Entry #15 Ronald Takaki, "El Norte, The Borderland of Chicano Americans"

Brian Gerker
ETHN 101
Reading Journal Entry #15
11-4-2007

Takaki, Ronald “El Norte ‘The Borderland of Chicano America’”

1. In “El Norte, The Borderland of Chicano America,” Takaki’s thesis is that the United States to the Mexicans was “El Norte, the land across the river.” The United States “became the stuff of boundless dreams for Mexican immigrants. In growing numbers in the early twentieth century, they began to cross the northern borders, with extravagant hopes.” Mexicans immigrated to the United States in hopes of finding better jobs and to get away from Mexican revolutions.
2. To summarize “El Norte, The Borderland of Chicano America,” things seem to start with revolutions in Mexico. In the early twentieth century, revolutions were taking place in Mexico, one of which was started by Pancho Villa. These revolutions caused many things, like economic depression, and living expenses became unbearable. The Chicanos then looked to the north, who had built a new railroad leading from Texas to Mexico, where in America they could find better jobs, and opportunities. Though in some cases, things did not always work out, where Chicanos often had to work the same hard labor jobs in the U.S. that they had to in Mexico. Mostly, it was families that immigrated trying to avoid the revolutions and find a better home. Also, the Chicanos were discriminated against in the working field. Where a white man would earn $5 a week, a Mexican would only earn $4 a week for the same work. It was supposed to be equal opportunities, but for many things did nto work out as they first believed.
3. The immigrations of Mexicans to the United States was caused by several factors. Takaki presents that income was a huge aspect in the migration. Also, the revolutions that bothered the safety at home was a reason for people to flee to a safer environment. And also, the Mexican economy had become terribly bad, as prices of every thing soared. Mexicans could not afford to live there and thus had to leave to find a new stable life.
4. This reading was actually quite interesting. Takaki did a great job of giving good details and keeping my attention. This was definitely a good reading as it provides much information for discussion. I also did not know about all the reasons Takaki presents for the Mexican migration. I knew about them being able to get better jobs in the U.S. but I did not know in great detail the effects of the revolutions.