The Madonnas of Echo Park by Brando Skyhorse :: Immigration, Immigrants

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, argon descended from immigrants and revolutionists. -- President Franklin D. RooseveltThroughout the course of my life, I have always encountered individuals wanting to wear their economic situation especially those within my community. Those who come from impoverished communities in other countries risk their lives and lifetime nest egg to come to the United States hoping that one day they will regain everything that they lost. Their only motivation to come to this country is to be able to provide their family with basic necessities and in order to do this, they must operate on two or more jobs that pay at minimum wage and are taken for granted. However, many individuals do not see this side of the story and categorize immigrants as unambitious people. In order to be completely aware of what immigrants truly go by dint of and how they succeed in life, one must be willing to place themselves in their shoes and h ear his/her story. We must acknowledge that the hands of these people work in back breaking jobs in order to sustain their families. While some Americans may be against immigrants arriving to the United States in search of a better life and the American Dream, in The Madonnas of Echo Park, Brando Skyhorse further reveals that immigrants are exploited as cheap labor, and although they contribute greatly to the everyday function of American industry, they are quite invisible.Mexican immigrants in the United States are willing to work big(a) and long hours throughout the day regardless of the amount of sleep or rest they may get. Conversely, this is not how Efren Mendoza, a public city bus driver, views Mexicans and he believes they are not motivated to achieve things in life. One would gain that he would understand how difficult it is for immigrants to assimilate in a sweet foreign country without knowing anyone or anything here, but he is not on their side and it is somewhat hypoc ritical of him because he himself is Mexican. It is as though Efren sees his own people as invisible individuals because he does not acknowledge all their hard work and sacrifices they may have gone through in order to arrive in the United States. He further proves his insincerity when he mentions that the new wetbacks are picky about what jobs theyll do and that they half-ass the work that they are given to do (77).