Once ashamed of my Mexican immigrant parents, but not anymore
Salomón Chavez Huerta arrived in the United States as a farmworker in the Bracero Program, a U.S.-Mexico guest worker program from 1942 to 1964. Carmen Mejía Huerta, his wife, toiled for more than 40 years as a domestic worker. Photo courtesy of Alvaro Huerta.
Professor Alvaro Huerta writes in the Sacramento Bee about how his parents were positive role models but, as a young college student, they embarrassed him:
“While I will never forgive myself for not giving my parents credit for motivating me to pursue higher education, growing up in a society where brown people are scapegoats for America’s failures, it makes sense that I would feel embarrassed about my Mexican roots and working-class background.
While Mexicans in el norte have become convenient targets for American politicians like Donald Trump, there’s a long tradition of Mexican-bashing in the United States. Since the military defeat of Mexico in 1848, American leaders and public figures have treated Mexicans in this country as second-class citizens and social burdens or threats.”
KJ