Calexico : true lives of the borderlands / Peter Laufer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Laufer, Peter, 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Borderlands.

Calexico (Calif.)--History.

Calexico (Calif.).

Calexico (Calif.)--Social conditions.

Borderlands--California--Calexico.

California--Calexico.

Physical Description:

xxvii, 211 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Tucson : University of Arizona Press, [2011]

Summary:

A "sleepy crossroads that exists at a global flashpoint," Calexico serves as the reference point for veteran journalist Peter Laufer's chronicle of day-to-day life on the border. This wide-ranging, interview-driven book finds Laufer and his traveling companion/photographer on a weeklong road trip through the Imperial Valley and other border locales, engaging in earnest and revealing conversations with the people they meet along the way. Laufer talks to secretaries and politicians, restaurateurs and salsa dancers, poets and real estate agents about the issues that matter to them the most.

What draws them to border towns? How do they feel about border security and the fences that may someday run through their backyards? Is "English-only" a realistic policy? Why have some towns flourished and others declined? What does it mean to be Mexican or American in such a place? Waitress Bonnie Peterson banters with customers in Spanish and English. Mayor Lewis Pacheco laments the role that globalization has played in his city's labor market. Some of their anecdotes are humorous, others grim. Moreover, not everyone agrees. But this very diversity is part of the fabric of the borderlands, and these stories demand to be heard. Book jacket.

Contents:

Monday "Where California and Mexico Meet!" / Chuck Bowden Bowden, Chuck, Barbara Worth Worth, Barbara, Bonnie Peterson Peterson, Bonnie, George Mainas Mainas, George, Maria Mainas Mainas, Maria 1

Tuesday Whither Calexico? Wither All of Us When It's 100 in the Shade! / Jorge Castañeda Castañeda, Jorge, Jason Booth Booth, Jason, Frank Salazar Salazar, Frank, Angel Sandoval Sandoval, Angel, Dr. Ed Gould Gould, Ed, Dr., Rod McKuen McKuen, Rod, María Luís Grivanos Grivanos, María Luís, Elvia Machado Machado, Elvia, Dr. Melani Guinn Guinn, Melani, Dr., Vikki Carr Carr, Vikki 30

Wednesday Crossing the Border(s) / Carroll Buckley Buckley, Carroll, Norm Wuytens Wuytens, Norm, Enrique Lozano Lozano, Enrique, Miguel Hernandez Hernandez, Miguel, Juan Torres Torres, Juan, Roxanne Pacheco Pacheco, Roxanne, Juan Felipe Herrera Herrera, Juan Felipe, Patrick Buchanan Buchanan, Patrick, Lou Dobbs Dobbs, Lou, Geraldo Rivera Rivera, Geraldo, Tom Tancredo Tancredo, Tom, Sergio Bendixen Bendixen, Sergio, Adrian Martinez Martinez, Adrian, Ecce Iei Mendoza Machado Machado, Ecce Iei Mendoza, Juan Carlos Ramirez-Pimienta Ramirez-Pimienta, Juan Carlos, Tomás Torres Torres, Tomás, John Hood Hood, John 71

Thursday Efficiency Is Security / Virginia Munger Munger, Virginia, Chrystle, John, Earl Roberts Jr. Roberts, Earl, Jr., Mike Bradley Bradley, Mike, Sarnia, Ontario, Farley Mowat Mowat, Farley, Chris Guinn Guinn, Chris, Bret Kofford Kofford, Bret, Lewis Pacheco Pacheco, Lewis, Carmen Durazo Durazo, Carmen, Dr. Richard Gutierrez Gutierrez, Richard, Dr., Louie Wong Wong, Louie, Angel Zavala Zavala, Angel 130

Friday You Can Make It Here / Gustavo Arellano Arellano, Gustavo, Eloisa Tamez Tamez, Eloisa, Chad Foster Foster, Chad, Emily Rickers Rickers, Emily, Gustavo Yee Yee, Gustavo, Dana Hawk Hawk, Dana, Blanche Benavides Benavides, Blanche, John Convertino Convertino, John 169

Saturday Going Home / Border patrolman Martino Martino, Border patrolman 195.

ISBN:

9780816529513

0816529515

OCLC:

703623730