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 6
... younger brother was having problems in school . Though I worked to pay for my car and insurance , I was now responsible for buying myself the necessities my mother could no longer afford . My senior year was especially difficult . I ...
... younger brother was having problems in school . Though I worked to pay for my car and insurance , I was now responsible for buying myself the necessities my mother could no longer afford . My senior year was especially difficult . I ...
Page 17
... be handed down to the younger ones . Seldom were items purchased from stores , and Fuentes children claimed there was no money for personal pleasures like toys and candy . Nevertheless , all second The Fuentes Family 17.
... be handed down to the younger ones . Seldom were items purchased from stores , and Fuentes children claimed there was no money for personal pleasures like toys and candy . Nevertheless , all second The Fuentes Family 17.
Page 19
... younger ones remembered having the personal and monetary freedom for occasional luxuries , such as movies , records , and clothing . In sum , my Fuentes great - grandparents and their children experienced extreme poverty because of a ...
... younger ones remembered having the personal and monetary freedom for occasional luxuries , such as movies , records , and clothing . In sum , my Fuentes great - grandparents and their children experienced extreme poverty because of a ...
Page 20
... younger members bought prefabricated homes , which became readily available after rapid and expansive urban develop- ment in the Valley after World War II . The neighborhoods where second - generation Fuentes lived before owning their ...
... younger members bought prefabricated homes , which became readily available after rapid and expansive urban develop- ment in the Valley after World War II . The neighborhoods where second - generation Fuentes lived before owning their ...
Page 22
... younger second generation . Specifically , members moved to apartments in low - rent cities , some of which were barrio com- munities , prior to moving into their own homes . Eight of eleven cases in this generation resided in homes ...
... younger second generation . Specifically , members moved to apartments in low - rent cities , some of which were barrio com- munities , prior to moving into their own homes . Eight of eleven cases in this generation resided in homes ...
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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