Description
Beginning in the twentieth century, Anglo Americans consciously transformed the region from that of a culturally “Mexican” space, with an economy in keeping with cattle, into one dominated by commercial agriculture focused on citrus and winter vegetables. As Anglos gained political and economic keep an eye on in the region, they also consolidated their power along racial lines with laws and customs not unlike the “Jim Crow” system of southern segregation. Bowman argues that the Mexican labor class used to be thus transformed into a marginalized racial caste, the legacy of which remained in place whilst large-scale agribusiness cemented its hold at the regional economy later in the century.
Blood Oranges stands to be a major contribution to the history of South Texas and borderland studies alike.