When Emilia Castaneda was a young girl in the 1930 's, her entire world changed. Her father was a Hispanic male, but she was born in America. The day the Immigration and Nationalization Services (INS) came to send away her father, a problem arose. She and her brother were U. S. Citizens. Officials told her and her brother they could stay in Los Angeles. The offer came with a catch, though. They had to declare themselves orphans and become wards of the state. Emilia refused the offer saying that "she had a father". Emilia despaired in Mexico, a place she had only heard of. Her family lived in extreme poverty, often missing the home they lost. During this time, many like her died in the conditions they had to live in (Balderrama 107). Her story …show more content…
This crisis was the Great Depression. The n the midst of chaos and desperation. Western society accused Hispanics and African Americans of stealing jobs and welfare. For this reason, the United States government took drastic action to protect America 's economy. Hence the government unconstitutionally sending anyone of Mexican descent, or in proximity to the southern border, into Mexico. As the economy fixed itself and repatriated Mexican Americans returned to America, the world forgot about the Mexican Repatriation. Most schools neglected to mention the event when teaching about the Great Depression. Yet, teachers can not afford to continue ignoring this piece history with so much prevalence today. School curriculum should add lectures on the Mexican Repatriation because it presents a new side to the story of the Great Depression, could prevent history from repeating itself, and still has an impact on modern …show more content…
Kevin R. Johnson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the University of California at Davis, says that the United States Government should recognize the Mexican Repatriation because of the impact that still affects Mexican Americans even now (2). Ignorance is often the source of race and civil issues, but the lack of information, this time, is not in anyone 's control. Researchers and historians are finding it difficult to find accurate statistics. Relating to more questions asked about the Mexican Americans repatriated, the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services tell researchers that the INS kept a small record of the Mexican Repatriation. The lack of accurate public information has caused increasing frustration. These survivors wish to educate people to aid them in comprehending their struggles. Francisco E. Balderrama states, "Knowledge about this great injustice will prevent other ethnic or racial groups from suffering the same mistreatment, especially during difficult times of social unrest and economic crisis" (109). The survivors believe that if schools educate future generations on previous acts of racial injustice, then they will not be as quick to commit those acts
The house that Alma currently lives in is impoverished with unfinished kitchen counters that are made of plywood. These are frequently standard living conditions for individuals that identify with a lower socio-economic status within society. Similar to her daughter Yadira, Alma and her husband Tomas are the corporate to the illegal status Yadira has inherited. The focal point that bridges the gap between legal and illegal status immigrants presents the opportunity when Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. By enacting the previous, Tomas has the ability to attain a legal status finally and receives the necessary assistance to do so from a ranch owner who currently employs him as a ranch hand. Due to the diligence and work ethic Tomas displays, he successfully earns his green card and later applies for legal status for his wife and children (Thorpe
Through the view of a young girl, this story really captures what it’s like to feel like immigration is the only option for a family. In the story, set in the 1960’s, Anita lives in the Dominican Republic, a country with a dictator named el jefe. One day at school, Anita’s cousin is called out of class, and Anita is asked to go with. She finds out that her
The emotional letter that Juan left for his mother might be one of the most emotional scenes in the documentary. The pure emotions that the letter was written by Juan to her mother leaves the audience with the bonds and emotions felt between the kids and families. Juan Carlos’s father abandoned the family years ago and left to New York, consequently Juan believe it is his responsibility to provide for his family. He also wants to find his father in New York and confronts him about why he has forgotten about them. The story of Juan is not just about migration of children, but also the issue of family separation. The documentary does not dehumanize but rather bring the humane and sensitive lens to the story of Juan where the human drama that these young immigrants and their families live. Juan Carlos is not the first of Esmeralda’s sons to leave for the United states, his nine-year-old brother Francisco was smuggled into California one month earlier. Francisco now lives with Gloria, his grandmother, who paid a smuggler $3,500 to bring him to Los Angeles, California. Once Juan Carlos is in the shelter for child migrants his mother eagerly awaits him outside. After she sees him she signs a paper that says if Juan Carlos tries to travel again, he will be sent to a foster home.
Immigration is a large aspect of American history. In the book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez, we are able to see the struggles of one Hispanic boy immigrating to the United States from Mexico. Many of the people in the community that Francisco lived in didn’t really accept Hispanic people. It was really depressing that he would make friends, go over to their house and their parents wouldn’t let him come over again, simply because he was Hispanic. In Diversity Matters the text states, “Unique stresses created by the process of immigration to another country and discrimination faced in the new country can create psychological distress for many immigrants” (Spradlin 126). During this time in America, there was still a lot of discrimination going on not only with Hispanics, but other minority races like African Americans. This really goes to show how far our country has come over the years. There is still a long way to go, but I think that if people are more educated and aware of the discrimination people face on a daily basis they will be more open-minded. The United States is becoming more open to diversity, but first we will look at the struggles of one Hispanic boy growing up here illegally in Breaking Through.
While many remember the Great Depression as a time of terrible trials for Americans, few understand the hardships faced by Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the U.S. This paper examines the experiences of Mexicans in America during the Great Depression and explores the devastating impact of repatriation efforts. America has an extensive history of accepting Mexican workers when they are needed for cheap labor, and demanding that they be deported when the economic situation is more precarious in an attempt to open jobs for Americans. In the 1930s, “Americans, reeling from the economic disorientation of the depression, sought a convenient scapegoat. They found it in the Mexican community.” Mexicans were blamed for economic hardships and pushed to leave the United States because Americans believed they were taking jobs and draining charitable resources; however, few understood the negative repercussions of these actions. During the Great Depression, the push to strip jobs from Mexicans and repatriate them had the unintended consequences of adding more people to welfare rolls, contributed to labor shortages and forced out legal citizens of Mexican descent which created feelings of bitterness and rejection.
When they first arrived to the United States their only hopes were that they would have a better life and that there were better special education programs for Maribel to attend at Evers. Alma imagined that the buildings would look a lot nicer than they really were. The family was surprised that they could take things from the street that someone threw out of their house, but were in working condition. When they arrived they didn’t think that you would actually have to learn English to be able to communicate, but after going to stores and interacting with people they learned that they need to learn English if they want to live in America. They hoped that you could be able to afford anything in America by working, but based off of the money Arturo was making they learned that you can’t buy everyth...
In the article, “How to Incorporate Immigration Studies into High School Curriculum”, Dan-el Padilla Peralta argues that by educating high school students on immigration, they will be able to reform policies on it in the future.
...abriel Medina. "Some Mexican immigrants experience discrimination at the hands of their fellow citizens." Nebraska mosaic. Nebraska School of Journalism, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 21 Nov. 2013.
The Sanchez Family is a large family that emigrated to the United States of America from Mexico. The family is deeply rooted in the Catholic faith and retains their Mexican culture. The family members that this case analysis will focus on are Hector Sanchez and his daughter, Gloria Sanchez. This analysis will provide a review of the family members and how each lens and theory is related to the family member and their presenting concerns.
In regards to Celia Sanchez, she is the backbone of the family undoubtedly keeping the family together. Being an immigrant to the United States it is noticeable that her English barrier is hindering her progress as an American Resident to move forward and understand the language and paperwork. The lack of the understanding of the language opens doors for her to be exploited since she is part of a vulnerable population.
Illegal immigration has had a long history in the United States since the 1800s (Historical Timeline). However, from the 1980s until present are the times in which the issue of illegal immigrations has become more visible (Historical
Esperanza, a Chicano with three sisters and one brother, has had a dream of having her own things since she was ten years old. She lived in a one story flat that Esperanza thought was finally a "real house". Esperanza’s family was poor. Her father barely made enough money to make ends meet. Her mother, a homemaker, had no formal education because she had lacked the courage to rise above the shame of her poverty, and her escape was to quit school. Esperanza felt that she had the desire and courage to invent what she would become.
Immigration played a large part in public education. With so many children immigrating to America for an education, schools were being packed with students. However, many of these students were not going to school and instead were working in
Bestseller journalist, Sonia Nazario, in her literacy non-fiction, Enrique’s Journey, describes a young man’s journey trying to reconcile with his mother in the United States, but has to go through many obstacles to reach her. Nazario’s purpose is to inform readers about how immigration affects children and their mothers in Central America. She adopts an optimistic/determined tone in order to reveal to her readers the difficulty and bravery the children have to face to get to the United States. Nazario begins her credibility with ethos to retrace an abandon teenager’s journey through Central America, pathos to follow the mother son relationship, and logos by giving facts and statistics for illegal immigrants in the U.S.
The contrast between the Mexican world versus the Anglo world has led Anzaldua to a new form of self and consciousness in which she calls the “New Mestiza” (one that recognizes and understands her duality of race). Anzaldua lives in a constant place of duality where she is on the opposite end of a border that is home to those that are considered “the queer, the troublesome, the mongrel and the mulato” (25). It is the inevitable and grueling clash of two very distinct cultures that produces the fear of the “unknown”; ultimately resulting in alienation and social hierarchy. Anzaldua, as an undocumented woman, is at the bottom of the hierarchy. Not only is she a woman that is openly queer, she is also carrying the burden of being “undocumented”. Women of the borderlands are forced to carry two degrading labels: their gender that makes them seem nothing more than a body and their “legal” status in this world. Many of these women only have two options due to their lack of English speaking abilities: either leave their homeland – or submit themselves to the constant objectification and oppression. According to Anzaldua, Mestizo culture was created by men because many of its traditions encourage women to become “subservient to males” (39). Although Coatlicue is a powerful Aztec figure, in a male-dominated society, she was still seen