A Day WITH Mexicans Photo

Photographer’s Note

Immigration is a sore subject in many parts of the world at the moment. Anti-immigration sentiment is strong in places like California where we have an abundance of people of color, most of whom come from south of the border.

I was spending a bit of free time at a shopping center in San Anselmo with camera in hand when I noticed this young man planting pansies in a median strip. As I took a few photos I was reminded of a film that came out last year called A Day Without a Mexican. The movie was making the point all too easily forgotten in the discussions about closing the border and sending the unwelcome visitors home, that these folks are tending our gardens, picking our fruits and vegetable, caring for our children and busing dishes at just about every restaurant we visit. I decided to post the image with a more celebratory message... A Day WITH Mexicans. From what I see all they really want is to work hard and make a bit of money to support themselves and their families, much like other immigrants who've come to this country. At least this fellow has some work on this day. I wish him well.

Burnham, peter1892, Rinie_Hoff, RGatward has marked this note useful

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Burnham (2426) 2005-11-18 15:03

Funny you mention that movie, because my first thought was that this looks like a movie still, his clothes are so neat, boots and gloves clean and that pair of scissors in his back pocket are so perfectly positioned.
I like the shot very much, aswell as your note. You shed light on the most discusse dsubject in Danish politics, only the immigrants we discuss are not Mexican.

ronners (10) 2005-11-18 18:03

Another good one for a talking point Curtis. I agree that our hispanic neighbors are some of the hardest working and least rewarded members of our community. Sometimes people in California tend to forget that they're probably descendents of immigrants themselves, so the 'lock the gates' argument is a nonsense. One thing that troubles me though is a price-sensitive culture where the consumer demands the lowest cost everything. Once that percolates down you end up with too many employed people on the poverty line.

peter1892 (3201) 2005-11-18 19:01

A good subject Curtis, and one that fits in with the TE ethos of 'learning about the world through photography' (there's been some dicussion on the forums about this!).

It is a topical issue here in Ireland too, our recent economic growth has seen an influx of foreign workers - in the same way as the Irish moved around the world to seek work when this place was pretty poor. When I started college in 1991 I honestly believed I'd be moving to London, New York or Sydney...I've been to all 3 but through choice, not necessity.

The image captures the scene very effectively, great work.

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2005-11-21 4:01

Hi Curtis, just read the story of the film, oh how I would love a movie like that in the Netherlands, to give credit to those people who do lousy jobs, get underpaid, and no respect. Not especially dedicated to one group, but to all those people who have a hard time, and get no respect.
I am reminded of your series about daily life in the US, and then especially the "American Dream".
Amazing to see, BTW, that you can still plant these pansies in this time of the year, makes me jealous a bit, as we are already nearing temperatures just above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. We can only plant those pansies in springtime.
Great lens, Curtis! ;-)

RGatward (19737) 2005-11-21 4:06

Nicely observed daily lifer, good timing to catch just the right pose, and good use of DoF