Al Otro Lado-US Bound Migration

Al Otro Lado-US Bound Migration 

…  40 years ago my grandfather migrated to the United States for economical purposes. He left behind a wife, seven young children (ranging from 10-22 years of age), and a two-bedroom house. My grandfather and his large family lived in a small, but poor community in the hills of Jamaica. When my grandfather left, the community accused him for being selfish for leaving his wife and seven children to fend for themselves. At the time, it was probably a selfish decision, but his motivation for leaving was for the betterment of his family. My grandmother stayed behind, worked and earned enough money to support her children. Despite the struggle, she was able to feed and school her children until my grandfather could provide some financial support. In addition, the older siblings helped around the house and also earned small amount of money by running errands for the neighbors. After two years in the United Sates, my grandfather was able to make enough money to send home twice per month. With the extra income, my grandmother built a house that sheltered their seven children, but that was only a small improvement. Jamaica’s economy got worse and survival became questionable. In the mean time, my grandfather search for a better paying job in America so that he could eventually send for his family. After seven years, his wife and seven children was able to join him. This is a success story of one Jamaican migrant, my grandfather left his community and family with the intention to work hard and make life better for his family; but the same cannot be said for many Mexican migrants. 

Today our class visited Santa Ana del Valle, a Zapotec speaking community known for sending migrants to the United Sates.  We drove in the community and I could not help noticing the smallness of the community, the quietness of the streets, and the nice houses.  At first glance, the community appears unoccupied. Unlike other communities we visited; the streets did not have a lot people wondering around. Jorge Hernandez, the presenter quickly remained us that the community was very small and also depended on remittance. Remittance is the import of money from migrant family members to cover family and community expenses. Currently, there is about two thousand people living in the community; we were informed that the numbers were higher but have decreased because of migration. Like my grandfather, men were the ones to migrate from Santa Ana del Valle to the United States to seek employment. Therefore, females whose husbands are away, working to come back home, were heads of a lot of the homes we saw.  The most common destinations for Santa Monica migrants was California, there they would find jobs in the service industry, in construction and agriculture. Unlike my grandfather, who was able to send for his family seven years after he migrated, this process would take a longer time for Mexican migrants. This was primarily because some of the migrants from Santa Ana were “undocumented workers” who could not risk being deported. It is also important to specific that my grandfather was a “documented worker” therefore it was much easier for him to maneuver around the United States. Nevertheless, whenever my grandparents shared their struggles during that time of their lives, I always thought this was the worst situation a family could experience. This was until, I learn about some of the experience of a Mexican migrant, especially the ones who were, “undocumented” in the States. Migration, amount indigenous societies behave as a   double-headed sword given that it could be beneficial for families and communities, butt that came with a lot of comprise and sacrifice by individual who chose to migrate. 

To my understanding, migrating from Mexico, especially Oaxaca is a more complicated process than one could imagine. I believe that my grandfather would have gone to America whether or not the family agreed. On the other hand, for a Mexican migrant, the decision to leave is made by the members of the household and not the individual. Jeffery H. Cohen mentions in his findings that, “ the household is the fundamental social unit for most rural Oaxacans ”(35). Therefore the household plays the most important role in one’s decision to migrate.  In rural communities like Santa Ana, a high wage job is rare, but individuals are responsible for maintaining their homes, a large family and the community expensive. These factors are the main reasons why many of the migrants would want to leave, in a quest to find a good job that would support the demands of the family and community. Furthermore, when someone decides to migrate leaving his or her family behind, it changes the dynamic of the household.  Cohen explains that, “the household that has lost a member or members has suffered a costly loss…it has lost potential supporters, important social connections, the very people that ensure its continued health and well-being”(33). My grandparents’ story might sound very similar to most Mexican migrants because when he left, the family did suffer a costly loss given that he was the main provider. But, when he left, he was only responsible for this family, not so much his community.  As I mentioned before, a Mexican migrate was responsible for family but also their community expensive. This was due primarily to the unique political system that many indigenous societies like Sta Ana adapt. 

In most indigenous society such as Santa Ana, this unique political system was a way for people to earn status into society. Cohen mentions that, “ In addition to kin, fictive kin, compadrazgo (godparents) relationships, rural Oaxacans participate in tequio, servicio, cooperacion, and, for those rural Oaxacans who are indigenous guelaguetza (reciprocal exchange)” (43). Tequio is communal labors that households must provide when asked, this is to grant membership into the society. Servicio, also known as, the cargo system, is a voluntary service where every household is responsible for providing community service to the government. The most important, especially in Santa Ana del Valle, is the Guelaguetza system; which was the most popular way of earning status in an indigenous community. Our readings informed us that, ‘ Guelaguetza is a Zapotec term that describes the formalized reciprocal exchanges of goods and money, services between households”(45).  This system not only allowed for a close-knit community, but it is a unique way of making ends meet in the household.  Guelaguetza could be paid over an extended period of time and they are never forgotten. In effect, “ many young families feel quite burdened by these costs, …reciprocal ties remain critical to rural households, and few households refuse support or reject participating in reciprocal exchanges” (46).  Thus, a migrant family who does participate in the Guelaguetza system is responsible for sending remittance to their families to cover Guelaguetza debt, which adds to the complexity of a Mexican migrate. A family and community could easily reject an individual, who avoids sending remit back to their valley. This only adds to the burden of the individual, but remittances helps to maintain the community and the person status in the society. Migrants would send remit to their valley, could always come back home and continue their work in the valley. We were told that if someone refuses to pay for the Guelaguetza while residing in America could be in danger of losing his or her land. The story of the migrants from Santa Ana was very interesting because I would never knew any of these things until I came to Oaxaca. 

My grandparents experience with migration cannot be compare to what a Mexican experience with migration. Yes, there were some external and internal struggles, but the end result worked in their favor. I have to finish this blog with something my father would always say to me when things go wrong. He would always say, “remember, there might be someone out there who have it worse than you do”.  There are no doubts that my grandparents struggled to get where they are today; their story goes on forever. But, I could assure you that their struggles cannot be compared to a Mexican migrant.  My grandfather had a lot less to worry about in comparison to a male migrant from Mexico. Unlike my grandmother who had a job, many wives of migrant husband’s would have to stay home and maintain the homes, depending on the size of the family. The process of migration for Mexicans, especially in indigenous society, is very complex. When I stood in the court -yard of Santa Ana, I was not thinking about how difficult they might had it, but just how unique their story was. 

Danique Williams Al Otro Lado-Us Bound Migration. 

Al Otro Lado-US Bound Migration 

…  40 years ago my grandfather migrated to the United States for economical purposes. He left behind a wife, seven young children (ranging from 10-22 years of age), and a two-bedroom house. My grandfather and his large family lived in a small, but poor community in the hills of Jamaica. When my grandfather left, the community accused him for being selfish for leaving his wife and seven children to fend for themselves. At the time, it was probably a selfish decision, but his motivation for leaving was for the betterment of his family. My grandmother stayed behind, worked and earned enough money to support her children. Despite the struggle, she was able to feed and school her children until my grandfather could provide some financial support. In addition, the older siblings helped around the house and also earned small amount of money by running errands for the neighbors. After two years in the United Sates, my grandfather was able to make enough money to send home twice per month. With the extra income, my grandmother built a house that sheltered their seven children, but that was only a small improvement. Jamaica’s economy got worse and survival became questionable. In the mean time, my grandfather search for a better paying job in America so that he could eventually send for his family. After seven years, his wife and seven children was able to join him. This is a success story of one Jamaican migrant, my grandfather left his community and family with the intention to work hard and make life better for his family; but the same cannot be said for many Mexican migrants. 

Today our class visited Santa Ana del Valle, a Zapotec speaking community known for sending migrants to the United Sates.  We drove in the community and I could not help noticing the smallness of the community, the quietness of the streets, and the nice houses.  At first glance, the community appears unoccupied. Unlike other communities we visited; the streets did not have a lot people wondering around. Jorge Hernandez, the presenter quickly remained us that the community was very small and also depended on remittance. Remittance is the import of money from migrant family members to cover family and community expenses. Currently, there is about two thousand people living in the community; we were informed that the numbers were higher but have decreased because of migration. Like my grandfather, men were the ones to migrate from Santa Ana del Valle to the United States to seek employment. Therefore, females whose husbands are away, working to come back home, were heads of a lot of the homes we saw.  The most common destinations for Santa Monica migrants was California, there they would find jobs in the service industry, in construction and agriculture. Unlike my grandfather, who was able to send for his family seven years after he migrated, this process would take a longer time for Mexican migrants. This was primarily because some of the migrants from Santa Ana were “undocumented workers” who could not risk being deported. It is also important to specific that my grandfather was a “documented worker” therefore it was much easier for him to maneuver around the United States. Nevertheless, whenever my grandparents shared their struggles during that time of their lives, I always thought this was the worst situation a family could experience. This was until, I learn about some of the experience of a Mexican migrant, especially the ones who were, “undocumented” in the States. Migration, amount indigenous societies behave as a   double-headed sword given that it could be beneficial for families and communities, butt that came with a lot of comprise and sacrifice by individual who chose to migrate. 

To my understanding, migrating from Mexico, especially Oaxaca is a more complicated process than one could imagine. I believe that my grandfather would have gone to America whether or not the family agreed. On the other hand, for a Mexican migrant, the decision to leave is made by the members of the household and not the individual. Jeffery H. Cohen mentions in his findings that, “ the household is the fundamental social unit for most rural Oaxacans ”(35). Therefore the household plays the most important role in one’s decision to migrate.  In rural communities like Santa Ana, a high wage job is rare, but individuals are responsible for maintaining their homes, a large family and the community expensive. These factors are the main reasons why many of the migrants would want to leave, in a quest to find a good job that would support the demands of the family and community. Furthermore, when someone decides to migrate leaving his or her family behind, it changes the dynamic of the household.  Cohen explains that, “the household that has lost a member or members has suffered a costly loss…it has lost potential supporters, important social connections, the very people that ensure its continued health and well-being”(33). My grandparents’ story might sound very similar to most Mexican migrants because when he left, the family did suffer a costly loss given that he was the main provider. But, when he left, he was only responsible for this family, not so much his community.  As I mentioned before, a Mexican migrate was responsible for family but also their community expensive. This was due primarily to the unique political system that many indigenous societies like Sta Ana adapt. 

In most indigenous society such as Santa Ana, this unique political system was a way for people to earn status into society. Cohen mentions that, “ In addition to kin, fictive kin, compadrazgo (godparents) relationships, rural Oaxacans participate in tequio, servicio, cooperacion, and, for those rural Oaxacans who are indigenous guelaguetza (reciprocal exchange)” (43). Tequio is communal labors that households must provide when asked, this is to grant membership into the society. Servicio, also known as, the cargo system, is a voluntary service where every household is responsible for providing community service to the government. The most important, especially in Santa Ana del Valle, is the Guelaguetza system; which was the most popular way of earning status in an indigenous community. Our readings informed us that, ‘ Guelaguetza is a Zapotec term that describes the formalized reciprocal exchanges of goods and money, services between households”(45).  This system not only allowed for a close-knit community, but it is a unique way of making ends meet in the household.  Guelaguetza could be paid over an extended period of time and they are never forgotten. In effect, “ many young families feel quite burdened by these costs, …reciprocal ties remain critical to rural households, and few households refuse support or reject participating in reciprocal exchanges” (46).  Thus, a migrant family who does participate in the Guelaguetza system is responsible for sending remittance to their families to cover Guelaguetza debt, which adds to the complexity of a Mexican migrate. A family and community could easily reject an individual, who avoids sending remit back to their valley. This only adds to the burden of the individual, but remittances helps to maintain the community and the person status in the society. Migrants would send remit to their valley, could always come back home and continue their work in the valley. We were told that if someone refuses to pay for the Guelaguetza while residing in America could be in danger of losing his or her land. The story of the migrants from Santa Ana was very interesting because I would never knew any of these things until I came to Oaxaca. 

My grandparents experience with migration cannot be compare to what a Mexican experience with migration. Yes, there were some external and internal struggles, but the end result worked in their favor. I have to finish this blog with something my father would always say to me when things go wrong. He would always say, “remember, there might be someone out there who have it worse than you do”.  There are no doubts that my grandparents struggled to get where they are today; their story goes on forever. But, I could assure you that their struggles cannot be compared to a Mexican migrant.  My grandfather had a lot less to worry about in comparison to a male migrant from Mexico. Unlike my grandmother who had a job, many wives of migrant husband’s would have to stay home and maintain the homes, depending on the size of the family. The process of migration for Mexicans, especially in indigenous society, is very complex. When I stood in the court -yard of Santa Ana, I was not thinking about how difficult they might had it, but just how unique their story was. 

Danique Williams -  Al Otro Lado-Us Bound Migration.