Latinos in West Michigan

<body background="_themes/cactus/cactxtr.gif" bgcolor="#FFFF99" text="#003300" link="#990000" vlink="#006633" alink="#663300"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tr><td><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica"> <p><b><font SIZE="4"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><a href="#Anita Alvarez">Anita Alverez</a>     <a href="#Antonio Jr. (Tony">Antonio DelPhina Jr</a>.</font><font SIZE="4"></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><a href="#Christine Pratchess">Christine Pratches</a>  <a href="#Gloria Willia">Gloria Williams</a></font><font SIZE="4"></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><a href="#Judy Guerrero">Judy Guerreo</a>    <a href="#Mica">Micaela Anya Perez</a></font><font SIZE="4"></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><a href="#Nat Morales">Nat Morales</a>   <a href="#Delphina Perez (Josie), Alfonzo, and Divianna">Perez (Josie) Alfonzo Divanna</a></font><font SIZE="4"></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3" color="#FF0000"><a href="#St. Thomas Catholic">St. Thomas catholic Church </a>   <a href="#Our Lady of Grace">Our Lady of Grace</a></font><font SIZE="4"></p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">MICKEY </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">AND HER </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">REMEMBRANCE ROAD</p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">BY</p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">MARTIN L. TREVAN</font></p> </b><font SIZE="2"> <p></font><b> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER"> </p> <p ALIGN="CENTER">Mickey and Her Remembrance Road</p> <p>I. Origins</b></p> <p>Im<a name="Micaela Anya Perez,"> </a><a name="Mica">Mica</a>ela Anya Perez<a name="Micaela Anya Perez,">,</a> but my friends call me Mickey. Im going to tell you a story, but I dont remember too many things. I was born in Alice, Texas, on August 10<sup>th</sup>, 1924. My mother died when I was three years old, but I dont remember her. My daddy was the one who took care of us. He had to be mother and father until my brother, sisters, and I grew up. My daddy left us in 1961, but I used to take care of him. We had a rough time growing up, but now its okay. When I was young I used to cry. </p> <p>My older sister was like a mother to me, and I miss her very much. She passed away last November. Because of my mothers death, my daddy had to separate us kids for awhile until he got on his feet. My youngest sister was sent to my grandmothers house, because times were hard for everyone. Because of the hard times, my daddy gave her to my grandmother, so she wouldnt be by herself. Until my grandmother passed away, she took care of my sister.</p> <p>I love my brother because hes the only brother I have. When my brother was in the Army, his wife came and stayed with me for awhile. She loves to work in the fields. We both went and picked pickles. She liked that job. Even so, the first day that we went there, she got very tired. "I dont think that I can do it, Mickey," she told me that night. But the next morning, she said; "Oh yes! I can do it, we gonna go and do it again." I said, "Its up to you, but Im going with the kids." So, thats the way it was, she was a good worker, and I love her.</p> <p>When I was growing up I didnt have too much of a formal education. I used to go to school in Relitos, Texas. I liked school a lot, but, because of the travel time, bad roads, and weather conditions, I missed school quite a lot. Even so, I finished the sixth grade. In those days, that was pretty good. We lived on a ranch, and it was about four miles to the school. Because of the bad weather, sometimes my daddy would take us to school in the wagon and mule. In those days, we couldnt afford a car, and they didnt have school buses. </p> <p>I married twice. I had two girls, Delores and Anita by my first husband, Nat Morales. Then I married again to Antonio Perez. I had four kids with Perez. My oldest boy with Perez is <a name="Antonio Jr. (Tony">Antonio Jr. (Tony</a>); then theres <a name="Delphina Perez (Josie), Alfonzo, and Divianna">Delphina Perez (Josie), Alfonzo, and Divianna</a>. All of them were born in Alice, Texas. I suffer a lot. Ill tell you this, and God knows that its the truth: when it was Christmas time, my kids never ever got a pair of socks, little wagon, or a little doll. I still remember going to my mother in-laws, and watching my childrens cousins play with their gifts. My kids would cry, because they wanted presents. Im glad my mother-in-law gave us plenty to eat. She also gave me a lot of ham and turkey to take home. Because my children and I had it rough at Christmas time, even today, I just want to cry. I love all my children, and I pray for them every night. </p> <p>Because of our suffering, I decided to come to Michigan. The kids were small, and I had to be both father and mother. To take care of those kids, I worked and worked, until they grew up, got married, and got their own homes. So, now Im by myself and proud that I got them kids into a good environment. Now, every one of my kids has a business and is doing well with their lives. And I have twelve grandchildren and six great grandchildren. I love them so much but sometimes, I feel lonesome. Sometimes my grandchildren come and visit. And when Im sick, I have a special child who comes and visits me. Thats Anita, my daughter <a name="Anita Alvarez">Anita Alvarez</a>. She cares about mother too much. The other ones care about mommy, but not like her. </p> <p><b> </p> <p>II. Michigan Livelihoods</b></p> <p>I did not come here to live permanently until 1968. Because I didnt want to leave my sick father, I took care of him and waited for him to pass away before I moved from Alice, Texas. We always worked in the fields, wherever my daddy took us, we had to work. So, thats a pretty good experience when you work.</p> <p>The reason why I come to Michigan in 1968 was because I wasnt making it in Alice Texas. My second husband was a drunk. He worked, but he only would give me ten dollars a week to buy groceries, and to pay bills, and that wasnt enough. So, I told my oldest daughter, since we had worked seasonally in the Ravenna area for the past two years with other migrant workers, why didnt we plan on staying in the area the next year? Before we left Texas the following year, I sold everything that I owned, and the following year we stayed in Michigan. </p> <p>We used to stay in a camp in Ravenna. In 1968, everybody took off to Texas, and ours was the only family that stayed there. When I first decided to stay in the Ravenna area, I used to cry and cry. I did this because I didnt know if we were going to make it or not. So, I know God helped me a lot. When the kids were small, we came here to Michigan, and it was rough. It was so rough, I used to cry in the night, but now, I do the same thing, but its different.</p> <p>When I first came to Michigan, I did many different types of migrant work, including picking tomatoes, apples, blueberries, cherries, and pickles. Another Perez family also picked apples with my family. Millie Perez, her husband and other people from Muskegon would all go picking on Saturdays, and sometimes on Sundays till noon. And the boss liked us because my kids and me would stay all day without quitting like most of the other pickers. My son Tony used to say, "Mother everybodys leaving at noon." And I say, "I dont care, I got up early and made some lunch and were going to work all day." After awhile, Tony realized that I was right when I would say, "You have to learn how to work, and show your little brother and sisters." </p> <p>One time, a group of people from the tomato camp went to Lansing to a meeting. We went to this meeting because some people from an organization had told us that our camp bosss might have cheated us out of some money. While we were in Lansing, we found out that we were entitled to a bonus, but we never got one.</p> <p>When we got back to camp, I told our boss, who was also from Texas, if he didnt pay us our bonus, he wouldnt get out of Michigan. So, because he didnt pay us for three years, I asked him for $800. He told me that he would give it to me, but for me not to tell no one. After giving me the money, he said, "Please dont tell no one." Because the other people found out, the bosss around Ravenna didnt want him back. Also, because he hadnt been honest, the workers got new things to help them out. Some of these things were mattresses, and stoves. Even though he had cheated us workers, I was able to get some of the money from him.</p> <p>Besides doing migrant work, I got a job at Bill Mars Turkey Farm in Zeeland, Michigan. I worked at this establishment for six or seven years. I loved this job, but I had to quit because of a transportation problem. At this place, I helped cut up turkeys, clean and package them for shipping. If I had stayed there, it would be over twenty-five years now.</p> <p>After that, I got a job in Grant, Michigan, at one of the carrot farms. I worked at this place for ten years. Ten years, and they loved me, everybody. I quit because I take people home and I have to get up too early everyday. They paid pretty well, but I had enough. So I quit up there, and I started working up here at Angel School.</p> <p>Im seventy-four, and I still work. Presently, I am working at Angel School, in Muskegon, Michigan. I am working with the Spanish children, because some of them dont know English at all. But, I enjoy it. I work with white, black, and Spanish children. We have twenty kids in the morning and twenty-one in the afternoon. I work five hours, eight until one. So, I enjoy myself. I like to work. My daughter says, "You dont have to work ma. You got enough money coming in." But I say, "Oh, I can work until I tell you when. Then Ill tell you." Thats a pretty good life I guess. </p> <p>Ive been working at Angel School for almost three years. I like working with the Spanish people. Some of them are from Texas and some of them are from Mexico. The ones that come from Mexico, they dont know any English at all. But, the ones that come from Texas, they know a little bit just like me. So, I like that. I like my job, and my boss, her name is <a name="Christine Pratchess">Christine Pratchess</a>. She works at Phillips School. Shes very nice, and I like her, and she likes me. So, I hope I have my job for a couple of years more, I</p> <p>guess if I can work. I love to work. Ive been working all the time, all my life. And, the people of Angel School, they love me. They all kinds of colors, black, white, Spanish, all kinds of people, but theyre nice. It doesnt matter to me the color, cause were Mexican.</p> <p>The teacher that I work with is a very nice person. Her name is <a name="Gloria Willia">Gloria Willia</a>ms. Shes been there for twenty, twenty-one years. I love her, and she trusts me. Sometimes I have an appointment, and she will let me go. But, the next day I will work the time that I missed. </p> <p>Earlier on, after I got to Michigan, I found out I was eligible to receive some type of training that could lead to better job opportunities. I went to Muskegon Skilled Training Center for nurses training. As a young girl, I always wanted to be a nurse. After completing my training, I got a job at the Sherman Oaks Care Center in Muskegon, Michigan. But, because I didnt like the sight of blood, I had to give up my dream of becoming a nurse. </p> <p>Even though this didnt work out, Im lucky. Ive been working all my life, and thats pretty good. Many times I had to tell my oldest son Tony, how I felt about work. By doing this, he could be a good example for his younger brother and sisters. At least we work; some people dont like to work, you know. One thing I hate is the welfare. I say, "I dont want to be on the welfare all my life." I told my Tony, "You have to learn how to earn that money." And, "Youre gonna see, that its not the same." When you spend it, its not the same. Because you work for it, you care. You have to learn how to earn that money. After that he gets used to working. I say, "youre the oldest, and you dont want to work?" "Whats that telling your sisters and brother that are smaller than you? So, you have to work Tony." So now, hes a good worker. The welfare woman told me, "Mrs. Perez, I never see other women here in Muskegon that make their children work." I told her, " In summer and after school, they can work, because we will not just depend on welfare." I say, "You have to learn how to work to have extra money." Thats the way we did it, we worked all the time. </p> <p><b> </p> <p>III. Community</b></p> <p>After leaving the tomato camp in Ravenna, I moved to Muskegon. When I first moved to Muskegon, I moved into the Latino Community. This part of town was also called East Broadway. I moved there, because I had met other Spanish-speaking people who also lived in the same area. By living in the same community, I believed that it would be better for my kids and me. At first, I stayed with people who I had worked with until I could find my own place. At this new location, I think it was $85 or $95 for rent, and the house was good. It had a good yard, and the community was nice. After becoming eligible to receive help from the welfare people, my caseworker helped me buy my own home, and I was glad. This new house was on the corner of Sixth and Forest, and closer to downtown Muskegon.</p> <p>Even so, God knows that Im not lying. A woman, who said that she was going to help, never did. Her name is <a name="Juanita Gonzalez">Juanita Gonzalez</a>. Shes already gone now; she also came from Texas. She always told me that she was going to help me with this and that, but she never did. Knowing what it was like coming from Texas and not having a lot of things, she said, "Dont worry, Perez. Im going to give you things that you need, you know." But she never did. All she did was talk and make false promises. </p> <p>Even so, I got a job at the Goodwill, and then I was able to get the things that I needed for the house. Also, I was able to get things for my kids, so they could go to school looking presentable. Also, there was another person, I cant remember his name, but he was an old father from the <a name="St. Thomas Catholic">St. Thomas Catholic</a> Church in Muskegon. This father passed away a long time ago, but he gave me the things that I needed. And thats the only person who helped me a lot. </p> <p>When I lived on Forest and Sixth Street, one of my granddaughters was born in Texas, and my daughter wanted her to be baptized in Muskegon. So, the parents went over to the neighborhood Catholic Church, St. Michaels, to find out when they could do this. According go my son-in-law, the priest told him, that because he was Mexican, he should go to <a name="Our Lady of Grace">Our Lady of Grace </a>where the Mexicans go to church. After hearing about this, Anita, my daughter, and mother of my granddaughter, went over to the church to find out why the priest had said this. My son, Antonio, also went over to talk to the priest about Malinda, my granddaughter. The priest said no; he would not baptize Malinda. Antonio asked, "Why not? My mother is a member of St. Michaels." He said no; "Mexicans belong to Lady of Grace. All the Mexicans go there." That made me so mad. </p> <p>My son Antonio wrote a letter to the <i>Chronicle</i>. He wrote that the father had refused to baptize Malinda. After the <i>Chronicle </i>printed his story, my phone kept on ringing and ringing, even out of Michigan. Some people believed the story and some did not. </p> <p>Another thing that I remember was when my boy, Alfonzo Perez, was attending school at Muskegon Catholic Central. He got to go to this school because one of the priests said that it would be okay for the boys to go to school there. I said, "I cant afford it." He said, "Nope, were going to pay half the money, and somebody else, will pay the other half." One day, my son Alfonzo called me at work and he was crying. I said, "Why are you crying?" He said, "Because the teacher hit me. He grabbed me by my hair and hit me against the wall." I said, "You stay there, I will come and pick you up." I asked my boss for permission to leave, and he said that it would be all right to go. I met with the Principal, but they would not let me see the teacher, because they said that I had a bad temper. But still, they found out that the teacher was bad and the school let him go.</p> <p>Where I live now, at the Parkwoods Apartments, I got mad when I was told to move my car, because I thought that I was the only one that was told to do this. Because I protested this matter, the man in charge, his name is Dale, told me: "You got thirty days Mrs. Perez to move, and get out of here." I say, "Thats what you think." He told the secretary, to make a letter and then he told me to sign it. So, then I say, " Im not going to sign anything." So then I called one of my friends, and asked him to take me to the civil rights office. The man who waited on me was a white man, and he said, "Nope, they cant throw you out." I was sixty-five and he said, "They cant throw you out because youre over sixty-five." He said, "Heres my card. Call me." Honest to God. By the time we got out of there, there was a letter under my door that said: "If you want to leave, thats okay." The man from Civil Rights had called Dale at the apartment building, and he had gotten nice to me. But I wont forget that. </p> <p>After that happened, one day that man Dale asked me, "Mickey, do you know that truck out there?" I said, "Why?" He said, "Because that truck stayed over night, and that is not allowed." I said, "Listen to me, are you paying me to watch the cars, and see whos going and coming?" Good! I got so mad. He said, "Mickey, Mickey dont get mad." I say "So, why dont you ask the other women? Instead you come to me." I say, "Ask the other women, I dont care if they stay or not, thats not my business."</p> <p>Now, theyre very good to me. I told him, "Because were Mexican thats why you do that." And my friend, <a name="Judy Guerrero">Judy Guerrero</a> said; "Dont be afraid, if you go to court, Ill go to court with you." That man Dale used to be a Policeman in the Heights, for years and years. And he never liked Mexicans or blacks.</p> <p>I am a good person, but dont tell me a lie or something I dont like, because we are all the same people. Anyway, the color dont matter, we are all human. God does every color, so we have to support each other. My son say, "Mother, why is there discrimination up here? These apartments are supposed to be for anyone who is over sixty-five." I can only say, "I been here for ten years, and I never see a black or Mexican." They come and fill out the housing applications, but the people who run the apartment never call them. Never! When I asked Dale why these people couldnt move in, he got mad at me. </p> <p>Another thing, one day we had a meeting in the dining room, and I told the other residents off. I raised my hand and said, "I dont feel too good up here because Im a Mexican. I try to be friendly, but sometimes you people dont even try to be friendly." Until we had that meeting, there used to be a lot of people like that. I say, "Im poor, youre rich, but when we die, were going on the same boat, no ones better." And that was the end. From then on, they started treating me better. </p> <p><b> </p> <p>IV. Reflections</b></p> <p>Ive got six kids, two girls with <a name="Nat Morales">Nat Morales</a>, and two boys, and two girls with Perez. When I got married the first time, it was 1950, or 1951. My first husband, Nat, came from Brownsville, Texas, but we met and got married in Toledo, Ohio. I had met him a few years earlier. After returning to the same area, I had a chance to learn more about him, and eventually we married. We were not divorced, but after the years passed, he sent me a letter and said that he wanted a divorce, because I didnt want to go back to him. He never forgot the girls. He would send me money to buy them clothes for school. He loved his girls. His second wife, never had children, and he loves children. I was lucky; I had two girls with him. </p> <p>He tried to take the girls from me. He got a lawyer, but it didnt work. The lawyer tried to scare me, you know. But, I went to court and the judge was going to decide everything. Delores, was my oldest child, and Anita was the youngest. Anita told Delores that she better tell the judge that we want Mother. She said, "We love daddy, but my mother is the one that takes care of us." The day we went to court, they didnt ask Anita anything, but they did ask Delores many questions. The judge asked, "how come you want to go back to your mommy? Your mommy is very poor, and your daddy has everything up there in Toledo, Ohio." Delores said, "Yes, I understand, but me and my sister talked, and we want to stay with our mother." And, after court, the judge gave them back to me. But he allowed for my husband to visit the kids, with my permission.</p> <p>My second husband, Perez, was also a very nice man. I met him in Alice, Texas. He worked a lot, but he was a drunk. Every weekend, he would get very, very drunk and I would suffer a lot with him. He physically and mentally abused me. We had four children together. But, he never cared about the two daughters I had with Nat Morales. I told him, "You dont like my daughters, youre not going to like me, because my daughters are mine." We suffer, and we suffer. But anyway, when we come up here to Michigan, I left him there. And, I was not divorced. We were separated for about twenty years. Once in awhile, when the kids and I would return to Texas, they would see their father, but, I never went back to him, because he hadnt changed. So, thats what happened to Perez. </p> <p>After the kids were grown, I tried to move back to Texas, but I didnt care for it. I guess I got used to the weather here in Michigan. Theyre planning to take me to Mexico for my birthday in August, but Im afraid to go. Honest to God I am. Im afraid to go in an airplane. I was in and airplane before, but now Im afraid to fly. Even so, the children say its the easiest way to get to Mexico City. I hope everything goes okay when we go there in August.</p> <p>So, its just like I say, I was very, very happy, when my kids grew up, and helped me. And, they still help me, whenever I need help. So, I think that Im a very lucky mother. I used to have trouble with one of my kids. Thats my daughter Josie Perez. Since she was twelve years old, she didnt listen to anyone. She wouldnt go to school; she would run away and worry me, while I worked. So, one of the caseworkers said that she would take care of her. And, the only thing that did help Josie was Villa Maria. Villa Maria, was a home in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where the courts would send bad kids.</p> <p>Because she was a bad girl, she had to stay there for a year and a half. After being home for awhile, she ran away again. She was all over the world, I guess. One time she called me from Florida. She would always call me collect. I had to accept her call, because I worried about her. She say, "Mother, I need some money." So I got the two girls older then her, and her brother Tony to help send her the money that she needed. She said that if I didnt send her the money, she was going to steal because she was hungry. And I say, "No, I never ever, like that idea." So I send the money, as soon as I can. And, she still remembers that. She says, "Mother, Im sorry. I know that you had lot of trouble with me since I was twelve years old." She gave me lots of headaches when she was young. I used to tell her, "I hope you have a girl or boy Josie, so you will know what it is like." "Oh mother! Dont say that." She says, she will never have kids. </p> <p>Now! Im proud of her. You cant believe it, but shes a policeman. She has been a policeman for nine years. And, I didnt like the idea. She said, "Mother, if youre going to be killed by someone, you can be standing there, and a car can come and hit you, and kill you." So I say, "okay, do whatever you want to do." But, I still dont like the idea. </p> <p>But, I love them all. God knows. I pray at night for them, my grand kids, and my great grand kids. So, I think Im doing okay now. Im old, but you never feel too old. So! I feel young, and I can do anything! Working, whatever. I get tired easy now, but I work. 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