Migrant Workers in California essays

Migrant Workers in California essays During the 1930s countless farm workers from the region known as the Dust Bowl came to California in search of a better life. Today, California remains one of the ideal spots for migrant workers to find job opportunities and make a living. However, the migrants of California today are very different from the migrants of the 1930s. The present migrants live under much better conditions and have a great deal of support from their unions and the government. Todays migrant workers are nothing like the migrants workers of the 1930s. The migrant workers of the 1930s were made up of white Americans from the Midwest. On the other hand, todays migrant workers are mostly made up of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. In 2001 there were 1.1 million Hispanic farm workers in California (California Farm Workers: Employment and Earnings). These workers are found in many different fields of work; some of them work in farms, others work illegally in stores for under the table wages, and some go on to start their own businesses such as lawn mowing. The kind of work these migrants do varies a huge amount. One reporter, who was making fun of the work these migrants do, wrote, Crews of migrant workers have allegedly reduced the San Fernando Valleys smoggy ring by up to 80% ( DeChristo). This was a very interesting article because it was written to make its readers laugh and to send out a very important message about migrant workers. In addition, th e migrant workers of today live in much better facilitations than those of the Dust Bowl Migrants. The Dust Bowl Migrants lived in overcrowded camps without running water and without bathrooms. Some of todays present migrants also live in camps; however, their camps are much cleaner and less crowded than those of the 30s. They have working bathrooms and showers. Nevertheless, not all of the migrants live in these camps. S...