The Mexican American Experience, a radio program produced by the Longhorn Radio Network, includes interviews, music, and informational programs related to the Mexican American community and their concerns. Program summary: Linda Fregoso examines the development of colonias, or unincorporated subdivisions, of South Texas and the problems that plague residents. Fregoso first discusses the history of colonias and their prevalence along the border. She explains that colonias often lack basic utilities and many residents live in substandard housing. As Efrain Bernal from the advocacy group Colonias del Valle, observes, many people are drawn to colonias because the land is cheap and exempt from city ordinances. One resident explains that colonias offer people the chance to get started owning their own land and eventually save up for better housing in the city. Fregoso then discusses the living conditions within colonias. She explains that independent groups have installed alternative energy systems in several homes, and she speaks with a woman who uses a solar water heater. Fregoso then interviews residents of the Colonia Tierra Prieta, one of the poorest colonias. Because of the lack of heating, insulation, clean water and other necessities, residents are vulnerable to several health ailments, and Fregoso speaks with one woman about the difficulty of obtaining health care for her family. Local doctors who work with the migrant community then discuss some of the diseases affecting colonia residents. Several of the guests talk about how developers, the county and other entities profit from the presence of colonias. Consequently, it is hard to blame any one institution for the dire problems affecting colonia residents. Keywords: Alternative Energy Programs, American Dream, Antonio Elizondo, Children, Colonia Balli, Colonias del Valle, Disenfranchisement, Efraín Bernal, Environmental Justice, Farm Workers, Geography, Ghettos, Health, Hidalgo county, Hidalgo County Health Care Corporation, Housing, Aguayo, Isaías, Jose McMurray, Landlords, Lazaro Olivares, Legal Aid, Mercedes, Mexican-American War, Mexico, Migrant Clinics, Migrant labor, Migrant Students, Public Health, Ricardo Cantu, Rio Grande River, Rio Grande Valley, Rural segregation, Samuel Sanchez, Sanitation, Sewage, Taxes, Tenants, Trailer Parks, Undocumented workers, Utilities, War on Poverty, Water, Working-Class politics. Broadcast date: 1980-12-18.
Creator/Contributor:
Longhorn Radio Network (creator), Fregoso, Rosa Linda. (host), Elizondo, Antonio (interviewee), Bernal, Efraín (interviewee), Aguayo, Isaías (interviewee), Olivares, Lázaro (interviewee), Cantú, Ricardo (interviewee), and Sánchez, Samuel (interviewee)
Date Created/Date Issued:
12/18/1980
Owning Repository:
Benson Latin American Collection, LLILAS Benson Latin American Studies and Collections, The University of Texas at Austin