Mexican-Origin People in the United States

by Martinez, Oscar J.

• ISBN13: 9780816520893
• ISBN10: 0816520895
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Univ of Arizona Pr

Summary

The history of the United Statesin the twentieth century is inextricably entwined with that of people of Mexican origin. The twenty million Mexicans and Mexican Americans living in the U.S. today are predominantly a product of post-1900 growth, and their numbers give them an increasingly meaningful voice in the political process. Oscar Martinez here recounts the struggle of a people who have scraped and grappled to make a place for themselves in the American mainstream. Focusing on social, economic, and political change during the twentieth century--particularly in the American West--Martinez provides a survey of long-term trends among Mexican Americans and shows that many of the difficult conditions they have experienced have changed decidedly for the better. Organized thematically, the book addresses population dynamics, immigration, interaction with the mainstream, assimilation into the labor force, and growth of the Mexican American middle class. Martinez then examines the various forms by which people of Mexican descent have expressed themselves politically: becoming involved in community organizations, participating as voters, and standing for elective office. Finally he summarizes salient historical points and offers reflections on issues of future significance. Where appropriate, he considers the unique circumstances that distinguish the experiences of Mexican Americans from those of other ethnic groups. By the year 2000, significant numbers of people of Mexican origin had penetrated the middle class and had achieved unprecedented levels of power and influence in American society; at the same time, many problems remain unsolved, and the masses face new challenges created by the increasingly globalized U.S. economy. This concise overview of Mexican-origin people puts these successes and challenges in perspective and defines their contribution to the shaping of modern America.

Author Biography

Oscar J. Martinez's own family migrated from the interior of Mexico to El Paso in the 1950s. A Regents Professor of History at the University of Arizona

Table of Contents

List of Figures	ix
List of Tables	xi
List of Abbreviations	xiii
Preface	xv
Introduction	xix
PART I. Natives and Immigrants
From Regional to National Minority	3	(20)
Contours of Mexican Immigration	23	(28)
PART II. The Scourge of Racism
The Legacy of Oppression	51	(21)
Identity and the Struggle for Integration	72	(21)
PART III. Working and Climbing
Travails of Making a Living	93	(32)
Mixed Social Progress	125	(26)
PART IV. Politics and Challenges for a New Century
Community and Political Power	151	(35)
Reflections	186	(17)
Notes	203	(10)
Bibliography	213	(18)
Index	231