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Tejano Community Advisory Committee meeting, Lubbock, Texas, Part 5, October 16, 1994
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Tejano Community Advisory Committee meeting, Lubbock, Texas, Part 5, October 16, 1994
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THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES
Tejano Community Meeting
INTERVIEW WITH: Victor Hernandez, Andrea ...........,
......... Fuentes, Mary M............
(Tape 1 of 2)
DATE: 16 October 1994
PLACE: Lubbock, Texas
INTERVIEWERS: Lorenzo Galvan, Jr.
Leo Benavidez
B: I'm Leo Benavidez, in Lubbock, Texas, October 16th, with Tejano Committee Meeting. With us ... state your name, please.
VH: Victor Hernandez.
LG: Lorenzo Galvan Jr.
..: Andrea ............
..: ......... Fuentes.
B: .... saying ..... put across to you guys ... I've got a set of questions and one of the first ones that I'd like to ask you ... do you feel a need ......... looking at that questionaire that you guys are looking at ... do you have any alternatives? For some reason you don't think one of these items is important ... or like you said ... Well, I don't know what you guys are going to do over there. What (background noises) ....... ....... to maybe be addressed as part of the exhibit?
..: I guess ... I didn't sit in on the outside ....
B: ...... you missed it.
..: ... so I'm really not familiar with what ..... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
2
B: Okay.
..: ... you're actually looking for.
B: Okay. Alright. I knew you could probably read this ... probably go on with it ... Let me ask you ... what ... are you all from Lubbock? from the general area?
..: I was born and raised here.
B: Born and raised here. .........
..: Originally born in El Paso.
..: El Paso.
..: Been here about 10 years.
..: ......... (laughter)
..: ...... know your name and I know everybody here.
B: Do you guys feel that there's differences as far as Chicano - Mexican culture ... as far as the city of El Paso ... born and raised here ... and I'm from San Antonio ... do you feel like there's differences?
..: There is ... there really is.
B: Like what?
..: I've had people that ... from El Paso they're a whole lot different ... their wording is different.
B: Okay ... so language is one?
..: Uh-huh.
B: Okay.
..: Their background is different.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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..: Mexicans?
..: I know ... but to me it seems like Lubbock is more of a slang ... (laughter) ...
B: Really?
..: ... it really is. I mean ... language and background too.
B: ........
..: Um .... (Spanish)
B: So you weren't exposed to .........
..: No .... (Spanish)
B: Is that right? And this was when?
..: Back in the ...
B: '50s? '60s?
..: '60s .....
B: So back in the '60s there still evidence ...
..: Oh, yeah.
..: ... of that ...
..: And then ... I mean ... I couldn't eat at any restuarant ... I'm not saying this ... but it used to be that ... that if they did I was ..... to talk for myself ... ......... ... especially if I worked some place and they'd want to put me down ....... ... I've been here before ... ....... and I'm going to get what I want.
B: Yeah. Okay.
..: But the ....... (Spanish)Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
4
B: This morning ........... what's his name? Flores?
..: Yeah.
B: What's his first name? Bob? No, Tom.
..: I think Mrs. Flores ........
B: He said that Lubbock ... Lubbock was a place like a stopping point ... for the migrant workers ...
..: Uh-huh.
B: ... they were coming through here ...... back in the '50s ... '40s ... '50s ... there was a constant ... constant traffic.
..: Um ... ..........
..: He said you couldn't go downtown because it was just trucks everywhere.
..: ..... (Spanish)
B: And then he said a lot of people started staying here. ....... or on their way back. And the people just started ...... bigger and bigger. And for that reason he said maybe that's why the people .......... I guess you could say ........ that the people from the farms and ranches were more united than .......... which is exactly ............ (background noises) ..... and more response as opposed to the city ... but there's other things to distract you from ....... You people ......... come and voice your opinions ... but about half the other people didn't show up.
..: We're not used to .....Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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..: Yeah.
..: ....... used to getting together ..........
B: Uh-huh. I see you're .......
..: .... we didn't used to go ... we didn't even used to vote ... coming up to that ... we didn't ...... (Spanish)
... we backed off and other people .......... way back ..... (Spanish) ..... and then I started cutting up ... and we were taught not to buy the .........
..: ......
..: ... that other people would be ... (Spanish) ... we were all families ... we were stay home ...... families.
B: Is it pretty much the same way .......... ?
VH: No ... Lubbock is totally different ... let me give you a perspective from somebody who's only been here 10 years.
B: Okay.
VH: There's a book that the City of Lubbock puts out based on the census status for the last 1960 ... 60 years ... 50 ... 60 years ... the population ... the Hispanic population in 1940s ... 1950s ... of Hispanics was like 4,000 people. And then over the next decade it jumped by 800 percent ... there was actually 17,000 ... it's been growing ..... currently there's approximately 25 percent ... 23 percent ... .......... it's currently a little over 51,000 ... Hispanics. The populations has grown steadily up and up and up ... but the thing about Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
6
Lubbock that I've noticed is that ... what you said before ... it seems to have started out as a stopping point and what brought a lot of people here was in fact the farming.
B: Yeah.
VH: Steadily ... and then there was the other thing that I've noticed ... is that there was a lot of racism in Lubbock ... not only against the Hispanics but also Blacks. As late as the 1960s ...
..: Uh-huh.
VH: ... which is outrageous to me ... coming from El Paso which is predominately Hispanic ............. here's something totally different ...
..: Uh-huh.
VH: My wife is running for judge and there has never in the history of Lubbock County ever been a Hispanic judge ... never.
..: Um.
VH: But the interesting thing is that I was asking some people who were born and raised here why did it change? why was the racism ... not done away with ... but become all of a sudden more subtle?
..: Uh-huh.
VH: Was it an influence of the civil rights in the 1960s? They said no. Then what was it? They said well it was the mere fact that the legals in this area realized that the Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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Mexicanos have money. It wasn't a lot of money ... but there are a lot of them.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: And if you add a lot of them with a little bit of money ... it's a lot of money.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: So ... for example ... they weren't allowed ... especially the Black populace ... but even to a large extent the Hispanic populace ... weren't allowed to cross Avenue A ... it is what I was told ... into the part of town ...
..: Well ... we weren't allowed to ... excuse me ... because of the fact that we were ..............
..: Oh, really?
..: Oh, yeah. Them people can ... and I'm not racist ... but I don't like them to live next to me.
..: Uh-huh.
..: I mean ... you've got to be afraid ... they were mean. ......... if the Spanish get ....... they'll kill you ... you know or you got in trouble.
B: They were migrant workers? is that what they were?
..: No, no, no, no, ...
..: I don't know what brought the ......
..: To me that's what I think.
VH: Well ... you know ... her view of the Black population Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
8
is pretty prevalent in Lubbock too.
B: Uh-huh.
VH: Which is strange to me too because it's a ... for whatever reason it's ... there's not a real good meshing of the whole community ....... Lubbock .......
..: Um.
..: Unh-huh.
VH: ... but the point being that the reason why the Anglos all of a sudden let any Mexicano ... not just fair-skinned Mexicanos ... go to their theaters and their restuarants ... was economics.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: And that holds to be true too ... was the money ... the ability that if they could sell to one Mexicano and make a little bit ... if they sold to a 100 ... they could make a lot more. So what I've noticed in Lubbock is that the discrimination has become real, real subtle. They do it by the way they look at you ... even though they won't tell you anything outright ... by the way that they handle the politics here locally. You know there's ... I've ... you said ... changing subjects a little bit ... you said ... what would I .........
B: Uh-huh.
(background noises)
VH: Because you said that you would include in this exhibit Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
9
Colonial roots ... family work ... the community ...
B: Right.
VH: ... and I think a big aspect that you should be including is religion. ....... plays such a .......
B: ........ let me explain ........ religion plays a big part in the Tejano life.
VH: Yeah ... and I was kind of wondering how you did all those? Because I would include language ... itself ...
B: Uh-huh.
VH: ... the arts ... and not just the visual arts ... but also folklore ... the food ... you're asking the differences between El Paso and here ...
B: Right.
VH: ... one of the differences ... other differences is the food. The way food is prepared in Lubbock County ... traditional Mexican food ... and the way it's prepared in El Paso is totally different ... as it is is San Antonio.
..: Uh-huh. ......
VH: And in the regions ... that's why ... you know ... this whole concept of getting rid of Spanish and Mexican exhibits and all of a sudden creating this Tejano exhibit ... I'm like ... you guys I think are way off base.
B: You think so?
VH: Because you've got ... the Spanish culture is in of itself Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
10
rich. The Mexican culture ... the Mestizo culture ... if you want to call it that ... is rich. And the Tejano culture is a totally separate culture with its own identity. And I think you need to have the prespective of all three to be able to really appreciate the Tejano culture. Because it actually is a derivative ...
..: Uh-huh.
VH: ... of all of those. And I don't know if you're ... it's going to be very difficult for you to do that. But in looking at Texas ... even Texas is like Mexico ... it's regionalized. So depending on the region that you're talking about in Texas ... everything is different ... la comida appears different ... the language is different ... the appreciation of music and art is different. They're personal experiences as far as growing up are different ... they've been exposed to something that I've never been exposed to ... and that is out-right discrimination.
B: Yeah.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: And I think the further north you go the more evident that discrimination is ... but that's just one aspect.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: So ... the other thing I was going to ask you ... because ... and this might get ... you're saying you're devoting 4200 Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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square feet to this exhibit ... and my question is ... how much exhibit space is there in total? ... are the Hispanos getting their fair share of exhibit space?
B: From what ... the way it is now?
VH: Yeah.
B: Well ... I would say ... the whole exhibit floor is about ... maybe 8 times that.
VH: Yeah.
B: Okay ... but it's broken up into smaller sections.
VH: Uh-huh.
B: The fact that they're allowing that many square feet is because they want to combine both of them ... if they don't then you give up half of this ... half of that.
VH: Yeah. Well ... if it's 8 times the square footage of what is devoted to this exhibit ... I'm saying ... it should be at least 50 percent of your available exhibit space should be devoted to the Hispanic culture .......
B: Well ... the thing is ......
VH: Because I can understand the German influence ... I can understand the Anglo-Saxon influence ... I can understand the ... but Texas was Mexico ... Texas was Spain ... Texas ... and yet we're getting 1/8th exhibit space ...
B: Uh-huh ... well ....
VH: ... and I'm like ... you know ... that's ......Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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..: ....... (Spanish) ...... we're not fighting for ........
B: Well ... as .....
VH: And without ... and the point being ... without that additional exhibit space you're not going to do justice to the Hispanic culture ... whether you call it Tejano or whatever. And then you're certainly not going to do justice to the regionalized ... populaces ... or groupings of the Spanish within the state of Texas ... you're just not going to do it. What you're going end of doing ... what I'm afraid of ... is that you're going to end up promulgating the stereo-type of Mexicanos. ...... Mira ... all they do is sell tortillas ... and all they do is bake bread ... and all they do is own restuarants ... that's all they do. Why? Because I went to the Texan Cultural Center and that's what they're depicting ... that's what they're portraying. And so you don't give people the whole flavor of the culture ........
..: Excuse me, Mr. Hernandez, what kind of a feeling would you like to see the Tejanos ... when they leave the Institution?
VH: This is supposed to be an educational experience. It is my understanding ... the way they portrayed it out there. So what feeling would I ... what educational experience would I like them to take?
..: When you leave that building you know ... ....... says Hey ... I'm glad I'm a Tejano ... a Mexicano ... ......Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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VH: Uh-huh.
..: What kind of feelings would you like to ......
VH: I think your focus needs to be ... are you asking me as a Hispanic or ...? ... because ....
..: As a visitor.
B: A visitor
VH: See ... and I separate it out ... because you've got your Anglo ... your majority community visitor in the new country ... the Hispanic visitor ... and depending on who they are ... they'll come away with a different experience. And I think you need to look at it from that perspective too.
..: Okay ... ....... Tejanos ... in your opinion then. ...............
VH: What ... let me ... I guess ... make sure I understand the question ... what one single experience would I like to leave with?
..: Right. Uh-huh.
VH: What single ... there's just too many. There's just too many ... and for the amount of space you're devoting you're not going to give any single one just ... you could devote 4200 square feet ...
..: Uh-huh.
VH: ... just to the religious aspect and the impact that it's had on the Hispanic culture.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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..: You mentioned .....
VH: So if that's what you're asking ... for me to pick out of this list ... just one thing that I would have you to alter ...
..: You mentioned a religion ... what part of religion would you like to see in the exhibit? and altar? or ....?
..: There's a stereo-type on .....
VH: Yeah ... you know ... it's one of those things.
..: What would you ......
VH: You know ... because you have here on your list ... a contemporary home interior with a home altar.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: I grew up in a home where my parents had los santos and candles ...
..: .........
VH: ... we don't have that in my home ... and I'm first generation.
..: Uh-huh.
VH: So I'm not ... I'm like wondering how many contemporary homes really do have that? and really ... because a contemporary home to me tells me ... probably 2nd ... 3rd ... 4th generation. And I'm really kind of ... depends on what you mean by altar ... I mean what you'll find in today's homes is probably a virgen.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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..: Uh-huh.
VH: On somebody's kitchen table ... but an actual altar ... I don't think you'll find very many. So are you stereo-typing by even having that included? You know .........
..: So you wouldn't have any kind of religion in the exhibit?
VH: No ... I'm saying I think I would ... I don't envy your job because you're trying to mesh the entire community worth of experiences into 4200 feet ... square feet ... and I'm saying ... it's going to be very difficult not to stereo-type. And if I had to pick and chose unfortunately I would probably pick and chose pretty close to what you would. Because although they are stereo-types they are also reflective of our community. But for an outside visitor going in you're just solidifying that stereo-type.
..: Right.
VH: That's all you're doing ... not really wrenching them into the other aspects that you have available. But they are the most reflective of our community.
B: Leo, you want to just ....... Mary ... she's a late-comer ... so we can get her on the tape ...
Leo: Your name here please ... your name?
..: Mary ...........
Leo: ..........
..: Uh-huh.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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B: Okay ... if they were to ... let's say ... if they were to ... put this exhibit together ... do you think it would be better to put it ... let's say ... in chronological order ... dates ... or just major themes? as far as covering like what .... ? Colonial period or the ........ aspect and all that.
VH: Yeah.
..: I think dates are very important.
B: Okay.
..: I mean ... you know ... you can't find just ... I think you can go with the year ...
B: Uh-huh.
..: ... you know ... like the actual event. Most Mexicanos worked out on the fields you know. (laughter)
B: Sure. Yeah.
..: And usually it was really ...
B: Okay ...
..: ... enforced at one time and I think it was like in the '60s ...
B: Okay ... let me ask you ...
..: ........
B: ... what you were just saying about stereo-typing ... if you put a santo or something in your home ... if we were to depict like in the work area ... we would put a mural in the background depicting a cotton field and people picking cotton Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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... would that feel to you like you're being stereo-typed also? I mean ... it's part of life ... it's part of life.
..: We have that ..... on our ... we had that ... on our ... on Texas Tech ... we have that.
B: See ... that's what brought us ......
..: Picking cotton and all that stuff.
B: Okay ... but if we were to depict it on the agenda would you feel like you were being stereo-typed? ......... that's what we were.
VH: That's a fine line ... that sometimes it's very difficult ... because you know ... what are you ... just for a second ... not talking about the Hispanics but talking about the Blacks ...
B: Uh-huh.
VH: ... what is typical is picking cotton ... eating watermelon ... and eating fried chicken. I mean you want to talk stereo-type ...
B: Uh-huh.
VH: ... and I'm afraid we're doing the same thing ... but you're ... I see what you're saying ... that is part of where we came from ... part of what we are today.
B: That's true.
VH: And I just wish there was a better way to ... and that's what I'm saying ... it might not be so much ...Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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..: Uh-huh.
VH: ... that you don't want them in there ... but that you want them in there as part of a much greater and larger exhibit. And that's what I'm .... so we get back to the square footage and why we're only getting so much ...
..: Uh-huh.
VH: ... such a small space ... because when you combine it to such a small space and you've only got room for 2 large exhibits and maybe 5 small exhibits ... what you're doing is you're focusing on those which are the most stereo-typical.
B: Well ... they don't necessarily have to be that because we haven't decided what we're going to use ... that's why we're going around the state getting people's opinions to what ... what they would like to see depicted in that exhibit ... not like you said ... you don't want to do that because that's stereo-typing. Somebody else from the Valley might say that's very important. But there again you've got a different location in the state. They have a different perspective.
..: I think the most stereo-type that like people down South ... people here ... and people on the West ... whatever is the most important we do know it's still stereo-typed ... we still need to have it out there as an exhibit ... but we do have to get as far as ... like ... we all have different ways ...
B: Uh-huh.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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..: ... but like ... we're all ... it's real common that all the ...............
..: Yeah.
..: ... .............
..: ..........
..: ... were worked out in the fields ...
VH: Uh-huh.
..: ... this is something what everybody did no matter what town you lived in ... and so ... I mean ... that's still ... even if you still stereo-type it's really good because you put it on the exhibit saying what the Hispanics did.
B: Uh-huh. Well .....
..: And then ... what is the difference between a Chicano and a Tejano?
B: Well ......
..: (laughter)
(mixed conversation)
B: ........ video-tape ...... you'll get to see it during the break ... that would be real good ... that'll explain to you ... because we just picked people off the street ... we went to this church in San Antonio and just caught people coming in and out of church ... and then we went to a park and did the same thing. And you'd be surprised what some of the people say ... they just ... some don't care to be called ... or referred Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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to as Chicanos ...
..: Uh-huh.
B: Some preferred to be called Americanos or ....
..: What would you like to be called?
..: Hispanic.
..: Hispanic.
..: Mrs. Fuentes?
Fuentes: ........ (Spanish) ... I ...
..: ...... that's what I was going to say because when you made an application you had to say Mexican ... Mexican-American ... and ... you know ... people ...
..: And they don't have that anymore.
..: .........
..: Hispanic.
..: Uh-huh.
..: They had to get it off ... a lot of people were ....
B: Hispanic is taking in a lot more ... a lot more cultures usually ... you're talking about Puerto Rico ...
..: It has never bothered me. It's like ..... (Spanish) .......... that's the way I feel about it ... (Spanish) ... because that's the way I am.
B: Okay. ....
..: I'm not ...
B: There again when we're talking about different areas ... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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like when we were in the Valley ... the subject came up about the Rangers ... Texas Rangers ... one lady was very upset about it. She said ... no ... you don't need to ... you know ... remember us ... or remind us ... about those times ... you know. Apparently they used to mistreat the Mexicanos.
..: Uh-huh.
B: And then another gentleman said ... well ... wait a minute ... that's history ... it happened ... you know ... we had to suffer through that time period in order to get you guys where you're at now. And there again we need to meet ... like you said ... it's fine line but a lot of these items have to be addressed ... otherwise .... don't go by the wayside. I'm not saying ... you being a Mexicano have to have an altar but ... you know ... it's something that existed ... my grandmother had ... you know ...
..: ......... 6th generation alike ... my ...... was what she was and I am what I am and my mother was what she was. I mean ........ ... if we are Americanos then ... the thing was I didn't go to school because I had to work for my .......... and I'm proud ... because I was oldest one ... I had to go ... my other ... ......(Spanish)...... ... and I'm proud of it. I don't know nothing ... I'm still up here the same as everybody ...... what can I say?
..: .... any other towns as migrant farm workers?Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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B: How many still go?
..: Uh-huh ... you know ... like down South ...
..: Not much.
..: How about here?
(mixed conversation)
..: They come in from other towns.
(mixed conversation)
..: Lubbock really isn't into it.
..: Not anymore as much as they used to. Like when ...
(mixed conversation)
B: The people that are here are the ones that are doing the actual ... working for the farmers.
..: Not really.
B: No?
..: There's a lot of people that come from South ...
B: No ... but I mean the people that are here ...
..: ... and work here.
B: ... they're not doing the picking anymore.
..: Unh-huh.
..: They're not doing the farming .......
..: No ... unh-huh.
B: No?
VH: This is ... Lubbock is heavy in service industry ... whether it be hospital ... it's got a very large hospital ... ...... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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that's got to be served ........ ... it's got ... you know ... the service industry ....
B: So they've kind of gotten away from cotton?
VH: It's gotten away ... in fact ... there's been a trend ... it's like ... it used be like 70% agriculture and 30% service ... and now it's like 30% agriculture and 70% service.
..: So the migrant workers are coming from ... say ... Robstown ...
..: ........
(mixed conversation)
..: ... Valley ... I can count them ... because I used to sell at the flea market. They will all come looking for things ... you know ... to start their house ... like pots and pans and things like that. But you can count them ... in 2 months they were gone.
..: Uh-huh.
B: They were just here for the duration?
..: No ... they were here for chopping the cotton and that's about ....
..: Then they move on to another crop?
..: Uh-huh.
..: When they complete this?
..: They go to Hereford ... Hefeford's got a lot of agriculture.
VH: They're true migrants ... they move.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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..: Most of the people will go ahead and live here ... and travel that hour or two ...
..: To go ...
..: ... to go work ... and then ...
..: When I was young I used to go to Utah ... to Idaho ... to the ...
..: Sugar beet?
..: No ... we never liked ....... (laughter)
(mixed conversation)
B: Let me ask you ... ...... the people that you see ... that you say that you see them ... that they come here ... what's their age group?
..: It's just like a big family ... and to me ... it doesn't pay to come.
B: .........
..: There is nothing ....... (Spanish) ...... and welfare ... right? ........ (Spanish) ...... and a lot of kids ...
..: Mucho .......
..: To me it doesn't even ...... (Spanish) .........
B: Uh-huh.
..: ....... (Spanish) ....... and I had ... worked here and then ...... I said ... forget it ... I'm out. ...... (Spanish) .......
..: You know ... that's really sad ... but people that come Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2)
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from out of town come in and get on welfare ...
..: That's what they do.
..: ... and people here in the city cannot even ... cannot even get it.
B: Okay ... so now that's addressing still another item here. That's the city government ... no? ... or state? ... or ......
..: .... (Spanish) ...... I don't know if they have anything over there but when it rains so much ........ and for some reason they ......
B: ......... can't get welfare over there?
..: They probably do ... but once they leave the county you have to come and register at another place.
(mixed conversation)
B: Okay ... ........ we haven't heard from you all day? (laughter)
..: (laughter) ........ (Spanish) ........
B: Oh we were just talking ... I don't know ... your opinions on certain items ... you know ... .......... like the work force, the changing and the fact that this town is no longer predominately agricultural ... it's more ... I want to say service ...
VH: Services.
..: Uh-huh.
B: What are some of your experiences? Are you from Lubbock? Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock
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..: .... (Spanish) ....
B: Okay.
..: ............
..: ..........
..: Del Rio.
B: Del Rio. ........
..: .........
..: .... she's further down ... (laughter) ......
B: Further down ... yeah ... ........(Spanish)...
..: ...... (Spanish) ........
(mixed conversation and laughter)
......... (Spanish) ........
END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 1, ABOUT .. MINUTES.
SIDE 2. - BLANK.
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Description
| Title | Tejano Community Advisory Committee meeting, Lubbock, Texas, Part 5, October 16, 1994 |
| Interviewee | Hernandez, Victor |
| Interviewer | Galvan, Lorenzo |
| Description | Transcripts of community meetings conducted by the Institute of Texan Cultures as part of the Tejano Community Advisory Group. |
| Date-Original | 1994-10-16 |
| Subject |
Mexican Americans--Texas--Biography. Mexican Americans--Texas--Ethnic identity. |
| Collection | University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures Curator of Exhibits Records |
| Local Subject |
Activism/Activists Education/Educators Mexican Americans Texas History |
| Publisher | University of Texas at San Antonio |
| Type | text |
| Format | |
| Digitization Specifications | 24 bit, 200 dpi |
| Source | Tejano Community Advisory Committee meeting, Lubbock, Texas, Part 5, October 16, 1994: University of Texas at San Antonio Institute of Texan Cultures Curator of Exhibits Records |
| Language | eng |
| Finding Aid | http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utsa/00258/utsa-00258.html |
| Rights | http://lib.utsa.edu/SpecialCollections/services_copyright.html |
| Full Text | THE INSTITUTE OF TEXAN CULTURES Tejano Community Meeting INTERVIEW WITH: Victor Hernandez, Andrea ..........., ......... Fuentes, Mary M............ (Tape 1 of 2) DATE: 16 October 1994 PLACE: Lubbock, Texas INTERVIEWERS: Lorenzo Galvan, Jr. Leo Benavidez B: I'm Leo Benavidez, in Lubbock, Texas, October 16th, with Tejano Committee Meeting. With us ... state your name, please. VH: Victor Hernandez. LG: Lorenzo Galvan Jr. ..: Andrea ............ ..: ......... Fuentes. B: .... saying ..... put across to you guys ... I've got a set of questions and one of the first ones that I'd like to ask you ... do you feel a need ......... looking at that questionaire that you guys are looking at ... do you have any alternatives? For some reason you don't think one of these items is important ... or like you said ... Well, I don't know what you guys are going to do over there. What (background noises) ....... ....... to maybe be addressed as part of the exhibit? ..: I guess ... I didn't sit in on the outside .... B: ...... you missed it. ..: ... so I'm really not familiar with what ..... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 2 B: Okay. ..: ... you're actually looking for. B: Okay. Alright. I knew you could probably read this ... probably go on with it ... Let me ask you ... what ... are you all from Lubbock? from the general area? ..: I was born and raised here. B: Born and raised here. ......... ..: Originally born in El Paso. ..: El Paso. ..: Been here about 10 years. ..: ......... (laughter) ..: ...... know your name and I know everybody here. B: Do you guys feel that there's differences as far as Chicano - Mexican culture ... as far as the city of El Paso ... born and raised here ... and I'm from San Antonio ... do you feel like there's differences? ..: There is ... there really is. B: Like what? ..: I've had people that ... from El Paso they're a whole lot different ... their wording is different. B: Okay ... so language is one? ..: Uh-huh. B: Okay. ..: Their background is different.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 3 ..: Mexicans? ..: I know ... but to me it seems like Lubbock is more of a slang ... (laughter) ... B: Really? ..: ... it really is. I mean ... language and background too. B: ........ ..: Um .... (Spanish) B: So you weren't exposed to ......... ..: No .... (Spanish) B: Is that right? And this was when? ..: Back in the ... B: '50s? '60s? ..: '60s ..... B: So back in the '60s there still evidence ... ..: Oh, yeah. ..: ... of that ... ..: And then ... I mean ... I couldn't eat at any restuarant ... I'm not saying this ... but it used to be that ... that if they did I was ..... to talk for myself ... ......... ... especially if I worked some place and they'd want to put me down ....... ... I've been here before ... ....... and I'm going to get what I want. B: Yeah. Okay. ..: But the ....... (Spanish)Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 4 B: This morning ........... what's his name? Flores? ..: Yeah. B: What's his first name? Bob? No, Tom. ..: I think Mrs. Flores ........ B: He said that Lubbock ... Lubbock was a place like a stopping point ... for the migrant workers ... ..: Uh-huh. B: ... they were coming through here ...... back in the '50s ... '40s ... '50s ... there was a constant ... constant traffic. ..: Um ... .......... ..: He said you couldn't go downtown because it was just trucks everywhere. ..: ..... (Spanish) B: And then he said a lot of people started staying here. ....... or on their way back. And the people just started ...... bigger and bigger. And for that reason he said maybe that's why the people .......... I guess you could say ........ that the people from the farms and ranches were more united than .......... which is exactly ............ (background noises) ..... and more response as opposed to the city ... but there's other things to distract you from ....... You people ......... come and voice your opinions ... but about half the other people didn't show up. ..: We're not used to .....Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 5 ..: Yeah. ..: ....... used to getting together .......... B: Uh-huh. I see you're ....... ..: .... we didn't used to go ... we didn't even used to vote ... coming up to that ... we didn't ...... (Spanish) ... we backed off and other people .......... way back ..... (Spanish) ..... and then I started cutting up ... and we were taught not to buy the ......... ..: ...... ..: ... that other people would be ... (Spanish) ... we were all families ... we were stay home ...... families. B: Is it pretty much the same way .......... ? VH: No ... Lubbock is totally different ... let me give you a perspective from somebody who's only been here 10 years. B: Okay. VH: There's a book that the City of Lubbock puts out based on the census status for the last 1960 ... 60 years ... 50 ... 60 years ... the population ... the Hispanic population in 1940s ... 1950s ... of Hispanics was like 4,000 people. And then over the next decade it jumped by 800 percent ... there was actually 17,000 ... it's been growing ..... currently there's approximately 25 percent ... 23 percent ... .......... it's currently a little over 51,000 ... Hispanics. The populations has grown steadily up and up and up ... but the thing about Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 6 Lubbock that I've noticed is that ... what you said before ... it seems to have started out as a stopping point and what brought a lot of people here was in fact the farming. B: Yeah. VH: Steadily ... and then there was the other thing that I've noticed ... is that there was a lot of racism in Lubbock ... not only against the Hispanics but also Blacks. As late as the 1960s ... ..: Uh-huh. VH: ... which is outrageous to me ... coming from El Paso which is predominately Hispanic ............. here's something totally different ... ..: Uh-huh. VH: My wife is running for judge and there has never in the history of Lubbock County ever been a Hispanic judge ... never. ..: Um. VH: But the interesting thing is that I was asking some people who were born and raised here why did it change? why was the racism ... not done away with ... but become all of a sudden more subtle? ..: Uh-huh. VH: Was it an influence of the civil rights in the 1960s? They said no. Then what was it? They said well it was the mere fact that the legals in this area realized that the Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 7 Mexicanos have money. It wasn't a lot of money ... but there are a lot of them. ..: Uh-huh. VH: And if you add a lot of them with a little bit of money ... it's a lot of money. ..: Uh-huh. VH: So ... for example ... they weren't allowed ... especially the Black populace ... but even to a large extent the Hispanic populace ... weren't allowed to cross Avenue A ... it is what I was told ... into the part of town ... ..: Well ... we weren't allowed to ... excuse me ... because of the fact that we were .............. ..: Oh, really? ..: Oh, yeah. Them people can ... and I'm not racist ... but I don't like them to live next to me. ..: Uh-huh. ..: I mean ... you've got to be afraid ... they were mean. ......... if the Spanish get ....... they'll kill you ... you know or you got in trouble. B: They were migrant workers? is that what they were? ..: No, no, no, no, ... ..: I don't know what brought the ...... ..: To me that's what I think. VH: Well ... you know ... her view of the Black population Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 8 is pretty prevalent in Lubbock too. B: Uh-huh. VH: Which is strange to me too because it's a ... for whatever reason it's ... there's not a real good meshing of the whole community ....... Lubbock ....... ..: Um. ..: Unh-huh. VH: ... but the point being that the reason why the Anglos all of a sudden let any Mexicano ... not just fair-skinned Mexicanos ... go to their theaters and their restuarants ... was economics. ..: Uh-huh. VH: And that holds to be true too ... was the money ... the ability that if they could sell to one Mexicano and make a little bit ... if they sold to a 100 ... they could make a lot more. So what I've noticed in Lubbock is that the discrimination has become real, real subtle. They do it by the way they look at you ... even though they won't tell you anything outright ... by the way that they handle the politics here locally. You know there's ... I've ... you said ... changing subjects a little bit ... you said ... what would I ......... B: Uh-huh. (background noises) VH: Because you said that you would include in this exhibit Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 9 Colonial roots ... family work ... the community ... B: Right. VH: ... and I think a big aspect that you should be including is religion. ....... plays such a ....... B: ........ let me explain ........ religion plays a big part in the Tejano life. VH: Yeah ... and I was kind of wondering how you did all those? Because I would include language ... itself ... B: Uh-huh. VH: ... the arts ... and not just the visual arts ... but also folklore ... the food ... you're asking the differences between El Paso and here ... B: Right. VH: ... one of the differences ... other differences is the food. The way food is prepared in Lubbock County ... traditional Mexican food ... and the way it's prepared in El Paso is totally different ... as it is is San Antonio. ..: Uh-huh. ...... VH: And in the regions ... that's why ... you know ... this whole concept of getting rid of Spanish and Mexican exhibits and all of a sudden creating this Tejano exhibit ... I'm like ... you guys I think are way off base. B: You think so? VH: Because you've got ... the Spanish culture is in of itself Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 10 rich. The Mexican culture ... the Mestizo culture ... if you want to call it that ... is rich. And the Tejano culture is a totally separate culture with its own identity. And I think you need to have the prespective of all three to be able to really appreciate the Tejano culture. Because it actually is a derivative ... ..: Uh-huh. VH: ... of all of those. And I don't know if you're ... it's going to be very difficult for you to do that. But in looking at Texas ... even Texas is like Mexico ... it's regionalized. So depending on the region that you're talking about in Texas ... everything is different ... la comida appears different ... the language is different ... the appreciation of music and art is different. They're personal experiences as far as growing up are different ... they've been exposed to something that I've never been exposed to ... and that is out-right discrimination. B: Yeah. ..: Uh-huh. VH: And I think the further north you go the more evident that discrimination is ... but that's just one aspect. ..: Uh-huh. VH: So ... the other thing I was going to ask you ... because ... and this might get ... you're saying you're devoting 4200 Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 11 square feet to this exhibit ... and my question is ... how much exhibit space is there in total? ... are the Hispanos getting their fair share of exhibit space? B: From what ... the way it is now? VH: Yeah. B: Well ... I would say ... the whole exhibit floor is about ... maybe 8 times that. VH: Yeah. B: Okay ... but it's broken up into smaller sections. VH: Uh-huh. B: The fact that they're allowing that many square feet is because they want to combine both of them ... if they don't then you give up half of this ... half of that. VH: Yeah. Well ... if it's 8 times the square footage of what is devoted to this exhibit ... I'm saying ... it should be at least 50 percent of your available exhibit space should be devoted to the Hispanic culture ....... B: Well ... the thing is ...... VH: Because I can understand the German influence ... I can understand the Anglo-Saxon influence ... I can understand the ... but Texas was Mexico ... Texas was Spain ... Texas ... and yet we're getting 1/8th exhibit space ... B: Uh-huh ... well .... VH: ... and I'm like ... you know ... that's ......Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 12 ..: ....... (Spanish) ...... we're not fighting for ........ B: Well ... as ..... VH: And without ... and the point being ... without that additional exhibit space you're not going to do justice to the Hispanic culture ... whether you call it Tejano or whatever. And then you're certainly not going to do justice to the regionalized ... populaces ... or groupings of the Spanish within the state of Texas ... you're just not going to do it. What you're going end of doing ... what I'm afraid of ... is that you're going to end up promulgating the stereo-type of Mexicanos. ...... Mira ... all they do is sell tortillas ... and all they do is bake bread ... and all they do is own restuarants ... that's all they do. Why? Because I went to the Texan Cultural Center and that's what they're depicting ... that's what they're portraying. And so you don't give people the whole flavor of the culture ........ ..: Excuse me, Mr. Hernandez, what kind of a feeling would you like to see the Tejanos ... when they leave the Institution? VH: This is supposed to be an educational experience. It is my understanding ... the way they portrayed it out there. So what feeling would I ... what educational experience would I like them to take? ..: When you leave that building you know ... ....... says Hey ... I'm glad I'm a Tejano ... a Mexicano ... ......Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 13 VH: Uh-huh. ..: What kind of feelings would you like to ...... VH: I think your focus needs to be ... are you asking me as a Hispanic or ...? ... because .... ..: As a visitor. B: A visitor VH: See ... and I separate it out ... because you've got your Anglo ... your majority community visitor in the new country ... the Hispanic visitor ... and depending on who they are ... they'll come away with a different experience. And I think you need to look at it from that perspective too. ..: Okay ... ....... Tejanos ... in your opinion then. ............... VH: What ... let me ... I guess ... make sure I understand the question ... what one single experience would I like to leave with? ..: Right. Uh-huh. VH: What single ... there's just too many. There's just too many ... and for the amount of space you're devoting you're not going to give any single one just ... you could devote 4200 square feet ... ..: Uh-huh. VH: ... just to the religious aspect and the impact that it's had on the Hispanic culture.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 14 ..: You mentioned ..... VH: So if that's what you're asking ... for me to pick out of this list ... just one thing that I would have you to alter ... ..: You mentioned a religion ... what part of religion would you like to see in the exhibit? and altar? or ....? ..: There's a stereo-type on ..... VH: Yeah ... you know ... it's one of those things. ..: What would you ...... VH: You know ... because you have here on your list ... a contemporary home interior with a home altar. ..: Uh-huh. VH: I grew up in a home where my parents had los santos and candles ... ..: ......... VH: ... we don't have that in my home ... and I'm first generation. ..: Uh-huh. VH: So I'm not ... I'm like wondering how many contemporary homes really do have that? and really ... because a contemporary home to me tells me ... probably 2nd ... 3rd ... 4th generation. And I'm really kind of ... depends on what you mean by altar ... I mean what you'll find in today's homes is probably a virgen.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 15 ..: Uh-huh. VH: On somebody's kitchen table ... but an actual altar ... I don't think you'll find very many. So are you stereo-typing by even having that included? You know ......... ..: So you wouldn't have any kind of religion in the exhibit? VH: No ... I'm saying I think I would ... I don't envy your job because you're trying to mesh the entire community worth of experiences into 4200 feet ... square feet ... and I'm saying ... it's going to be very difficult not to stereo-type. And if I had to pick and chose unfortunately I would probably pick and chose pretty close to what you would. Because although they are stereo-types they are also reflective of our community. But for an outside visitor going in you're just solidifying that stereo-type. ..: Right. VH: That's all you're doing ... not really wrenching them into the other aspects that you have available. But they are the most reflective of our community. B: Leo, you want to just ....... Mary ... she's a late-comer ... so we can get her on the tape ... Leo: Your name here please ... your name? ..: Mary ........... Leo: .......... ..: Uh-huh.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 16 B: Okay ... if they were to ... let's say ... if they were to ... put this exhibit together ... do you think it would be better to put it ... let's say ... in chronological order ... dates ... or just major themes? as far as covering like what .... ? Colonial period or the ........ aspect and all that. VH: Yeah. ..: I think dates are very important. B: Okay. ..: I mean ... you know ... you can't find just ... I think you can go with the year ... B: Uh-huh. ..: ... you know ... like the actual event. Most Mexicanos worked out on the fields you know. (laughter) B: Sure. Yeah. ..: And usually it was really ... B: Okay ... ..: ... enforced at one time and I think it was like in the '60s ... B: Okay ... let me ask you ... ..: ........ B: ... what you were just saying about stereo-typing ... if you put a santo or something in your home ... if we were to depict like in the work area ... we would put a mural in the background depicting a cotton field and people picking cotton Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 17 ... would that feel to you like you're being stereo-typed also? I mean ... it's part of life ... it's part of life. ..: We have that ..... on our ... we had that ... on our ... on Texas Tech ... we have that. B: See ... that's what brought us ...... ..: Picking cotton and all that stuff. B: Okay ... but if we were to depict it on the agenda would you feel like you were being stereo-typed? ......... that's what we were. VH: That's a fine line ... that sometimes it's very difficult ... because you know ... what are you ... just for a second ... not talking about the Hispanics but talking about the Blacks ... B: Uh-huh. VH: ... what is typical is picking cotton ... eating watermelon ... and eating fried chicken. I mean you want to talk stereo-type ... B: Uh-huh. VH: ... and I'm afraid we're doing the same thing ... but you're ... I see what you're saying ... that is part of where we came from ... part of what we are today. B: That's true. VH: And I just wish there was a better way to ... and that's what I'm saying ... it might not be so much ...Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 18 ..: Uh-huh. VH: ... that you don't want them in there ... but that you want them in there as part of a much greater and larger exhibit. And that's what I'm .... so we get back to the square footage and why we're only getting so much ... ..: Uh-huh. VH: ... such a small space ... because when you combine it to such a small space and you've only got room for 2 large exhibits and maybe 5 small exhibits ... what you're doing is you're focusing on those which are the most stereo-typical. B: Well ... they don't necessarily have to be that because we haven't decided what we're going to use ... that's why we're going around the state getting people's opinions to what ... what they would like to see depicted in that exhibit ... not like you said ... you don't want to do that because that's stereo-typing. Somebody else from the Valley might say that's very important. But there again you've got a different location in the state. They have a different perspective. ..: I think the most stereo-type that like people down South ... people here ... and people on the West ... whatever is the most important we do know it's still stereo-typed ... we still need to have it out there as an exhibit ... but we do have to get as far as ... like ... we all have different ways ... B: Uh-huh.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 19 ..: ... but like ... we're all ... it's real common that all the ............... ..: Yeah. ..: ... ............. ..: .......... ..: ... were worked out in the fields ... VH: Uh-huh. ..: ... this is something what everybody did no matter what town you lived in ... and so ... I mean ... that's still ... even if you still stereo-type it's really good because you put it on the exhibit saying what the Hispanics did. B: Uh-huh. Well ..... ..: And then ... what is the difference between a Chicano and a Tejano? B: Well ...... ..: (laughter) (mixed conversation) B: ........ video-tape ...... you'll get to see it during the break ... that would be real good ... that'll explain to you ... because we just picked people off the street ... we went to this church in San Antonio and just caught people coming in and out of church ... and then we went to a park and did the same thing. And you'd be surprised what some of the people say ... they just ... some don't care to be called ... or referred Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 20 to as Chicanos ... ..: Uh-huh. B: Some preferred to be called Americanos or .... ..: What would you like to be called? ..: Hispanic. ..: Hispanic. ..: Mrs. Fuentes? Fuentes: ........ (Spanish) ... I ... ..: ...... that's what I was going to say because when you made an application you had to say Mexican ... Mexican-American ... and ... you know ... people ... ..: And they don't have that anymore. ..: ......... ..: Hispanic. ..: Uh-huh. ..: They had to get it off ... a lot of people were .... B: Hispanic is taking in a lot more ... a lot more cultures usually ... you're talking about Puerto Rico ... ..: It has never bothered me. It's like ..... (Spanish) .......... that's the way I feel about it ... (Spanish) ... because that's the way I am. B: Okay. .... ..: I'm not ... B: There again when we're talking about different areas ... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 21 like when we were in the Valley ... the subject came up about the Rangers ... Texas Rangers ... one lady was very upset about it. She said ... no ... you don't need to ... you know ... remember us ... or remind us ... about those times ... you know. Apparently they used to mistreat the Mexicanos. ..: Uh-huh. B: And then another gentleman said ... well ... wait a minute ... that's history ... it happened ... you know ... we had to suffer through that time period in order to get you guys where you're at now. And there again we need to meet ... like you said ... it's fine line but a lot of these items have to be addressed ... otherwise .... don't go by the wayside. I'm not saying ... you being a Mexicano have to have an altar but ... you know ... it's something that existed ... my grandmother had ... you know ... ..: ......... 6th generation alike ... my ...... was what she was and I am what I am and my mother was what she was. I mean ........ ... if we are Americanos then ... the thing was I didn't go to school because I had to work for my .......... and I'm proud ... because I was oldest one ... I had to go ... my other ... ......(Spanish)...... ... and I'm proud of it. I don't know nothing ... I'm still up here the same as everybody ...... what can I say? ..: .... any other towns as migrant farm workers?Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 22 B: How many still go? ..: Uh-huh ... you know ... like down South ... ..: Not much. ..: How about here? (mixed conversation) ..: They come in from other towns. (mixed conversation) ..: Lubbock really isn't into it. ..: Not anymore as much as they used to. Like when ... (mixed conversation) B: The people that are here are the ones that are doing the actual ... working for the farmers. ..: Not really. B: No? ..: There's a lot of people that come from South ... B: No ... but I mean the people that are here ... ..: ... and work here. B: ... they're not doing the picking anymore. ..: Unh-huh. ..: They're not doing the farming ....... ..: No ... unh-huh. B: No? VH: This is ... Lubbock is heavy in service industry ... whether it be hospital ... it's got a very large hospital ... ...... Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 23 that's got to be served ........ ... it's got ... you know ... the service industry .... B: So they've kind of gotten away from cotton? VH: It's gotten away ... in fact ... there's been a trend ... it's like ... it used be like 70% agriculture and 30% service ... and now it's like 30% agriculture and 70% service. ..: So the migrant workers are coming from ... say ... Robstown ... ..: ........ (mixed conversation) ..: ... Valley ... I can count them ... because I used to sell at the flea market. They will all come looking for things ... you know ... to start their house ... like pots and pans and things like that. But you can count them ... in 2 months they were gone. ..: Uh-huh. B: They were just here for the duration? ..: No ... they were here for chopping the cotton and that's about .... ..: Then they move on to another crop? ..: Uh-huh. ..: When they complete this? ..: They go to Hereford ... Hefeford's got a lot of agriculture. VH: They're true migrants ... they move.Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 24 ..: Most of the people will go ahead and live here ... and travel that hour or two ... ..: To go ... ..: ... to go work ... and then ... ..: When I was young I used to go to Utah ... to Idaho ... to the ... ..: Sugar beet? ..: No ... we never liked ....... (laughter) (mixed conversation) B: Let me ask you ... ...... the people that you see ... that you say that you see them ... that they come here ... what's their age group? ..: It's just like a big family ... and to me ... it doesn't pay to come. B: ......... ..: There is nothing ....... (Spanish) ...... and welfare ... right? ........ (Spanish) ...... and a lot of kids ... ..: Mucho ....... ..: To me it doesn't even ...... (Spanish) ......... B: Uh-huh. ..: ....... (Spanish) ....... and I had ... worked here and then ...... I said ... forget it ... I'm out. ...... (Spanish) ....... ..: You know ... that's really sad ... but people that come Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 25 from out of town come in and get on welfare ... ..: That's what they do. ..: ... and people here in the city cannot even ... cannot even get it. B: Okay ... so now that's addressing still another item here. That's the city government ... no? ... or state? ... or ...... ..: .... (Spanish) ...... I don't know if they have anything over there but when it rains so much ........ and for some reason they ...... B: ......... can't get welfare over there? ..: They probably do ... but once they leave the county you have to come and register at another place. (mixed conversation) B: Okay ... ........ we haven't heard from you all day? (laughter) ..: (laughter) ........ (Spanish) ........ B: Oh we were just talking ... I don't know ... your opinions on certain items ... you know ... .......... like the work force, the changing and the fact that this town is no longer predominately agricultural ... it's more ... I want to say service ... VH: Services. ..: Uh-huh. B: What are some of your experiences? Are you from Lubbock? Tejano Community Meeting - Lubbock Galvan & Benavidez (Tape 1 of 2) 26 ..: .... (Spanish) .... B: Okay. ..: ............ ..: .......... ..: Del Rio. B: Del Rio. ........ ..: ......... ..: .... she's further down ... (laughter) ...... B: Further down ... yeah ... ........(Spanish)... ..: ...... (Spanish) ........ (mixed conversation and laughter) ......... (Spanish) ........ END OF TAPE 1, SIDE 1, ABOUT .. MINUTES. SIDE 2. - BLANK. |
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