"Mexican Repatriation" During the Great Depression
Sunday September 12, 2004
During the Great Depression in the 1930s, the U.S. government looked for ways to ease the country's financial hardship. In order to make more jobs available, the government deported more than 500,000 Mexican-Americans in what was called "Mexican Repatriation." However, many of those deported to Mexico were American citizens born in the U.S. These people have never received an apology or public acknowledgement of their suffering. However, there are two bills in California ready to be signed by Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger that would fund a commission to research this event and would allow victims to file claims against the U.S. for damage incurred because of the deportations.
Comments
Multiculturalism has pretty much destroyed the area I grew up in (Los Angeles). Gone are the fields, farms, good jobs, safe manicured lawns filled with whitebread middle class families that supported each other. In their place are hordes of latinos and blacks that have turned the entire area into a very dangerous drugged out cesspool of every type of wickedness. That’s what modern liberal multiculturalism did to my town. Of course, I’m all for repatriation of latinos back to their countries of origin and the area restored to what it once was. I also think blacks should have been repatriated to Africa after the Civil War with massive reparations. That would have been best for everyone.
Repatriation was not the best policy
What a shame that the only comment on this was from a person who really does not know or understand history. My grandparents was repatriated in 1931 after living peacefully and honestly in the U.S for twelve years. Their children were U.S. born and thus citizens who did not have any protection from this “repatriation”. Their return to Mexico was painful and traumatic since they had been raised in the U.S. and spoke English well and were culturally as much American as Mexican. They went to a county they did not know to suffer poverty and years of stuggle before they could re-establish themselves economically and psychologically. When my grandparents entered the U.S. there was no border, no border patrol, no real immigration laws. In 1917 all they had to do was pay $2.00 and present a doctor’s health clearance. Thus, they entered legally,worked hard and contributed to the economy of the U.S. Unfortunatelly, the laws were changed on them and in 1931 they were told “to go back” victims of a policy brought about by fear and prejudice.
Well I see someones a bit racisct and prejudice towards those of which they don’t understand. I assume your white because you clearly have no clue what it’s like to struggle like the black man, or be treated unfairly like the latino. Latinos and blacks aren’t given the same opportunities as whites, and that’s B.S.. Repatriation was a ludacris policy, and as far as sending blacks back also, white people brought us here, we didn’t bring ourselves. True, Africa played a huge role in the process of slavery, but the white men were key. Not only did we not create these “cesspools” that you speak of, but we were placed in them. The white man created them in hopes that we (blacks, hispanics, etc.) would eliminate ourselves by placing nothing but despair and signs of no opportunity. If you took a look around those areas, you’d realize the majority of those people have no chances to get out, that’s the only life they know, and the only path they can take. Why is that? Not the blacks, not the lationos fault, but the white man.
Unemployed WASP says:
“I’m all for repatriation of latinos back to their countries of origin and the area restored to what it once was. I also think blacks should have been repatriated to Africa after the Civil War with massive reparations.”
Sounds good, should we start with all the people of European descent first? I am Native American,as are most people of Mexican-American descent. So I guess I will have to stay behind. By the way wasp, hope you have better luck at finding a job in Europe!
I agree with F. Solis regarding “wasp.” Racism and ignorance in this country never ceases to amaze me.
What I would like to know is if the Mexican Americans resisted the unconstitutional deportation in the 1930s, and if so, in what way? I’ve been doing some research on this but haven’t found anything substantial.
to the unemployed wasp. who so ever gave you the right to decide who should live in this country and who shouldn’t. what country of origion should you be sent back to. Let’s see ….england, germany, russia, poland, france,irland, scotland, holland, italy, greece, finland, sweden. unless you are 100% american indian, than we should repatriate you back to your country of origin. You don’t stand for what this country means. And maybe if those people that you chastise had had your opportunities than maybe they wouldn’t have to scounge for a way to make a living. I am not condoning what they do, but you need to look at the other side of the coin before you spouting you prejudiced and poison thoughts.
In response to Blogger #1 First of all, California was part of the country of origin for Mexicans, therefore Mexicans are already in their country of origin, that does not include all “Latinos”..second, Mexican, Latino, Hispanic is not a race, it is simply a word chosen by perhaps corporate America to identify a “group of people” “they” believed had something like language (spanish-some for of it )in common. Mexicans are “white” as the last time I looked Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Greek, Lebanese are all considered belonging to the”white” race and well fortunately or unfortunatley or better or worse Mexicans are made up of one or some of these and other “European” groups. Don’t tell me that you think that your country of origin was the U.S. It hasn’t been around that long…your grand-parents or great grand parents came from another country and if they ended up in California with property, (they probably even married someone of Mexican ancestry and changed their name. (Just a thought)…So perhaps you should go back to your country of origin. Although it is true that many of these people come to this country from Latin American countries, European Countries, Asian countries, all of them countribute and change what we have been born into just like your ancestors did.
Well I see someones a bit racisct and prejudice towards those of which they don’t understand. I assume your white because you clearly have no clue what it’s like to struggle like the black man, or be treated unfairly like the latino.
————-
Really? What’s “unfair” is to pretend that Latinos were the only ones who were “repatriated”. Large numbers of EUROPEANS (Irish, Czechs, etc.), i.e. white non Hispanics, were repatriated to Europe during the same period. But somehow, no one ever hears about THAT. It’s always that the poor Latinos (many of whom ARE white) have been treated unfairly. Guess what? My ARAB ancestors went through and go through much the same, but I have yet to hear an Hispanic ethnic identity type exhibit any concern for anyone other than their own ethnic group.
The world will be a much better place when everyone is a “hybrid”. Only then we won’t separate each other on the basis the race or ethnicity…We need to stop the “pecking order” for whatever reason and rise above the other living organisms…and get along for future of our planet. Think gobally! Stop drawing lines in the sand. This comment comes from a hybrid of Native American, Spanish, and English…
A “hybrid”? You know, Rebecca, a man had a similar idea not too long ago. His name was Hitler. His “Arian” blond haired, blue eyed race was to be the superior race of all the world. No matter the color your dreams are you should take your liberal rose-colored glass of and get some common sense into your head. What would be next after homogenizing race? Religion? Government? Heighth, weight, job status or living standard? Would you homogenize everyone so there could possibly be no strife and we would all live in a facsist, socialistic, lock-step world of blah? Man since his existence has always been torn between his differences with his fellow man. All mankind is either superior or inferior in their race, but it is soley up to them which one they feed.
To Ali,
Of course “Hispanics” are concerned about their ethnic group! Just like Whites, Blacks, Asians, Arabs, etc are concerned about their own. I’ve never heard any Arab groups being concerned for any other ethnic group but their own, yet I don’t chastise them for it. I am of Mexican descent, except my family line has dated back to when California was still part of Mexico, and my family struggled back then. Fortunately, none of my family had to go through the horrific Mexican Repatriation. Maybe you should also take note that this particular blog was concerning that subject and that’s why every comment was geared towards such. So before you start spewing out how other ethnic groups (Hispanics namely) feel sorry for themselves, get your facts straight.
You know, when is EVERYONE…white, black, Mexican, Asian, German, Czech, or WHATEVER you claim as your heritage …. going to realize that we are all the same color in the eyes of God?? There are good and bad people in EVERY race, there should be no “Pecking order” just all people trying to treat others as they would like to be treated! I know it’s hard to be kind to those that do evil things….like the Muslim at Ft. Hood…..but I don’t think that we are the final word…he’ll get his as OBama said in his speech the other day, “he will be judged in this world and the next” Too bad that everyone can’t have the same sentiments as children, they have no problem with skin color till they are taught to notice the difference while playing in the sand pile!