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

Not Always Welcome

Many more families immigrated from Mexico between 1911-1920 to escape the danger of the Mexican Revolution. Often, others were not welcoming to these workers. As more workers arrived, some thought that these people were a “problem” that needed to be fixed. Many people mistakenly believed that Mexican and Mexican American families were dirty, lazy, and unintelligent. Because of these stereotypes Mexicans often faced discrimination. Discrimination is unfair treatment of one person or group of people because of the person or group’s identity (e.g. race, gender, ability, religion, culture, etc.). Discrimination is an action that can come from prejudice.  In Redlands and Loma Linda, Mexican and Mexican American families were not allowed to eat in certain restaurants, not allowed to play in the same swimming pools, and were often paid less for their work. 
 

Question 3: Read this sentence written by an orange grower in 1929:

“Unfortunately, employment of labor for orange gathering is very unsteady. When we have a normal rainfall, we do not work the men more than one-half to two-thirds of the time, and it is entirely satisfactory to the Mexican. The white man cannot make a living at that kind of work.”

What assumptions is the author making about Mexican and Mexican American workers? What prejudices and stereotypes does the author believe in?

Read the whole letter here:


 

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