Tuesday February 9th

In class on Tuesday February 9^th we discussed the impact of the Mexican-Americanization Movement, the consequences on class consciousness, the role of Mexican American’s in WWII and collection of these factors on Mexican American youth and American culture at large.

We began class by touching on George Sanchez’s concept of ‘American Ambivalence’ where he describes the consequences and fears instilled through forced Americanization. These were, Sanchez’s explains, experienced after the 1930’s and President Hoover’s ‘Repatriotization’ act. Professor Lopez then explained the consequences to the voice of Mexican Americans during the Hoover years. Professor Lopez highlighted the campaign ideals that effectively silenced Mexican Americans and their needs during the 1930’s and extending until the war. We then discussed how this instilled a sense of perpetual fear within the Mexican American community and resulted in a need to maintain ties and a focus on the events occurring in Mexico in case they were to be deported.

This lead into a discussion regarding the true contribution made by Mexican-Americans during World War Two and the lack of recognition for their sacrifies. We began by examining four photographs. There was one that I found particularly interesting which was a photograph of a group of American women stationed in Brussels sent to aid with the European front. At least one of the girls was Mexican-American. This was interesting as it demonstrated the role Mexican-American women played in the war, the intermingling of different races, and the education these girls must have received in order to be valuable enough to be sent abroad. Similarly it was able to highlight the need, contribution and value Mexican-American women were able to provide to the US war effort. Professor Lopez continued to articulate the lack of evidence in historical documents of the Mexican-American contribution, let alone that of Mexican-American women.

We continued on to discuss Vicki Ruiz’s depiction of class-consciousness specifically in the 1940’s and during the war. We followed on to examine the notion of opposing forces and the idea of social space, which culminated in the concept, and common concern of inter-ethnic relations. Furthermore, Ruiz examined the role of the Mexican-American women taskforce, and specifically addressed the impact of Dorothy Rae Healy, Luisa Moreno and the significance of the creation of the UCAPAWA-CIO. Ruiz further discussed the idea of public space, which displayed the impact Mexican-American women played at home in aiding the war efforts. Ruiz identifies the changes in labor unions and the campaign of women for equal rights. Ruiz highlights and example of this within the Mexican-American female community with the campaign for stronger, better workbenches to replace the existing tattered, splintered ones that ruined their work uniforms. We discussed further that by asking for such a small change in women’s equality, very little was actually changed, and the real issue of wages became a more difficult objective to reach. Ruiz highlighted finally, that a leader needed to come from within their community and ranks, which lead into our discussion of the significance of Dorothy Rae Healy, Luisa Moreno and the idea of ‘Rosie the River’. Lastly, we discussed the concept of class-consciousness as the possibility of a coalition between different communities – an idea which began to seem plausible in the ever blending world and the time of war.

We ended class by discussing the Zoot Suit Culture and the wartime Xenophobia that accompanied these times of intermingling. The Zoot Suit fashion was enjoyed by much of the urban youth: Mexican-American, African-American, and even Anglo youth. However, it was interpreted as insensitive and flamboyant in a time of conservation and selfish and provided a scapegoat and a means to target the Mexican-American youth. This lead to many young Mexican-Americans being attacked as a result of the fear of inter-mingling through war efforts. This also threatened the white-man’s idea of masculinity and provided a greater sense of fear and loss of culture.