JE #4

The Chinese Exclusion Act, the Mexican Revolution, and the Bath Riots all contribute to El Paso’s identity crisis. El Paso is torn and inhabited by more than one culture, thus more than one history. There is Chinese history, Anglo history, and of course Mexican history. The Chinese history, which was most surprising, began in the 19^th century when Chinese communities used the U.S.-Mexico border to come into the US, thus causing the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 to come into act. This experience disconnects the Anglo El Paso to the minority racial groups of the border.

The images in the book depict the clear discrimination Mexicans were forced to endure at the hands of Anglos. On Page 196 there is a picture of Anglos pointing guns at unarmed Mexicans. The caption states, “Anglos and their Mexican prisoners after the Boquillas, Texas raid along the border, CA.” There is a sense of superiority displayed in the picture and clear disregard to the lives of Mexican on the border. This picture upset me the most out of all the images in the book. I could feel the pain my ancestors endured just by looking at it. Another image that I found disturbing was on page 239. Braceros were standing in line waiting to be inspected by doctors. I couldn’t stare at the picture for too long; my grandfather came to the U.S. as a Bracero and I saw his experience in the image. To know my abuelo was treated like an animal makes my blood boil.