-
Our House was Burned to the ground
When we lived in Mexico we owned a small home. On April 13th, 1897, our house was burned to the ground by a mexican drug cartel. My father had made a deal with a drug cartel, but didn't pay them back, so they burned the house to the ground. -
Immigrating to America
My father had decided that we were not allowed to get into America legally, so we had to travel across the mountains. We rode our goat Manny, walked, and rode on a wagon along the way. We finally arrived into America, but my father wanted to keep going, so we continued to Alabama. -
Trouble in the Schoolhouse
My father put me into the local school so i could learn english and get a better education so i could get a job once i turn 18. I was 16 at the time but i only spoke Spanish. English was hard, and everytime i even said a word in Spanish, i was beaten by the teacher. It became a terrible, i came home crying almost everyday. -
My Dad gets put into Jail
I was still finishing school when my father was put into Jail. I was never told what he did, but he was sentenced to jail for 20 years. My Mother made me quit school, which i was glad to do, and get a job -
Moving West
After my father was put into jail, my family and i tried to assimilate. We worked on trying to become more American but it didn't work. My mother wasnt able to provide enough money to pay for our apartment, so we moved West so i could get a job. We travelled on our last goat manny, and a wagon. It took a very long time to arrive in California but we got there, i got a job as a miner and we bought a tenement. -
Black Codes
It was a hot summer day when i was mining with my coworker, and best friend at the time, Benedict. We were sweating and mining a path for a railroad. Benedict and i were finally moved down inside a coalmine and we mined for hours. Benedict had found iron, he was poor at the time so he shoved the iron into his pocket. Minutes later our boss came down and shot Benedict right in the chest.I asked why and he said, "He was black," he paused, "and he stole some iron." -
Mining for Gold
After being a coal miner for three years i had gotten used to the daily routine. Arrive, mine, lunch, mine, go home. I mined for hours and hours everyday. On this day i found just a bit of gold, i found it, looked around and put it in my pocket. I cashed it into the bank and gained just enough money to buy a farm. I purchased a farm and helped the rest of my family move in. We got a big break, and it saved us from being kicked out onto the streets. -
Becoming a Farmer
We moved into our farm and i got right to work. I planted seeds, trimmed grass, milked the goat, and did some farmer like things. I worked as hard as i could and the harder i worked the more money i got for food and crops. It made my family very happy to see me working hard. -
My Mothers Death
After working on the farm for a while my mom finally got sick at the age of 56. she lived a long life. She contracted the measles and was bed ridden for 3 weeks. After those three weeks she finally past away. We were very sad, but it was her time. She was very kind, and made very good enchiladas. Eventually we had to get back to work so we did and work harder than before. -
The Tractor Accident
It was a regular day, working in the fields.I was working when the tractor started to make a weird noise. I hopped off the tractor right in front of it to see what was wrong, when i realized, i didn't turn off the tractor. By that time i was able to move, the tractor was already on my foot. I knew it was the end, i waited for the tractor to end it. I fell backwards hearing the bones in my ankles crack, then my thighs, the, my ribs, arms, then my head. I ws gone. I died.
