Los Mineros Essay
CSS 119
Film Review #2
“Los Mineros”
1.Discuss some of the labor and living condition issue in this film
In the film, Mexican miners were living under terrible situation. They had been treated inhumanly. Their living environments were extremely unhygienic, there was no fresh running water or appropriate place to dispose garbage. Because of the unfair treatment between Anglo miners and Mexican miners, most miners and their families were suffering from starvation. Moreover, Mexican miners` working conditions were inconceivable. They were working for 12 hours a day, averagely. Due to “Duel - wage system”, Mexican miner`s pay rate was deducted by half of what an Anglo miner would be paid.
2.What events affected the miners (Mexican …show more content…
Revolution, WWI, Depression, WWII)
Mexican Revolution was a changing point for the miners.
Some labor organizations began collecting labor forces long before the revolution stared, such as the Obreros Libres (Free Workers), leaded by Praxedis Guerrero. The Obreros Libres was a major labor union in southeastern Arizona (P.106). After the revolution, in order to protect the rights of Mexican labors, Mexican government passed the constitution of 1917. Meanwhile, WW I offered another chance for the Mexican labors. Because of most American labors were fighting the war, the whole country was experiencing a productivity impairment. It provided a lot of employment opportunities for Mexicans, such as in mining and agriculture industries. They became an important labor force in the U.S.
3. What were the relationships like between the Anglo miners and Mexican miners? Mexican miners and the company (job, segregation, ) ?
Back then, Anglo communities had some serious racial discriminations on Mexicans.
Compare to Mexican miners` living conditions, Anglo miners were living in “pleasant surroundings”. They received twice as much money as Mexicans. However, as Anglo miners, they did not have to work for 12 hours a day and their jobs were less dangerous than Mexicans`. In addition, they had their own “county club”, where they can relax and socialize. The quality of a Mexican miner`s life was far below an Anglo
miner`s.
How did WWII affect the Mexican American miners? Community? World War II had a huge influence on Mexican American communities in the United States, they were fighting in every major battles in Europea and pacific. A lot of them contributed their lives to the victory. The war caused shortage of labor, it provided many job opportunities for Mexican Americans. Moreover, many war-related industries were located in the cities, it encouraged Mexican American communities to move into major cites.
Film Review #2
“Los Mineros”
1.Discuss some of the labor and living condition issue in this film
In the film, Mexican miners were living under terrible situation. They had been treated inhumanly. Their living environments were extremely unhygienic, there was no fresh running water or appropriate place to dispose garbage. Because of the unfair treatment between Anglo miners and Mexican miners, most miners and their families were suffering from starvation. Moreover, Mexican miners` working conditions were inconceivable. They were working for 12 hours a day, averagely. Due to “Duel - wage system”, Mexican miner`s pay rate was deducted by half of what an Anglo miner would be paid.
2.What events affected the miners (Mexican …show more content…
Revolution, WWI, Depression, WWII)
Mexican Revolution was a changing point for the miners.
Some labor organizations began collecting labor forces long before the revolution stared, such as the Obreros Libres (Free Workers), leaded by Praxedis Guerrero. The Obreros Libres was a major labor union in southeastern Arizona (P.106). After the revolution, in order to protect the rights of Mexican labors, Mexican government passed the constitution of 1917. Meanwhile, WW I offered another chance for the Mexican labors. Because of most American labors were fighting the war, the whole country was experiencing a productivity impairment. It provided a lot of employment opportunities for Mexicans, such as in mining and agriculture industries. They became an important labor force in the U.S.
3. What were the relationships like between the Anglo miners and Mexican miners? Mexican miners and the company (job, segregation, ) ?
Back then, Anglo communities had some serious racial discriminations on Mexicans.
Compare to Mexican miners` living conditions, Anglo miners were living in “pleasant surroundings”. They received twice as much money as Mexicans. However, as Anglo miners, they did not have to work for 12 hours a day and their jobs were less dangerous than Mexicans`. In addition, they had their own “county club”, where they can relax and socialize. The quality of a Mexican miner`s life was far below an Anglo
miner`s.
How did WWII affect the Mexican American miners? Community? World War II had a huge influence on Mexican American communities in the United States, they were fighting in every major battles in Europea and pacific. A lot of them contributed their lives to the victory. The war caused shortage of labor, it provided many job opportunities for Mexican Americans. Moreover, many war-related industries were located in the cities, it encouraged Mexican American communities to move into major cites.