A History of Mexican Workers on the Oxnard Plain 1930-1980
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LABOR, MIGRATION, AND ACTIVISM: A HISTORY OF MEXICAN WORKERS ON THE OXNARD PLAIN 1930-1980 By Louie Herrera Moreno III A DISSERTATION Submitted to Michigan State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chicano/Latino Studies 2012 ABSTRACT LABOR, MIGRATION, AND ACTIVISM: A HISTORY OF MEXICAN WORKERS ON THE OXNARD PLAIN 1930-1980 By Louie Herrera Moreno III First and foremost, this dissertation focuses on the relationship between labor and migration in the development of the City of Oxnard and La Colonia neighborhood. Labor and migration on the Oxnard Plain have played an important part in shaping and constructing the Mexican working-class community and its relationship to the power structure of the city and the agri-business interests of Ventura County. This migration led to many conflicts between Mexicans and Whites. I focus on those conflicts and activism between 1930 and 1980. Secondly, this dissertation expands on early research conducted on Mexicans in Ventura County. The Oxnard Plain has been a key location of struggles for equality and justice. In those struggles, Mexican residents of Oxnard, the majority being working- class have played a key role in demanding better work conditions, housing, and wages. This dissertation continues the research of Tomas Almaguer, Frank P. Barajas, and Martha Menchaca, who focused on class, race, work, leisure, and conflict in Ventura County. Thirdly, this dissertation is connected to a broader history of Mexican workers in California. This dissertation is influenced by important research conducted by Carey McWilliams, Gilbert Gonzalez, Vicki Ruiz, and other historians on the relationship between labor, migration, and activism among the Mexican working-class community in Southern California. This dissertation’s primary goal is to expand the history of Mexican workers in Ventura County, which has been an understudied area within Chicana/o and labor history. And finally, this dissertation focuses on highlighting the social history of farm workers, families, union organizers, and community organizers who struggled for a better quality of life for the Mexican working-class community of Oxnard, California. Copyright by LOUIE HERRERA MORENO III 2012 Dedicated to my parents, Louie and Gloria. And in the memory of my grandmother, Margarita. And to all the oppressed people who have been denied a relevant education! v ACKNOWLEDMENTS There are so many different individuals and organizations to thank for their support. Before moving forward I thank the Chicano/Latino community who struggled to open door for us to attend the university during the Chicano Power Movement. If they had not taken a stand and struggled for educational rights and for the field of Chicana/o Studies, this dissertation would have not been written. Therefore, I owe a debt to them and to the field of Chicana/o Studies. I thank my parents, Louie and Gloria for all of their encouragement throughout my life; without their support I would not have finished this dissertation. My brother, José thank you for your feedback and encouragement throughout the years; especially when I struggled to finish this dissertation. I thank Dr. Rodolfo Acuña, for all of his stories, encouragement, and believing in me. Also, I thank Dr. Dylan Miner and Dr. Theresa Melendez for their support and guidance, especially opening up their homes to me. Finally, my dissertation advisor, Dr. Dionicio Valdes who guided me through the difficult task of writing this dissertation, thank you for teaching me how to be a better researcher and historian. It is important to note that this dissertation was written during a political struggle over the vision of Chicano/Latino Studies at MSU. So, I thank my comrades in the REAL Chicano/Latino Studies for their commitment in this struggle; Felix Medina, Ernesto Todd Mireles, Nora Salas, Antonio Vasquez, Rainer Delgado, Jose Villarreal, Julia Cardenas, Rochelle Trotter, Dr. Scott Michaelsen, Dr. Jerry Garcia, Dr. Juan Javier Pescador, and Dr. Estrella Torrez. vi Numerous friends and colleagues have provided feedback, encouragement, and support during the process of researching and writing this dissertation. I thank Dr. David Rodriguez, Dr. Gabriel Gutiérrez, Dr. Mary Pardo, Robert Marshall at CSUN, and especially Dr. Jorge Garcia, who listened and answered all my questions about migration, labor, and activism. I thank Dr. Tomas Salinas and Dr. Linda Chaparro at Oxnard College for introducing me to the field of Chicana/o Studies. I thank Dr. Jose Alamillo and Dr. Frank Barajas at CSUCI for sharing their research on Mexicans in Ventura County and giving me the opportunity to teach Chicana/o history. I thank all the archivists and librarians, who helped me find research material and photographs for this dissertation and especially Charles Johnson and his staff at the Museum of Ventura County Research Library. And finally, I thank Brenda Beza, Monica Valenzuela, Jessica Santascoy, Rosailda Perez, and Magaly Kochis for their encouragement and friendship throughout the years. And a special thanks to the late Ernesto Bustillos for his discussion on history, activist scholarship, and the politics of the Chicano Power Movement throughout the years. To my comrades in struggle: Pablo Aceves, Francisco Romero, Angela Portillo, Joseph Cortez, Ramon Hernandez, and Cathy Espitia thank you for all of your support, suggestions, and friendship over the years. Lastly, I thank my comrades in Union del Barrio and Raza Press and Media Association for allowing me the time and space to finish this dissertation. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................XI LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.............................................................................................XII ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................ XIV INTRODUCTION – WHY OXNARD OR LA COLONIA? Introduction............................................................................................................ 1 Constructing A People’s Narrative ........................................................................ 4 Overview Of Chapters ........................................................................................... 8 Notes On Terminology ........................................................................................ 10 CHAPTER ONE – JOSE & MARIA: SEARCHING FOR A HISTORY ON THE OXNARD PLAIN Introduction.......................................................................................................... 12 José & María ....................................................................................................... 13 Oxnard, California ............................................................................................... 16 La Colonia ........................................................................................................... 23 My Mother, Gloria................................................................................................ 25 Conclusion........................................................................................................... 27 CHAPTER TWO – BY THE SWEAT OF THEIR BROW: MEXICAN MIGRATION AND CONFLICT DURING THE 1930’S Introduction.......................................................................................................... 29 Mexican Migration And Conflict........................................................................... 32 Settling Out, The Development Of A Mexican Community ................................. 36 Workers, Unions, And Strikes Throughout California.......................................... 44 The Sugar Beet Strike Of 1933 ........................................................................... 51 Conclusion........................................................................................................... 64 viii CHAPTER THREE – GROWERS VS. WORKERS: VENTURA COUNTY CITRUS (LEMON) STRIKE OF 1941 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 67 Ventura County Citrus Strike Of 1941 ................................................................. 69 The Aftermath...................................................................................................... 84 Conclusion........................................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER FOUR – THE GROWERS STRIKE BACK: THE BRACERO PROGRAM IN VENTURA COUNTY, 1942-1964 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 91 World War II And The Bracero Program ............................................................. 93 Ventura County Growers Unite ........................................................................... 99 The Bracero Program Continues After WWII .................................................... 103 Cesar Chavez And Community Service Organization....................................... 124 Union Organizing During The Bracero Program ............................................... 131 Conclusion......................................................................................................... 138 CHAPTER FIVE – THE COMMUNITY FIGHTS BACK: THE RISE OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISM Introduction.......................................................................................................