Background
Everyone was fighting for jobs because of the great depression, money, and to feed their families. Many of the farm workers from Oklahoma (called Okies) were often uncomfortable around the immigrant workers, and were hostile towards them because they felt they were taking away their jobs. Again, the migrant workers would work for much lower pay, so employers would much rather hire them. There was also much tension between the migrant workers on the fields. Some felt that their conditions were unlivable, and they deserved much better, so they began to protest and fight for what they believed. Still, others refused to join the protest in fear that they would be fired. In the 1930s (about the time story takes place) California remained about 88% white. Most of these people were those who owned the land, while the 36,800 workers, many of whom were Mexicans, were doing the work on these farms.
Read more about this topic: Esperanza Rising
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—Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter, Jr.)
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