Latino Americans 3
Share your reflections on this episode. What details stand out to you? What specific information do you believe is important to retain? What details will you likely remember one year from now?
Diversity, Intersectionality, Otherness
First-Year Seminar in Critical Inquiry
Alyssa Brown says
I think this may be one of my favorite episodes I’ve watched, I like hearing personal stories from World War II. I think many of these narratives will stick with me, along with the other stories I’ve learned from World War II. This account shows that Latinos had a taste of equality for the first time. In the war effort, they fought alongside the Anglos and they weren’t treated differently for skin color. Unfortunately, the Puerto Ricans were not treated with the same fairness, they were segregated in the army. I was confused by that fact, why were they segregated but the Mexicans weren’t? Also, women got to help with the war effort. There was a shortage of labor because of the many Mexicans fighting, so the U.S. turned to women to help build machines the soldiers needed in the war. I thought it was awesome that Mexican women also helped with the effort. Something I’ve never heard of before is the Zoot Suit Riots. I think it’s terrible what happened during these riots; even during a world war, the two races couldn’t cope together. I think these riots are an important detail to retain, it’s important people know about the injustice that has happened in the past. When the war ended, the Mexican veterans unfortunately didn’t receive equal rights, this made me angry. Many Mexicans died in the war and they valiantly fought, but this didn’t make much of a difference.
I think it’s important to retain details about the Mexican heroes in the war. I think Guy Gabaldon and Hector Garcia should be names that everyone recognizes, yet I’ve never heard of them. I think it’s amazing what Gabaldon has achieved in his life, he really helped give Mexicans independence in America. He should be taught in all schools, he is truly a hero. I think in a year from now, I’ll remember the war stories and how the Mexicans greatly assisted during World War II, and I’ll remember Lyndon B. Johnson as the president that helped give Mexicans citizenship and equity.
Emily Bernstein says
This was one of the most interesting videos I’ve seen so far, and so many things stood out to me. This particular video had a lot of background on how World War II not only affected the Americans, but also the Latinos who felt they were Latino-Americans even though they were not thought that way, and fought for America in the war. Latinos who weren’t able to make a lot of money doing a lot of laborious work, were able to make a lot of money through fighting in the war or being otherwise involved in the war effort. The video talked about the horror stories of the Puerto Ricans in the war, but again it talks about only bravery and heroism of the Latino military personnel. Details I think that are worth retaining is that I think it’s amazing (in a very negative way) that there are brave Mexican people who risked their lives for a country that before being in the military gave them no opportunities or jobs without discrimination, yet I’ve never heard their names.
The most ridiculous, ironic detail I think that is worth retaining is that even after their participation in the war effort that people who were related to the Latinos in the military or were actually in the military themselves were targets of racial violence. Even though there were some men who advocated for Mexican civil rights and later American civil rights in general were at first attacked because of their skin color. Once Latino Americans are given a chance to prove themselves in the war effort, they seem to always do well and have as much pride in being and fighting as an American as any white American or any other person of race who identifies themselves as American. One of them, Guy Gabaldon, captured more Japanese than anyone else in the military, yet that is something that I’ve never heard about even though he was apparently credited with it and it was turned into a movie.
I’ve only ever heard about white Americans who became war heroes or the occasional African American hero, but never a Latino American even though there were more war heroes in that ethnic group than any other ethnic group, and all they want is peace and a sense of belonging to the nation they fought for. Macario Garcia was treated not like a war hero in America when he went there to work after the war, but just another Latino face that people could disrespect and mistreat. All of these details are important to remember, especially white people who still today do not treat people of Latino decent with the respect they deserve.
Taryn Kohlman says
In this third episode something that stood out to me was that most Latinos fought along side anglo soldiers and sailors. This is interesting to me because in a way it breaks down the “us vs them” barrier we have been accustomed to all semester. The thought of Latinos and anglos in war fighting for the same goal creates a brotherhood between the usually violent groups. Another thing that I found interesting was the way troops were considered then vs now. The video talked about how Macario Garcia was a medal of honor winner, but when he went home he was still discriminated against. This is shocking to me because even after he went and fought in war and did exceedingly well, people still looked down upon him and found ways to make him feel inferior. Now if someone receives a medal in the forces they are put upon a pedestal and are undoubtedly praised. My biggest takeaway from this episode was the fact that Latinos were fighting in battle alongside Americans and were still being discriminated against.
Maryori Sosa says
Latino Americans episode, “War and Peace” moves into the World War II era where Latino Americans (men and women) served in the armed forces. This episode was definitely more interesting than the previous ones and switched out from the “us vs. them” mentality that was present in episode 1 and 2. This episode presented a plethora of new information I had no knowledge of and prompted me to question “Why we haven’t touched on these details in our U.S history class?” Throughout my high school education I’ve heard on war heroes like Dwight D. Eisenhower and George Marshall but never of Guy Gabaldon or Macarion Garcia. The part of the documentary that stood out to me the most was when Macario Garcia, the first Mexican national to win the Congressional Medal of Honor, was denied service in a TexasDiner because he was of color. I believe its important to retain the efforts by Mexican-Americans to fight for equality and civil rights because it shows that even though there was progress, the struggle for equality didn’t end. The details I will probably remember a year from now is Hector Garcia’s work in advocating civil rights and organizing the American GI Forum, because it was truly inspirational being able to hear about his hard work and tireless efforts to originally increase veteran’s benefits, education, and public housing in the Latino-American community.
Diane Edwards says
Something that stood out to me was the role of Latinos in World War 2, let alone any wars. When learning about American wars, there was nothing mentioned about anyone of Latino descent fighting for the United States. I had no idea that there were even Puerto Ricans being militants. It surprised me that men of color enjoyed being in the military solely because of the respect and equality others showed them. It is understandable why being a soldier meant a lot to them; to finally get treated as they should. There were many other Latinos that weren’t mentioned as seen in the video from the D Day bombing. It kind of shocks me that the Latinos were enrolling and fighting in a war with the people who treated them with no dignity and like they are vile creatures. This is another piece of evidence that proves that their loyalty is strong.