New Deal Post: Mexican Immigration

Even today, immigration is a major issue that ultimately causes controversy.  People are debating what we should do about this issue.  There are the people who think people should be allowed to come to America and there are other who think that the immigrants are bad for our country because they take away job opportunities and other services.  In the 1930's, during the depression and after the New Deal had been established, Mexican Immigration was turning into one of the largest issues in Southern America.  During this time, the government was essentially repatriating anyone who was not a citizen of the United States, and even the people who looked like they were not a citizen.  People were either tricked into going back to their home country, forced, or voluntarily left the U.S. However, there were always the few people who were not caught and stayed in the States.  There were also many Mexican-Americans who were citizens and sought for aid from the government. "Many found temporary stability in the migrant work camps established by the U.S. Farm Security Administration, or FSA."  I believe that it is important for us today to recognize that people had to live through harsh things such as this.  They were forced to pick up their belongings and leave.  We need to feel somewhat sympathetic....right?

Second Post: Arthur A. Robertson, Oscar Heline, and friends

It kind of makes you think, what would it have been like if I had lived back then?  Would I have lost everything?  But then again, after reading stories like this, you would say to yourself, 'I am smart enough to know that I need to get my money out of the bank right away,' or you may say, 'I would have invested a lot smarter if I lived back then.'

It is hard to say... People don't really realize these things when they come up.  For example, the recession.  People don't really realize that it was basically a glimpse of what happened in the 1930's.  We essentially lived through our own little depression.  The only difference was, this time, we were a little more prepared for it.  I understand that this is irrelevant but think about it...No one, especially in our little suburb, saw the recession coming.  No one did anything.  The only difference between now and then was that we all had financial security. Arther Robertson said, "Everybody in those days expected the sun to shine forever" (Robertson 101).  I believe this is one of the most significant passages in this Stud's Terkel interview for many reasons.  I think that this quote really defines the time period.  I say this because I feel like everyone felt like the celebration essentially never stopped after WWI.  Everything was just happy, people were drinking, no one really cared, they had this sense of individualism, women got their rights.  But no one really payed attention to the economy.  It was like a balloon.  They just kept on filling the balloon until one day, October 29, 1929, the balloon just exploded and there was nothing anyone could do.  Oscar Heline, a farmer, explained how the farmers in the south had ultimately pay the grocery stores to sell their produce.  He says, "If you wanted to sell 'em (bushels of corn), you had to bring in three cents."  In other words, you had to pay the grocery store in order to "sell" the corn. Another problem was the deportation of Mexican Immigrants.  Deportation became such a threat to these people that even the excuse of an "anchor-baby" wouldn't have been tolerated.

So respond to this... Would you have seen this coming?

First Post: C.B. Ellis and Vine Deloria

It is basically human nature for a person to look at another person and make initial assumptions right off the bat.  I know it's terrible to say, but sometimes, I will look at a guy that I have never said a word to in my life, maybe never even seen this guy before, and I will start asking myself, 'Hey, I wonder if he is a good athlete.' Then I might watch he walk a few steps and decide whether or not he is a jerk or he is a pretty nice guy.  I am admitting to it, and I am sure that everyone else does it as well.  It is immature and childish in the sense that we make assumptions through observations without any evidence.  It's almost like I were to say that I think all oranges taste bad, when in reality, I have never really had an orange.  This may seem irrelevant, but it is another example of, what we will call, a pre-assumption. 

In his story, C.P. Ellis describes his transition from being the president and well-known member of a Klu-Klux-Klan in Durham, North Carolina, to becoming a man he recognizes that we- meaning all blacks, whites, Jews, Arabs, Catholics, etc.- are all human beings.  No matter your race, your religion, how well you do in school, or what kind of cars you like, we are all humans with thoughts, feelings, hopes, dreams, and, most importantly, our rights to the pursuit of happiness in this world.  He gave a very good explanation of why people join things like the Klan in the first place, or at least it was his reason, which was very feasible. He said, "I can understand why people join extreme right-wing or left wing groups.  They're in the same boat I was. Shut out.  Deep down inside, we want to be part of this great society.  Nobody listens, so we join these groups" (Ellis 66).  The question here is, 'is this why all people joined the Klan?' If so, then clearly there was a bigger problem in America other than Civil Rights.  Was the depression the possible cause for under-priviledged whites to gain rage against the colored people and start to blame their own problems on them?

However, that same shoe can be put on the other foot.  Vine Deloria explains to us that American Indians had prejudices against white people just as white people had on all other races.  Let me rephrase that...Many white people had on all other races- not necessarily all other races, but possibly a few.

So the overlying question to this whole situation is, 'Where do these things originize?' or 'What makes people make these assumptions of other people?'