policy: This group talked about the Monroe Doctrine and the U.S- Cuban Immigration Policy trying to tie it into Elian Gonzalez. The immigration policy is if an immigrant is caught in the water they are sent back to their country, but if they make it to the coast they are safe. The situation with Elian Gonzalez was the boat capsized and he was found floating in the water. It turned into a matter of family instead of an immigration issue.
The Mexican-American War: The last group to present discussed the Mexican-American War. Between 1846 and 1848 the United States and Mexico went to war. It was a defining event for both nations, transforming a continent and forming a new identity for its peoples. By the end of the war, Mexico lost nearly half of its territory. They lost the land Southwest from Texas to California , and the United States became a continental power.
3. In the book, Bless Me Ultima by, Rudolfo Anaya, Antonio struggles with many issues within his family and their different cultures. His mother’s side of the family is very religious and tied to their land. They want Antonio to be a priest while his father’s side of the family is wilder and they want him to be a vaquero. He is torn by this at a very young age.
Antonio was also torn by other people’s opinions of his grandmother, Ultima. Some people thought of Ultima as a witch, some thought of her as a healer, and some went back and forth depending on the circumstance. Antonio wasn’t sure what to think of his grandmother at first, but he eventually understood some of her mystery and he loved her very deeply. She gave Antonio some of her gift before she died so that she could always be with him.
In Mexican Americans/ American Mexicans, there are many struggles within Chicano culture. From the time that Aztecs were conquered, there was conflict between the native people and the Spaniards. Aside from these conflicts, the “Mexicans” had to fight for their land and freedom. They had to continue to fight for their rights as they started to migrate into the states. Once they were in the states their culture was in jeopardy. Many immigrants and American born Chicanos completely “Americanized” in order to try to fit in, because they were not welcomed for whom they were. Most of the time, the Mexican Americans were ridiculed and treated unfairly even if they could speak English perfectly and were just as well off as Anglo Americans.
Cesar Chavez led the fight for farmer’s rights and helped start a huge migrant worker movement. Chicanos were finally able to stand up for themselves. Now they can express their culture freely and be admired for it.
Works Cited
Anaya, Rudolpho. Bless Me Ultima.
Baker, Richard. Los Dos Mundos.
Greenhouse, Steven. “Unions Urge Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants.” Common Dreams News Center; San Francisco Chronicle 2000.
Matt S. Meier, Feliciano Ribera. Mexican Americans/ American Mexicans.
