Ethnicity in the Sunbelt: Contribution to Mexican Heritage in Houston
Arnoldo De Leon's exploration of the history of Mexican Americans in Houston is a valuable addition to the growing number of studies examining the evolution of Latino empowerment, the book also discusses the change of the Mexican-American ethnic identity in the history of the population. The focus on a Mexican-American community in a city setting goes hand in hand with the works of Foley’s in The White Scourge, introducing the impact of Mexican presence in America. De Leon's Ethnicity in the Sunbelt follows a linear path following the changes of the Mexican-American community in the city of Houston. The book divides the development of this community into three parts: The arrival and consolidation of the Mexicans …show more content…
This is compared to the "push-pull" effect on immigration, usually something pushes them away from their native country and pulls them toward a new place. De Leon identifies in the early part of the century with that of today “In the city of Houston proper, Mexicans were apparent since its earliest days—in fact they helped develop it” (De Leon 3). The former was a product primarily of the unsteadiness motivated by the Mexican revolution; the second a product of economic instability. The major push into Houston did not occur until the city formed into a metropolis which was created later in the twentieth century. The rise in Mexican population indicated that there were many employers who preferred Mexican labor because of its reliability, dependability, and punctuality, which is also stated in Foley’s The White Scourge. The second and third parts examine the rise of the Mexican-American community as a political force in Houston, looking at the impact of World War II, the role of LULAC and other self-help organizations, and the role of Mexican Americans in Houston during the 1980s in