Brown, Not White: School Integration and the Chicano Movement in Houston

1. Diversification and Differentiation in the History of the Mexican-Origin Community in Houston

chapter 1 Diversification and Differentiation in the History of the Mexican-Origin Community in Houston This chapter will provide a brief history of the Mexican-origin community in Houston prior to the Chicano movement era of the 1960s. Mexicans originally arrived in Houston in the latter part of the nineteenth century, but they did not become a significant ethnic minority group until the twentieth century. The historical experiences of Mexicans in Houston during this century were extremely diverse and both different from and similar to the urban experiences of Mexican-origin individuals in other parts of the United States.1 The diversity of experiences is reflected in their social development , occupational structure, ethnic identity, and political behavior. This chapter describes, in broad strokes, social and occupational developments in the history of this group during the years from 1900 to 1960. Chapters 2 and 3 will focus on education and on political activism and identity, respectively. toward social diversification The Mexican-origin community increased in size over time and became a significant ethnic minority group by the second decade of the twentieth century. Mexicans settled in compact residential neighborhoods separated from each other by a variety of obstacles and established distinct barrios that were differentially affected by mainstream and ethnic institutions. Prior to 1880 there was no significant Mexican presence in Houston.2 This changed by the latter part of the nineteenth century. Between 1880 and 1930 the Mexican-origin population increased from around seventy- five to fifteen thousand. During the next three decades it grew by an additional sixty thousand.3 With the exception of one decade from 1930 to 1940, the history of the Mexican-origin population has been one of explosive growth. Despite this growth, these people continued to constitute a small minority of the total population group. Mexican-origin individuals constituted only 2 percent of the total population in 1910; 5 percent in 1930; and slightly over 10 percent in 1960.4 Immigration from Mexico accounted for most of the population increase , since during the first several decades of this century the Houston economy attracted the vast majority of them to the city. The railroads and urban development between 1890 and 1910, the opening of the ship channel, the discovery of oil in the early decades of the twentieth century, and post–World War II economic expansion created an increased need for cheap labor. This labor force was provided by Mexican immigrants who were pushed out of Mexico by social, economic, and political developments . Primary among these were land displacement policies caused by Porfirio Díaz’s economic policies in the latter part of the nineteenth century , political conflicts associated with the Mexican Revolution, and religious conflict during the Cristero Rebellions of the 1920s. Thus, between 1880 and 1930 large numbers of landless peasants, political exiles, and religious exiles left Mexico in search of better opportunities. After 1940 poverty and dire economic conditions encouraged Mexicans to leave their country, and many of them immigrated to Houston.5 Mexican-origin individuals residing in rural communities throughout Texas also moved to the city.6 They were part of a larger urbanization process that began in the early decades of the twentieth century and increased after World War II.7 Immigration was the result of a process of chain migration in which individual immigrants encouraged family members or friends to leave Mexico and then helped them resettle in Houston by finding them housing and jobs through immigrant networks. This process facilitated immigration and contributed to the strengthening of family and kinship networks in the barrios of Houston.8 The examples of Petra Guillén and Mary Villag ómez, both lifelong residents of Houston, are illustrative of this impor4 Origins and Development, 1900–60 tant process. Guillén’s family was brought to the barrio in the 1910s by an uncle who had preceded them. Villagómez, on the other hand, came to Houston as part of an eleven-member extended family migration. Both of these families were encouraged to leave Mexico or other parts of Texas and settle in Houston by a host of relatives and extended family members .9 Their journey to Houston thus was not as disrupting of family and cultural traditions as is commonly believed to be the case for many Mexican Americans. Prior to 1910 Mexican-origin individuals settled in various parts of the city. As Arnoldo...