Mexican Americans during the Civil Rights Movement - Essay Example

Mexican Americans during the civil rights movement The history of Mexican Americans and migration to America is closely connected with Spanishinvasion and colonization of Mexico. Besides, in the initial stages, migration forced the Mexicans to lead an alienated life in the American society. So, my attempt is to unveil the hardships faced by Mexican Indian community in American cities, towns and villages. Thesis statement: The migration of Mexican Americans, especially the Mexican Indians proves the hardships (segregation, discrimination and racism) faced by them in the American society. I represent the Mexican Indian community which is rooted in Zapotec society. We, the members of Mexican Indian community feel so proud of our ancestral roots in Mexico. One can see that our community is deeply rooted in Zapotec society in Mexico. The elders in our community used to point out the importance of our lineage. So, we are so conscious about the close relation among members of our community. Besides, we used to preserve our customs and beliefs in American society. But this does not prove that we keep detached from the main stream of American society. Instead, our youngsters are so conscious about education and career opportunities in the society. As pointed out, my community originated in Mexico. When, the Spanish people from Europe invaded Mexico, our forefathers migrated to United States of America. My grandfather used to say about the mass migration. My ancestors were forced to face a number of hardships from the Spanish invaders. So, they decided to migrate to United States of America. One can see that migration is an exasperating process. Our family beyond me consists of my grandfather, my grandmother, my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters. We happened to reach New Mexico in America. Other families which followed us settled in Los Angeles and Dallas. Both Los Angeles and Dallas are cities. My family decided to lead a peaceful life and settled in a village near to New Mexico. A. Creation: Mexican Indian migration to Los Angeles, New Mexico and Dallas Earlier, I did point out that our migration to Los Angeles, New Mexico and Dallas was a tedious process. From the serene atmosphere of Mexico, we were totally uprooted and fixed in a strange land. But I cannot recollect much about the process of migration because I was a small child. I can only recollect some vague images of our exodus with my sisters and brothers to a strange land. The elder members of our community were worried about food and accommodation. I was not so happy to travel with the elders because they did not allow us to talk each other. Now, I realize that my family was forced to face hardships for the wellbeing of future generations. They were aware of the fact that Spanish invasion on Mexico will destroy our culture. So, our ancestors decided to preserve our culture in a strange land. One can see that migration partially helped us to preserve our culture, rituals and belief. On the other side, those who decided to stay in Mexico faced a number of problems in our homeland. The Spanish sailors who happened to reach the Mexican land in 1511 developed a number of colonies in Mexico. The Spanish invaders enslaved Africans and forced them to do menial jobs in Mexico. This resulted in the intermingling of Mexican, Spanish and African races. So, one can see that purity of different races in Mexico was totally destroyed. In the end of 18th century, a number of Mexican races decided to migrate to America. As pointed out earlier, they settled in Los Angeles, New Mexico and Dallas. One can see that migration was not limited to the foretold areas of America. But I pinpoint those areas because most of the members of my community decided to settle there. B. Consequences: segregation and assimilation My community which migrated to New Mexico was forced to face segregation and discrimination in America. All the Mexicans who settled in different parts of America shared the common heritage of Mexican ancestry. But our life in America was not so easy and peaceful. At the time of World War I, some of our elders got job in agricultural lands. At that time, life became a little bit easier. But the cultural alienation felt in a strange land was so painful to the elder members of our community. In the first half of the 20 century, especially between 1900 and 1930, new migrants from Mexico happened to reach the different parts of America. Some of the people who had settled earlier in America were of Spanish origin. The new settlers were so loyal to our homeland. This created some problem on racial purity within our community. Almost all the members within our community felt confusion upon our culture, race and ethnic roots. The later migrants were forced to work in farms and some others worked in mills and mines. One can see that the working conditions, housing, sanitation facilities and living condition of our community members were so bad. Besides, the segregation and discrimination faced by our community members forced them to keep aloof from the mainstream society. But now, the youngsters of our community are showing keen interest to assimilate to the American society. At the same time, they are aware of their ancient lineage of Mexican Indian community. C. American policies and laws: history of discrimination and civil rights movement I can say that some of the American policies and laws helped us to feel ourselves as the members of American society. For instance, Camille Guerin-Gonzales makes clear that the Immigration Act of 1917 helped the Mexican Americans to consider themselves as legal immigrants (Gonzales 42). But some other policies and laws forced us to keep aloof from the American society. A pointed out earlier, we faced discrimination on culture, race and on our ethnic roots in Mexico. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which was formed in 1920s fought against racism towards Mexican Americans. But Alma M. Garcia opines that the life of Mexican immigrants in America can be considered as the extension of their cultural life in Mexico (Garcia 181). Besides, the members of LULAC fought for economic and political rights of Mexican Americans in America. The American G.I. Forum, which was formed in 1948, played a vital role in reducing racial discrimination. But Lee Stacy states that the educational policies formulated by the US government helped the Mexican Americans to gain value education and employment opportunities (Stacy 194).So, one can see that racism on color and religious belief of Mexican Americans limited their active involvement in the development of American society. I can say that the Mexican Americans indirectly helped the American society for social and economic development. For instance, at the time of World War I, the Mexican Americans in South West served in farmlands, mills and mines. At the same time, the Mexican Americans in South West faced segregation and discrimination in the form of denial of public facilities. In Texas, the Mexican Americans were prohibited from burial ceremonies. All these incidents added fuel to the burning issue of racial segregation. On the other side, the Immigration Act of 1924 limited Mexican American immigration to America. At last, our community decided to assimilate to the American society without much protest. Now we enjoy a number of special rights in America. Our youngsters show keen interest to have university education. Our elders are happy because racial segregation and discrimination is less evident in American society. Our migration from Mexico to New Mexico in America proves the never ending desire of Mexican Indian community in preserving their culture and racial purity. Besides, we do not consider ourselves as aliens in a strange land. But, we feel so proud to be the part of multiracial and multiracial society of America. References Garcia, Alma M. The Mexican Americans. USA: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002. Gonzales, Camille Guerin. Mexican workers and American dreams: immigration, repatriation, and California farm labor, 1900-1939. USA: Rutgers University Press, 1994. Stacy, Lee. Mexico and the United States, Volume 1. Malaysia: Marshall Cavendish, 2002. Read More