Five Generations of a Mexican American Family in Los Angeles: The Fuentes StoryRowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2007 M04 9 - 198 pages Despite their citizenship and English monolingualism, Mexican Americans have long been known to remain largely working class, which, academically, has meant that they tend to be mostly high school graduates, with low rates of college attendance and completion. Attempting to understand this phenomenon, Five Generations of a Mexican American Family in Los Angeles chronicles the home, work and school lives of the author's multigenerational family throughout the twentieth century. Using oral histories of 33 members across five generations, the Fuentes story illuminates the interaction between race, ethnicity and class at home, in the labor market and in schools, which circumscribe the opportunity and resources (or lack thereof) for academic success. Generally, findings show that these factors work together to reproduce the family's social standing over generations. Equally important, the analysis reveals how the persistence and strength of the Fuentes' heritage cultural values (buena educaci-n and familism) have insulated them from the continued threat of racial discrimination and economic hardship in American life. The Fuentes story provides the reader with a keen view of the process by which Fuentes' moved from immigrants to ethnic Americans, and shows how they have gracefully survived the harsh and unpredictable nature of being of a racial minority and the working class. |
From inside the book
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Page 2
... school but how to behave period . School was just another public space where I was to represent my parents and family honorably . The value of schooling was also present in my home . Mostly , my par- ents openly encouraged school by ...
... school but how to behave period . School was just another public space where I was to represent my parents and family honorably . The value of schooling was also present in my home . Mostly , my par- ents openly encouraged school by ...
Page 3
... children and every once in a while , giving them a little happiness . As is the case with many working class ... schooling or had the time to participate in the way scholars recommend , on further examination , they supported education ...
... children and every once in a while , giving them a little happiness . As is the case with many working class ... schooling or had the time to participate in the way scholars recommend , on further examination , they supported education ...
Page 6
... children . The ability to maintain the same consistent and supportive ... school . Though I worked to pay for my car and insurance , I was now ... school com- mitments with babysitting my niece while my sister attended school 6 Introduction.
... children . The ability to maintain the same consistent and supportive ... school . Though I worked to pay for my car and insurance , I was now ... school com- mitments with babysitting my niece while my sister attended school 6 Introduction.
Page 8
... students ' academic situation are many and are commonly attributed to factors outside of schools . For instance ... schooling , and its strong value of family and work , which distracts Latino students ' at- tention away from their ...
... students ' academic situation are many and are commonly attributed to factors outside of schools . For instance ... schooling , and its strong value of family and work , which distracts Latino students ' at- tention away from their ...
Page 12
... children , increased its socioeconomic standing , in- creased its rate of education , and maintained a cohesive family network , one which is still vital in assisting its ... school and how school activities were addressed in 12 Introduction.
... children , increased its socioeconomic standing , in- creased its rate of education , and maintained a cohesive family network , one which is still vital in assisting its ... school and how school activities were addressed in 12 Introduction.
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Common terms and phrases
African Americans Anglo attended barrio brother buena educación Carlos Fuentes Chávez Chicano English Chicano movement chil child children's schooling claimed cohort counselor Cristian daughter despite Dora eleventh grade Elisa encouraged English Erica ethnic experienced family's father fifth-generation Florencia fourth-generation members Francis Fuentes children Fuentes family Fuentes home Fuentes members Fuentes parents Fuentes's Gerald grade graduate groups high school Hispanic homework Isabel Ivan junior high Katarina kids labor market language Latino families Latino students Laura learned literacy lives Los Angeles County Lydia Mario and Manuela married Mexican American families Mexican and Mexican Mexican immigrant middle-class mother Natalie Noemi older third-generation parental involvement participants percent race racial recalled responsibility role Samuel San Fernando Valley school experience second-generation Fuentes second-generation members siblings Simon sister social Spanish Spanish language story success teachers third-generation members Timothy tion tracks Valley wanted workers working-class younger Yvette