I was ten years old when I first read the Grapes of Wrath. I am now sixty-five years old, but I clearly remember how upon reading the novel I immediately connected to the story. I understood the oppressive experiences of the “okies” because at that time I was the daughter of Mexican farm laborers working in the strawberry fields of Watsonville and we were very poor. The oppressive conditions as described by Steinbeck have much improved, but oppression of certain groups still exit. One of those groups is undocumented immigrant youth. For a year now I have had the privilege of assisting undocumented students from Cabrillo College in their scholarship applications. I have heard their stories of oppressive conditions in education, health care, and labor. Grandpa was quoted, “This is my country. I b’long here…I ain’t a-goin” (p. 142). Undocumented students were brought to this country as children. This is the only country they know. This is their home. They’re not going anywhere. Consequently, immigration reform is needed to support them.
All parents want their children to have a good education. However, in schools today many educators lack the skills to teach second language learners. This has been an obstacle for success for many of the undocumented students. In Santa Cruz County most undocumented students are Spanish-speaking. Undocumented students have felt the humiliation of not being able to speak the English language; not being able to read English correctly or not able to write English correctly. Consequently, as young adults they now lack the confidence and skills of being able to write personal essays for their scholarship applications. Some of these students have been in the United States for six years or longer and they have not yet learned the English Language. The lack of English development affects them academically. They may have graduated from high school or received their G.E.D., but they are not prepared for higher education. The educational system has failed them.
Most undocumented youth come from families that cannot afford medical insurance and health care. Consequently, when ill they often revert to herbal remedies such as yerba buena (spearmint) for fever, manzanilla (chamomile) for vomiting, clavo (cloves) for tooth-aches and many others. Often these remedies do not suffice and they are unable to get medical care because of lack of insurance. For citizens who lack health insurance, Obamacare will now take care of them. However, undocumented youth will not be eligible for Obamacare. They will not be eligible for diagnosis or treatment of illness or disease. The lack of health care and insurance is an added stress for them as they attempt to attain a degree.
On June 15, 2012 President Obama initiated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This initiative will protect undocumented immigrants 30 years and younger from being deported for two years. It will also give them a work permit. However, for those who do not apply or are denied, the oppressive work conditions will continue. There are Cabrillo students who on the days they don’t have class work very long hours in the fields. There are others who have been given work in restaurants and will work up to ten hours without overtime pay. And there are those who clean houses or do gardening work for very little pay. This is because the employer knows they are undocumented and they will not complain of their working conditions. It is against the law to give employment to undocumented residents, but sometimes employers turn a blind eye to these workers. Undocumented youth are held hostage in the labor system.
Immigration reform is needed to relieve undocumented students from the oppressive conditions as described above. One of those reforms is the D.R.E.A.M. Act. The D.R.E.A.M. Act would permit certain immigrant students who have grown up in the U.S. to apply for temporary legal status and to eventually obtain permanent legal status and become eligible for U.S. citizenship if they go to college or serve in the U.S. military. Students with this conditional permanent resident status would be able to work, drive, go to school, and otherwise participate normally in day-to-day activities on the same terms as other Americans. The D.R.E.A.M. act would legitimize their “Americanship”.
John Steinbeck expressed his social and political views in the Grapes of Wrath. We as citizens of this great country have the responsibility of continuing his fight. We must eliminate the oppressive conditions of our undocumented youth. We must have immigration reform and support the D.R.E.A.M. Act.
As far as comparing what is happening now with what John Steinbeck wrote about (I have read nearly all of his books, some of them several times), these are different times involving different circumstances, so you are comparing apples and oranges. And unlike the "Okies" of the Great Depression (my mother was one of them), illegals don't "b'long" here like Grandpa in the Grapes of Wrath. In these times our own children are experiencing a greater and greater struggle to get a college education, and jobs are not there for them like they used to be; and the resources to help them have dwindled. To me, it is unreasonable, if not immoral, to take resources from our own young people who are struggling and give them to others who have no business being here. Just my opinion. BTW - for me this is NOT a matter of race, so hopefully the usual the usual trolls will not begin with their racist remarks.
BUT, let's not forget why "illegals" are here. NAFTA anyone? U.S. corporate havoc down south. When immigrants came from Ellis Island they weren't called illegal, but no way was that because it was a race reason. The "color blind" laws were set up for racially motivated reasons. "Okies" migrated to California "legally" because they were privileged to live in "legally conquered" land. I might be a troll but "I swear I'm not a racist," it's the law and laws are always lawfully lawful even if you have to "illegally" migrate because your being exploited in sweat shops and corporatized countrysides to the benefit of "legal" people. Race has nothing to do with it! I swear! Neither do cats or elephants! I'm fair and its the truth, fair and balanced!
www.calgold.com/calgold/Default.asp?Series=600&Show=49 California's Gold #601 - WEEDPATCH. Huell learns that many "Okies" fled the Dust Bowl in their jalopies with signs reading "California or Bust." Out of options
My mother, her brother and sister, and her parents LIVED the Grapes of Wrath. I have also read Steinbeck's book at least a half a dozen times, and actually wrote a research paper on the novel in college. I have attended events at the Steinbeck Center in Salinas over the years and think I have seen The Grapes of Wrath from a number of different perspectives. In my opinion, you have chosen the perspective you have to suit your own interests. That is your freedom, as I am free to have my own perspective. But congrats on your first prize anyway. Thanks for the invitation, but I'll pass and just visit the Steinbeck Center again soon.
Wonder why the 14th had never been tested for non-Americans having babies in the USA.
quote: Whenever I read these discourses, I am left with sadness centered on so many writers willingness to cast aside those most in need. Quote: JFK,: Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country. I recommend you can sponsor a family, so you can be a responsible citizen in your belief, while we still need to pay for freeing the slaves hundred and fifty years ago. Then we stole the land from the Japaneses agricultural farmer's of WW TWO. Yes I see what the two have in common, Grapes of Wrath and Undocumented Students .
The school system is failing the non Latino students for not giving them the same opportunity to learn two languages while they are young and easily taught. In another of Ms Garcia's blogs she mentions that Latino youth are more often to be arrested and placed in jail or prison. Again, good citizenship starts in the home and if parents don't take the responsibility for raising good citizens, don't blame society or say it isn't fair that more Latino youth are being arrested. Last time I looked at the paper, the majority of crime is being conducted by Latinos and this is why there are more Latinos in jail. If you want to stop crime, start finding out why the parents are neglecting their responsibilities and having more children than they can manage. The parents of minor children arrested for gang and other crimes should also be charged with child neglect.