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2 books match the query 'González, Sergio'

cover of Mexicans in Wisconsin

Mexicans in Wisconsin

Sergio González

Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2017

From agricultural and factory workers to renowned writers and musicians, the Mexican immigrants who have made their homes in Wisconsin over the past century have become a significant and diverse part of this state’s cultural and economic history. Coming from a variety of educational and professional backgrounds, the earliest Mexican immigrants traveled north in search of better economic opportunities and relief from the violence and economic turmoil of the Mexican Revolution. They found work in tanneries and foundries, and on beet farms where they replaced earlier European immigrant workers who had moved on to family farms. As Mexican immigration has grown to the present day, these families have become integral members of Wisconsin communities, building businesses, support systems, and religious institutions. But their experience has also been riddled with challenges, as they have fought for adequate working conditions, access to education, and acceptance amid widespread prejudice. In this concise history, learn the fascinating stories of this vibrant and resilient immigrant population: from the Tejano migrant workers who traveled north seasonally to work in the state’s cucumber fields, to the determined labor movement led by Jesus Salas, to the young activists of the Chicano Movement, and beyond.

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cover of Obreros Unidos: The Roots and Legacy of the Farmworkers Movement

Obreros Unidos

The Roots and Legacy of the Farmworkers Movement

Jesus Salas

Wisconsin Historical Society Press, 2023

In an expansive narrative, noted labor leader Jesus Salas shares an insider’s look at the farm workers movement, from its roots in southern political uprisings to its lasting legacy of activism. During his childhood, Salas and his family joined the migrant workers who traveled from their hometown in Texas to work on farms in Wisconsin, Illinois, and other states. In riveting detail, he describes the brutal working conditions and overcrowded labor camps experienced by the Mexican American workers who fueled the Midwest’s agriculture industry.

Taking inspiration from César Chávez, as a young man Salas and others led a historic march from Wautoma to Madison to demand that lawmakers address rampant violations of Wisconsin’s minimum wage laws and housing codes. These young labor leaders founded Obreros Unidos—Workers United—to continue the fight for fairness and respect, as well as to provide much-needed services to migrant families. This memoir of a movement details how their work went beyond the fields to have lasting impacts on representation in community organizations and access to education, empowering later generations to demand better.

Winner of the 2024 Benjamin Franklin Award for Multicultural Books

Winner of the 2024 Hamlin Garland Prize in Popular History from the Midwest History Association 

“In recounting the story of Tejano settlement and struggle in Wisconsin, Salas unsettles this story line and, in the process, demonstrates the power of personal narrative and the lasting political implications of retrieving and restoring Latino history.”
—Sergio M. González, author of Mexicans in Wisconsin 

“Salas’s story is an essential chapter in the history of Wisconsin and Milwaukee and mirrors the growth, progress and dreams of the Latinx community. His reflections speak to not only the importance of the Latinx community, but the need to build alliances across lines of race and gender and fulfill the promise of a multiracial democracy.”
—Barbara Miner, Milwaukee Magazine 

 
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