Family Tree Paper

Running Head: FAMILY TREE PAPER 1
Family Tree Paper
Gaberiel Cortes
California Baptist University
Author Note: This paper is being presented to Dr. Antonio Mejico Jr., PhD in partial
fulfillment for the requirements of SOC335 on March 15, 2020.
This study source was downloaded by 100000836047841 from CourseHero.com on 12-16-2022 08:32:10 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/60847948/family-tree-paperdocx/
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Family Tree Paper
Family Tree Paper
My generation is considered very small due to my family history. My great grandmother,
Beatriz Guillen, worked as a caretaker of children in Michoacan, Mexico, for thirty years.
Unfortunately, records beyond Beatriz are not accessible and, unfortunately, Beatriz was the
victim of a rape that impregnated her with my grandmother, who is now Elva Chavez. Elva
worked in the fields most of her life and selling goods at local markets before immigrating with
her two children at the time—my uncle Ricardo, who was eight, and my mother Sandra, who
was seven—passing through the beaches of Tijuana and into Baja California.
Fortunately for them, my grandfather, Reuben Chavez, had crossed about a few months
earlier using the same route, and immediately began working as a janitor for a local high school
in Baldwin Park and rented out a small house for the family. My grandmother eventually found a
job in cleaning in a hospital. Eventually, she birthed two more children, my uncles Ruben and
Eric.
My grandparents eventually accumulated enough income to move out of their house and
into a what was once a two story crack house in Orange County for 170k, which has recently
been renovated in an astounding way and is worth way more than 500k. My mother remained in
Baldwin Park to continue her education at Rio Hondo College, where she spent a year
completing her general education before transferring to Mt. San Antonio College, where she
completed her general education. From there she transferred to Azusa Pacific University where
she eventually graduated with her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English—all while working
two jobs and raising her three kids with the help from my father. I have so much respect for that
woman because of what she did to better situate my family. Ricardo went on to work several
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jobs before working up the corporate ladder at a magazine warehouse, where Ruben and my
father also work. Ricardo married a beautiful barber and had a son, Armando, in 2003. Ruben
recently had his first son, Sebastian, about a month ago. I have not heard from nor seen Eric
since I was 14 years old, but had a baby girl in 2009—Emily.
My mother met my father in a night club in 1994, got married two years later, and birthed
my brother, John, in October of 1997. Two years later, I was birthed in the November of 1999,
and seven months later my sister, Jaylee, was birthed in July of 2000. Those kids are trying
currently trying to make big moves. John just bought a brand new Lexus and will finally transfer
out of Citrus College in the fall to study civil engineering at Cal Poly Pomona, and is currently
working two jobs in his hometown of Covina. Jaylee is working two jobs and is currently
enrolled at Mt. SAC, with the hopes of transferring to the California Baptist University in the fall
to study journalism. I look forward to her becoming a Lancer with me, as I pursue a Bachelor’s
degree in Sociology.
Growing up, I only had my siblings. My cousins were either not born yet nor were they
mature enough to be consulted about certain things. I currently only have three cousins.
According to an excel spreadsheet provided by the Migration Policy Institute, the number
of total immigrants that had immigrated to the United States in the year 1980 was approximately
14.07 million, which was estimated to account for 6.2 percent of the total population of the
United States. Coincidentally, those who were immigrating in the Americas that year made up
the highest percentage than immigrants coming from any other country, making up 37.1 percent
of the total immigration population, with Europe and Asia being the next two largest groups of
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immigrants during 1980. Roughly 2.2 million of these immigrants were Mexican born
immigrants, which makes up 15.6 percent of all immigrants that had immigrated to the states in
the year 1980. Also a coincidence, the Refugee Act of 1980 was passed. Under this act, the
government had created a permanent and systematic procedure for the admission to the United
States of refugees of special humanitarian concern to the U.S., and to provide comprehensive
and uniform provisions for the effective resettlement and absorption of the refugees admitted.
So, 1980 was a good time for immigrants in general.
As of 2017, immigrants account for at least 13.6 percent of the total U.S. population,
according to Pew Research Center. This nearly triples the percentage of 4.7 during the year
1970. Jynnah Radford, who had conducted the research behind the article “Key Findings about
U.S. Immigrants”, stated in her research “Most immigrants (77%) are in the country legally,
while almost a quarter are unauthorized, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based
on census data adjusted for undercount. In 2017, 45% were naturalized U.S. citizens. Some 27%
of immigrants were permanent residents and 5% were temporary residents in 2017. Another 23%
of all immigrants were unauthorized immigrants. From 1990 to 2007, the unauthorized
immigrant population more than tripled in size – from 3.5 million to a record high of 12.2
million in 2007. By 2017, that number had declined by 1.7 million, or 14%. There were 10.5
million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2017, accounting for 3.2% of the nation’s
population” (Radford, 2017).
According to Radford’s research, Mexico claims the title as the top country of origin for
most immigrants. In 2017, 25 percent of all immigrants had originated from Mexico—estimating
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11.2 million individuals. They are followed by China, India, the Phillipines, and El Salvador as
the next largest groups (2017).
From my understanding, there are only three people, including myself, who had been the
victim of a social issue. My father, prior to having kids, lived in South Central and East Los
Angeles from 1990 to 1996, on San Pedro street. During this time, police brutality and
harassment were huge issues following the case of Rodney King as well as the Los Angeles
Riots. One day my father was driving down the street and eventually came to an intersection. He
saw a buddy of his crossing the street, and rolled his window down to say what’s up. A police
officer pulled him over because of this—his reasoning being that he had suspicion of gang
related activity between the two. Apparently, the story goes that my father was not cooperating
with the officer, which lead to the officer striking him with his nightstick and arresting him.
On a separate occasion, but in the same year, my father and his buddies were walking
home from a night at the club when they stumbled upon a group of Latino men beating a single
man—he was getting jumped in. They watched from across the street. The story goes that a
resident of the neighborhood had reportedly called the police due to a disturbance. When the
authorities had finally arrived, the men had already fled, and the only people that matched the
description were my dad and his group. Without questioning, the officers had pointed their guns
at them and ordered them onto the floor. It was not until the resident who made the call came out
and vouched for my father did the police let up. Even then, one of the officers called the group
“putos”.
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I was with my brother one night this past summer. We had tickets for a preview showing
of Clint Eastwood’s “The Mule” at the Grove in Los Angeles. From the moment we walked into
the theatre, we noticed that the majority of people in the theatre were older white people. We
took our seats and immediately noticed security pointing in our direction. Eventually, they all
felt it was necessary to collectively come to where we were sitting and ask us for our tickets.
This happened to nobody else in the theater. It completely ruined our night. We didn’t enjoy the
movie, and we didn’t talk the whole car ride home. We just felt completely belittled. What was
supposed to be a very laidback night turned into a night of discrimination, and we felt bullied
and powerless.
Amidst all the recent controversy about immigration and policies, we tend to forget what
the good word has to say regarding the matter. In the book of Leviticus, chapter nineteen verses
thirty three through thirty four, the author describes how we should be treating foreigners or
refugees that seek sanctuary. It states ,“ When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you
shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among
you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am
the Lord your God”. For as long as I can remember, my family has been very religious. Although
we are Catholic, we have all been put through Catechism to learn about the good word and to be
confirmed in the faith. Through tough times, we often turn to the Lord for guidance and peace of
mind. He never fails to deliver and his love never falters. I imagine it has been like this for many
generations before, because our faith is steadfast and strong.
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References
Radford, J. (2019, June 17). Key findings about U.S. immigrants. Retrieved from
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/06/17/key-findings-about-u-s-immigrants/
U.S. Immigration Trends. (2020, February 13). Retrieved from
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/programs/data-hub/us-immigration-trends
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Running Head: FAMILY TREE PAPER 1

Family Tree Paper

California Baptist University

since I was 14 years old, but had a baby girl in 2009—Emily.

So, 1980 was a good time for immigrants in general.

population” (Radford, 2017).

the next largest groups (2017).

generations before, because our faith is steadfast and strong.

U.S. Immigration Trends. (2020, February 13). Retrieved from

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