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HUMAN
ARCHITECTURE
Journal of the Sociology of Self-
Duane Wright
University of Massachusetts Boston
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Duane.Wright001@umb.edu
Abstract: The author argues that traditional macro-level methods of gathering data on popula-
tions create an impersonal depiction of the group. A useful pedagogical tool for teachers to
counter this is to use fictional accounts in film and literature to put a more human face on the
subjects being studied. Two films, Bread and Roses and El Norte, are used in this way to enhance
or add another dimension to studies of the labor experience of Latino immigrants in the United
States. The films are looked at through various sociological theories, Assimilation, Competition,
and Neo-Marxist. The author concludes that Neo-Marxist theory best predicts the types of con-
flict and solidarity portrayed in the films.
I. THE LATINO IMMIGRANT LABOR of the migration experience. What this pa-
EXPERIENCE AS DEPICTED IN FILM per will do is use two films about the immi-
gration experience of Latinos, El Norte and
Bread and Roses, as if they were a data set in
Every year Latinos immigrate to the
a sociological exercise which aims to add
United States in large numbers. They have
more dimension to our understanding of
become the third largest group after whites
this subject.
and blacks in this country. Their experience
This paper will argue that Neo-Marxist
has both similarities and differences to ear-
Theory offers the best understanding of the
lier large migrations of other groups. Soci-
films’ presentation of the labor experience
ologists have come up with various
of Latino immigrants in the United States.
theories explaining the interactions of ra-
Assimilation Theory and Competition The-
cial groups resulting from migration over
ory cannot fully explain all of the dynamics
the years. Sociologists use these theories to
portrayed in the films. Neo-Marxist Theory
try to understand the dynamics and com-
is affirmed in three important ways: 1) seg-
plexities of migration. They often gather
mentation of the labor force through barri-
macro-level data about labor force partici-
ers to mobility for immigrants, 2) ethnic
pation, education, language fluency, gov-
cross-class conflict, and 3) immigrant and
ernment service usage, health status, and
native unity through class solidarity.
more. While this methodology is useful it
can often portray a very impersonal picture
Duane Wright graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2009 with honors in sociology and a
minor in economics. His thesis was titled “Alienated Labor in the Classroom: Rethinking Teachers’ Work Expe-
rience and its Implications for School Reform Discourse.” He plans to continue his studies in graduate school.
HUMAN ARCHITECTURE: JOURNAL OF THE SOCIOLOGY OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE, VII, 1, WINTER 2009, 99-104 99
100 DUANE WRIGHT
Internal Colonialism theories. It can be said path to success. The result is that she is fired
that the “heart of [Neo-Marxist Theory] is from her job and she gets deported back to
an interactive structure of class and race Mexico. She ends up worse than Enrique.
stratification that divides our society” (Fea- Clearly Assimilation Theory is too simplis-
gin and Feagin, 1999:37). This theory has tic and can be dismissed.
taken the basic framework of Marxism— Competition Theory has much more to
that society is split into classes with oppos- offer. Immigrant ethnic groups find niches
ing economic interests—and added the in the economy by performing certain as-
complication of racial stratification within pects in the division of labor. In both mov-
each level of the class structure. Unlike the ies immigrants often work next to white
other theories which tend to homogenize natives, but not with them. Enrique, in El
racial and ethnic groups Barrera’s Neo- Norte, works as a waiter in a fancy restau-
Marxist theory argues that the main divi- rant. The management is white but his co-
sion in society is by class. Ethnic and racial workers are not. In Bread and Roses, the
groups of the same class may unite against Janitors are immigrants and the offices they
their own racial and ethnic group of a dif- clean belong to rich white professionals. In
ferent class. However, due to competition El Norte, Rosa works in a garment factory
this solidarity isn’t automatic, and racial sweatshop that produces clothing for white
groups within the same class may be antag- models to wear. Also, Rosa comments in
onistic toward each other. downtown Los Angeles, where many im-
migrants work and live, “Where are all the
III. THEORIES APPLIED TO FILM Gringos? It looks like Mexico City.” Clearly
ethnic groups have found niches in eco-
nomic and social space just as this model
Upon viewing El Norte and Bread and
predicted.
Roses, it becomes clear that Assimilation
There are some weaknesses to Compe-
Theory is an inadequate model for explain-
tition Theory however. It predicts too much
ing the labor experiences of the Latino Im-
solidarity along racial or ethnic lines, which
migrants depicted in these films. Both films
neither of these films shows. In El Norte,
are rife with conflict and power struggles
Carlos, an American native of Mexican her-
that the Assimilation model would not pre-
itage whom the other Latino workers call
dict. Most notably, in the end the main char-
“Pocho” and “Chicano,” calls IRS on his fel-
acters didn’t choose to assimilate into the
low co-workers out of jealousy. In Bread and
workforce the American way. Enrique, in El
Roses, Maya’s sister Rosa rats out her fellow
Norte, thrice turned down the foreman job
Latino co-workers to their boss so that she
in Chicago which would offer him a Green
can be promoted to supervisor of the new
Card because he didn’t want to abandon
building. Also in Bread and Roses, Latino im-
his sister. Enrique ends up at the end of the
migrant workers go on strike with immi-
movie where he first started in the United
grants of all backgrounds, going against
States, standing on the corner looking for
their fellow Latino boss Mr. Perez. In both
temp jobs—all because he refused to follow
films these events are climactic to the plot
the given path to social mobility due to the
and suggest that the main struggles in the
conflict of values. American individualism
lives of Latino immigrants are not drawn
lost to the strong family and community
simply along ethnic lines.
values he grew up with. In Bread and Roses,
In Neo-Marxist Theory race and class
Maya chooses to ally with the union orga-
interact and produce layers of hierarchy
nizers and not the company—putting her
and a segmented labor force that are re-
at odds with the dominant individualistic
vealed in both films. Three main aspects of
this theory are affirmed and highlighted by similar to the Mexican that buys Rosa and
both of these films: 1) segmentation of the Enrique in El Norte. There is something
labor force through barriers to mobility for sketchy about what he is doing, though it is
immigrants, 2) ethnic cross-class conflict, never explicitly shown in the film. It can be
and 3) immigrant and native unity through assumed that he gets some money for pro-
class solidarity. viding workers to the owner of the garment
The working class has its own hierar- sweatshop and the factory owning woman
chy that mirrors the racial hierarchy of the from Chicago. He even says, “The whole
larger society. Latino immigrants are a ra- economy would collapse if it wasn’t for the
cial minority and therefore are generally al- cheap labor we bring in.” Notice that he
lowed only into the lowest positions. Both doesn’t refer to immigrants as coming in,
movies showed how lack of Green Cards or but cheap labor. Like Perez, he too only sees
“papers” were barriers to more legitimate Latino workers as a “pair of arms.”
work. Immigrants are forced into jobs with Lastly, the inter-ethnic class solidarity
less pay and benefits, less security, and no displayed in Bread and Roses affirms the
unionization. The jobs that these immi- central point of Neo-Marxist Theory—that
grants worked included, garment ironer, society’s main division is by class not race
housecleaner, waiter/tress, and janitor. or ethnicity. The collective action under-
While these jobs are not necessarily always taken by the janitors was supported and
poor jobs, the better ones that are unionized even helped along by a diversity of work-
with better pay and benefits are usually al- ers, students, and organizers. It took a class
ready taken by white workers. Mr. Perez, in struggle to unite people into organization
Bread and Roses, even tells his employees and protest. The Justice for Janitors cam-
that if they try to join a union it will check paign and the local janitors unions all sup-
their papers, implying that they will be de- ported the non-union immigrants fight for
ported or at least fired. This is how racial hi- a union. Sam, the white college educated
erarchies are structurally supported within organizer even goes to jail with the immi-
the working class. grant workers. On a more symbolic level,
Ethnic cross-class conflict is also pre- the title of the film, and the slogan the jani-
dicted by this model and is an important tors used, “We want bread but roses too,”
conflict in both films, though most notably connects across historical as well as ethnic
in Bread and Roses. Mr. Perez is a Latino boss lines. It is the slogan of young women tex-
who clearly takes the side of the company tile workers who went on strike in
over the employees. He goes so far as to tell Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912. Over 40
Maya, “It’s about time we got someone nationalities, mostly European, were repre-
young in here, got rid of some of these old sented in this strike of over 30,000 people.
f-ing hags. They’re worthless.” Clearly he The point of this parallel is that the struggle
doesn’t identity with his fellow Latinos. He of those immigrants then and these immi-
only sees them as a “pair of arms,” as it is grants now is the same one. Class is the
said in the movie El Norte. Perez rules the common factor here, not ethnicity.
workplace through intimidation and arbi-
trary power. He fires old people and a preg- IV. CONCLUSION
nant woman just to maintain the low wages
the company pays. He doesn’t ever show
The theory that best applies to the
an ounce of sympathy for other Latinos. He
films’ presentations of the experience of
also takes advantage of people in a desper-
Latino immigrant workers is the Neo-
ate situation. He charges a “commission”
Marxist Theory. The movies and this theory
for hiring undocumented workers. This is