As you grab that head of lettuce from your local grocery store, you might have thought about the farmer who picked that particular head of lettuce; however, I am sure you never thought
if it were difficult. the Author of “ A Gringo in the Lettuce Fields,” Gabriel Thompson not only
writes about his undercover observance of the strenuous and intensive labor of a specific latino
community, but also physically participates in the fieldwork that this community is involved with
in Yuma Arizona. In Thompson’s article he achieves a strong awareness while immersed with the
community and their work, which leads Thompson to understand their struggle between american
acceptance and the overall merciless labor. I can agree to my capacity
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Thompson begins by describing his physical state within the first three days of working in
the lettuce fields, including a mentioned five day rule by a farmworker known as Manuel.
”I stand up gingerly. It’s only my third day in the fields, but already my 30-year-old body is
failing me. I feel like someone has dropped a log on my back and then piled that log onto another Ayala 2
truck with many logs, and driven that truck over my thighs” (Thompson 81).Manuel goes on to
tell Thompson about the five day rule that is simply put by Manuel as “ Survive the first five days
and you’ll be fine” (Thompson 81). To think, if this is an actual rule that newcomers must take to
mind before they begin to work the lettuce fields, than you can already determine the level of
difficulty not only Thompson is involved with but also the community of farmworkers employed
in those fields.
There is an abundance of leafy greens produced in Yuma Arizona, but not enough
farmworkers to help harvest them. Most americans are not willing to take up the work however,
the latinos located across the border are more than happy to step into this labor, yet
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Amid jeers, he didn’t back down, telling the audience,
“ You can’t do it, my friends.” (Thompson 82)
Clearly it is not only correct to give a dignifying individual a position of labor that is in desperate
need of occupation, but also worthwhile for the land and community who need people to harvest
their farms so they can meet the simple daily life essentials, conveniently located at your local Ayala 3
grocery store.
As the workday continues, Thompson realizes a farmworkers job of harvesting is not as
simple as it may sound. Thompson than explains a particular scenario of frustration he has
involving the trimming of the lettuce head, “ The greatest difficulty, though , is in the trimming. I
had no idea that a head of lettuce was so humongous. In order to get it into a shape that can be
bagged, I trim and trim and trim, but it’s taking me upward of a minute to do what Manuel does in
several seconds ” (Thompson 83). Cutting a single head of lettuce is no problem, no matter how
long it takes to learn; however, apply a very brief time set for this particular work to be done,
include a thousand more lettuce heads to be trimmed, and don’t forget the quality of your
a basis of production, and the only way to operate large farms at the time,
Harvey Parnell speech on crop conditions, 1931. Harvey Parnell Speeches and Clippings (MS/P24), folder 3. Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville.
It’s important to follow the rules, because they dictate what your advantage or disadvantage is;
In this installment of Harvest of Empire, we reach the third and final chapter named La Cosecha which shows the impact of Latinos in politics. Though, the two previous sections were interesting due to learning history and the history of Gonzalez himself, in this section we learn of the triumphs and downfalls of communities that were aren’t made aware of in modern textbooks or in classrooms. In Chapter 10, we are knowledgeable that the Latino vote has not only increased by sky-rocketed from the years 1976 to 2008. The revolution has been in the works since post World War II although it’s not commonly known as other legacies throughout the United States. As the years later progressed, the United States saw the rise of major radical groups such
Feagin, Joe R. “The First U.S Latinos: White Wealth and Mexican Labor.” Richard and Jean 67.
Torres, Hector Avalos. 2007. Conversations with Contemporary Chicana and Chicano Writers. U.S.: University of New Mexico press, 315-324.
Health challenges are among one of the greatest threats facing farmworkers in the United States. Employers have no urge to help workers in the fields, even though there are plenty of resources available to assist them. According to Chavez, “Today, thousands of farmworkers live under savage conditions—beneath trees and amid garbage and human excrement—near tomato fields in San Diego County,
The struggle to find a place inside an un-welcoming America has forced the Latino to recreate one. The Latino feels out of place, torn from the womb inside of America's reality because she would rather use it than know it (Paz 226-227). In response, the Mexican women planted the seeds of home inside the corral*. These tended and potted plants became her burrow of solace and place of acceptance. In the comfort of the suns slices and underneath the orange scents, the women were free. Still the questions pounded in the rhythm of street side whispers. The outside stare thundered in pulses, you are different it said. Instead of listening she tried to instill within her children the pride of language, song, and culture. Her roots weave soul into the stubborn soil and strength grew with each blossom of the fig tree (Goldsmith).
... will always be remembered with other great non-violent activists such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Nelson Mandela, despite this, his determination, dedication, and selflessness will always remain unparalleled.
Reisler, M. 1996. By the Sweat of Their Brow: Mexican Immigrant Labor in the United States, 1900-1940. New York: Greenwood Press.
Jose Antonio Vargas’s article on My Life as an Undocumented Immigrant is a writing about his childhood journey from the Philippines to the United States as an Undocumented Immigrant. Vargas writes this article to emphasize the topic of immigrant and undocumented immigrant in the United States. He uses all three appeals: pathos, ethos, and logic in his writing, in specific, he mostly uses pathos throughout of his entire article with a purpose for the reader to sympathize and to feel compassion for him. The use of these appeals attract many readers, they can feel and understand his purpose is to ask for others to join and support other people who undocumented immigrant like himself. In addition, it gives other undocumented immigrant people courage
For centuries man has been considered to be the dominate species. Writings throughout history adumbrate that women are habitually invariably subordinate. Throughout the nineteenth century, women were severely oppressed, repressed, and suppressed by society. Men influenced repression of women’s ideas because it was believed it did not count and held no value; an abundant amount of women unfortunately agreed. An extensive amount of women were uneducated, and subsequently this greatly impacted on their way of thinking. Although the women’s suffrage movement was prominent, an abundant amount of women, in my opinion, were negatively influenced by society as a whole. Within literature, writings oppressed women, and belittled them; portraying them to be weak and in need to have support. This has been the misconception for an extensive amount of centuries. It is debatable that the influence men had on societal views had impacted the boundaries on the views between madness and sanity. Importance on being portrayed as the “perfect” women or housewife could have also been a factor. The late nineteenth century the author, Kate Chopin, brought to the surface truth underneath women with the use of her stories. Many considered this to be madness, because of the content in her writings. As Aristotle once said ‘“No great mind has ever existed without a touch of madness.” (Goodreads)
Maniac Magee is about a boy who struggled throughout his life. His name was Jeffrey Lionel Magee, sometimes known as Maniac Magee. His parents died in a trolley accident when he was three years old. He is patient, determined, and he really wants to be loved and understood.
(1) In many short stories and plays there are persons involved which [who] help characterize other main characters. This process of characterization is called a foil. [A foil is not a process.] "A foil is a minor character, who by similarities and differences, reveals characteristics of a more important character, and who, as an element of plot, is there for the more important character to talk to" (Vavra). The foils in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, help the reader understand the main character; [, not ;] Hamlet.