Unit 4, Lesson 4: How Did Mexican Americans Build a Community in Bryn Mawr?

Americanization

Some Bryn Mawr residents did not like the Mexican and Mexican American families. They believed these families should change and become more “American.” These people believed in the idea of Americanization. Americanization was a process meant to replace Mexican culture with American culture. This process focused on teaching “American” behaviors and prohibiting the use of the Spanish language and Mexican celebrations. This made it difficult for these families to express themselves. 

Newspaper editorials such as this one in the Redlands Daily Facts in December of 1925 read:

We need to teach the boys and girls of the Mexican families resident among us that the best part of the education we can and should give them is that of learning to work with their hands. We need the Mexican people here…but if they are to occupy the most useful place among us, the girls and boys should be taught that labor suited to them as most desirable for them, or as well for us.​

5. This is a handbook created by a citrus company to teach their workers proper “American” work habits. Read the lesson then turn to your neighbor and talk about what the lesson is trying to teach.




 

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