Summary Of The Mexican-American People

Although the overcome of the elite seems to be the happy ending of fairy tales, there have nevertheless been cases throughout history that prove otherwise. Bulosan describes one of these outcomes in his autobiography. He found that by organizing unions and workers of different backgrounds, he could create a powerful force that eventually sparked revolution for Filipinos and other races living on the West Coast. Unionization had a rocky start, especially because different races each made separate demands from companies, who would therefore grant neither wish. Bulosan says that, “The companies would not recognize their separate demands...they [Mexicans and Filipinos] had not recognized one important part: that the beet companies conspired against
He describes the groupings of various people throughout the United States, stating that, “numerous ad hoc groups were formed-and are still formed- in communities when particularly outrageous events occurred.” He goes on to describe the Citizen’s Committee for Justice, a group that “attained unusual success, and the local gun law was changed after a Riverside policeman had killed a fleeing youth” (Grebler, 533-534). Grebler effectively shows that people have consistently gathered themselves into groups to create a unity of people through which to express their complaints, and on rare occasions, their requests are granted. Although it is not often that a wish from the proletariat is granted by the bourgeoisie, the act of defiance develops the sense of self-efficacy. What follows is one of the most important ways in which the proletariat can give itself power and take charge of the situation that has been forced upon them. While proletariat power is incredibly important, a plan must be developed for the problem of what happens next. The rawness of power and uprisings is important to the proletariat struggle, but if a set plan is not developed and the people are not educated about their own rights and the injustices they have faced, chaos will ensue. The answer to this question is direct education of the lower classes and writing as a form of communicating the messages that many in the proletariat
By using his own education to help others, he is giving to the lower classes what he gave to himself. Nobody knows better than those who have seen the effects of education but never had access to it that education can change one’s future. Connie, Sonny’s frantic mother, is absolutely torn apart when Sonny announces his termination of education at Harvard. Connie says, “All these years--what have me and your Dad worked for?...For you, m’ijo!...How can you just come back here and tell us you’ve quit? Just like that...Do you know how many Chicanos get the chance to go to Harvard?” (Valdez 177). Sonny knows education is valuable, but the pressure to succeed destroys him. He shouts, “If you’re not white, you have to be brilliant, just to be considered acceptable” (Valdez 208). Connie wants Sonny to pursue education so much because it is what she clawed for but could never attain. To many in the proletariat, education is a distant dream, and to have the ability to go to Harvard is a miracle. To see her son deny this opportunity is emotionally destructive, as it would be to anyone who witnessed a loved one receive a miracle and walk away from