Mexican Americans in WilmingtonUnder Spanish, Mexican, and American flags, the Los Angeles harbor area has developed many industries and businesses that survived on Mexican labor, supporting families of Mexican origin for more than a century. Pioneering Mexican Americans have worked the railroads, fields, canneries, plants, refineries, waterfront, and family-owned businesses for generations, forming strong bonds and lifelong friendships. Active in the military and sports, as well as involved in the church and community, Mexican Americans have overcome poverty, hardships, and discrimination, retained cultural values and customs, intermarried and assimilated with other cultures, and become the largest ethnic group in Wilmington. Many of the early families still have relatives that live and work in Wilmington, with sons and daughters achieving successful careers in various realms. Through education, hard work, and determination, Wilmingtons Mexican Americans have contributed extensively to the harbors vibrant American way of life. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Amelia McKenna Angeles Anna Mendez Author’s collection Avalon Boulevard bakery Banning High School Banning Park became California Carlos Rico Carmen Galvan Catalina Terminal Club daughter Dominguez dressed Drum Barracks East Cruces Street Eleanor Urrea Esther Pacheco Estrada Flores friends Fries Avenue G.I. Bill Gabriel Mendoza Garcia girls Gonzalez Guadalupe Guanajuato harbor area Henrietta Perez Henry Gonzales Hernandez Holy Family Church Honor Guard Jalisco Jesus John Urrea Jose Juan left to right lived located Luisa Machado Macias Madrigal Mahar House Manuel Manzo Marcelino Maria Enriquez married Martinez Mexican Americans Mexico Mike Calderon mother neighborhood participated Phineas Banning High photograph picture players railroad Ralph Mota Ralph Violante Ramon Cruz Ramon Quesada Rancho Rancho San Pedro Raul Gonzales residents Rita Rosales Roger Gonzales Rosalie Salcido San Pedro second row sisters Terminal Island Tony Torre tortillas unidentified Vargas Watson Avenue wedding Wilmington Historical Society World War II young