Struggles of Mexican immigrants in the 1930s in Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising

초록

The purpose of this paper is to explore the history of racism and labor exploitation experienced by Mexican immigrant farm workers in the 1930s in Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising. In order to do this, I will examine the historical context of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and the Mexican Repatriation, which are interwoven with the struggles faced by Esperanza throughout the novel. Specifically, I examine the social issues that drove Mexican immigrants to leave their country during the early 20th century, with a focus on the cases of Esperanza and Miguel’s immigration. I also analyze the reality of their American dream in relation to how they were treated during the social and economic difficulties of the Great Depression in America. In this way, this paper highlights the significance of multicultural young adult literature in the American literature market, which is often dominated by white voices. Additionally, it examines how Ryan’s Esperanza Rising can serve as both a mirror and a window for children of color and children from other backgrounds.

키워드