I. Treaty
of Guadeloupe Hildago (1848): Mexico surrenders over 1/3 territory to U.S.
A.Mexico
must accept after U.S. armies invade during Mexican-American War
B.75,000
Mexican nationals guaranteed their land grants; bilingual official documents
C.Language
not respected; within 10 years, much property lost through Anglo duplicity
1.
Mexican tradition based on vague landmarks is manipulated in Anglo courts
2.
Anglo hunger for Mexican’s land fuels conflict
II.Mexican
resistance to abuse, land seizures in Southwest labeled as criminal
A.Bandido
image used to denigrate rebellions
B.Example
of Cortina Wars and “Red Robber Barron of the Rio Grande”
1.Wealthy
Juan Cortina had large land grant, was incensed by Anglo treatment
2.Kills
sheriff seen pistol-whipping one of his mother’s workers
3.Frees
Mexican prisoners from Brownsville jail, is labeled a “bandit” by Anglos
C.
Many Mexicans are lynched
III.Mexicans
exploited as cheap, temporary workforce to be expelled when not needed
A.Depression
fuels repatriations in 1930s: 1 million returned 1926-1939
B.Bracero
program 1942-1964: cheap guest agricultural workers popular with growers
1.Objective
was to exploit labor then send back to Mexico
2.Created
infrastructure of illegal migration
C.Operation
Wetback in 1954: response to recession is to send back Mexicans
D.Message
of “Born in East LA:” US citizens without papers sent to Mexico
E.IRCA
(Simpson-Rodino bill) in 1986: Hispanics at disadvantage--employer checks
ID
IV.Discrimination
A.
Example of Zoot Suit Riots in 1943: Sailors attack “pachucos” and riot
in barrio
B.
L.A. council makes wearing a zoot suit misdemeanor:baggy pants,long coats
of youth
C.
Sleepy Lagoon Trial: Mexicans labeled “criminal;” teens jailed on evidence
thrown out
V. Mexicans
deprived of cultural and physical capital
A.Physical
capital: land, factories, other property that embodies or produces wealth
B.Cultural
capital: education, experience, skills, social contacts, reputation, etc.
VI.Contrast
with Ethnic Enclave of Cubans, built from Cultural and Physical Capital
A.Successes:>25,000
businesses (1990), 40% of wealthiest Hispanics, mayors/legislators
B.Key:
Golden exiles use cultural, physical capital to build economic enclave
1.Provide
ingredients for “society in embryo” absorbing future migrant waves
2.Cubans
from all classes come voluntarily to create better way of life
3.Exile
status, language, common experience create strong bonds
C.3
Components of Enclave Economy (Alejandro Portes)
1.
Ethnic solidarity transcending economic, contractual ties
A.Rotating
credit associations: informal credit on reputation vs. collateral
B.Informal
benefits vs. lower wages: creates niche for new competitors
1.On
the job training2.Rapid
promotions
3.Help
in establishing own business later on
2.
Some business--e.g.,banking--competes with Anglos; not just periphery of
econ
3.Geographic
concentration: close to ethnic clients, labor, other businesses
a.upshot:
can succeed in enclave’s sector without having to speak English