Alfonso Chavez was born in 1916 in Alturas, a town located in Modoc County, California which is known for its natural beauty, but was economically depressed in the early to mid 20th century. Alfonso spent most of his childhood fighting through a family of modest means, part of the struggle stemmed from the Great Depression where many Americans were suffering from poverty, unemployment, and uncertainty of the work opportunities. The struggles for his family did not come easy because they faced racism and discrimination which served to push their society to be more and more obsolete.

The Influence of The Great Depression

The American economy was drastically damaged by the Great Depression, which started with the stock market crash in 1929 and continued through the 1930’s. Unemployment rates reached new heights and families were forced into poverty. The economic breakdown affected all Americans, but the Mexican and Mexican American communities bore the brunt of the effects. A large number of people faced discrimination which led to a denial of employment opportunities, while others had to undertake the most menial, hazardous work. This was the case among entire generations of Mexican railroad workers known as “traqueros,” who had been part of building the railroads in America since the late 19th century. They were critical to the development of railroads, yet their work was often paid less and came with great dangers.

Mexican Railroad Workers: A Legacy of Labor and Struggle “Hardship”

Alfonso Chavez was 1 of 13 men that worked on the tracks in lane county in the early 1930s and 1940s, the Mexican workforce had become intertwined with the development of railroads in the United States. Men were frequently worked for long hours with poor pay and were subjected to dangerous conditions. Even with the considerable effort put in, these workers faced systemic discrimination which made it impossible for them to reap the benefits that their colleagues did. Employers often regarded these workers as unimportant, which was part of the overarching caste system that society followed. American railroad workers had it even worse during the Great Depression. As jobs became more limited, these workers had a higher probability of losing their jobs, and those who were still lucky enough to be employed were subjected to less pay and poor benefits. The terrible state of their situation was quite clear in the lives of some families like Alfonso Chavez who moved out to other parts of the country such as Westfir, Oregon in search of a better life.

Alfonso Chavez in search for better economic stability

Alongside Alfonso’s other family members, Alfonso himself made the bold move towards Westfir, Lane County, Oregon in search for better economic pay and his chances of landing a job in the forestry and railroad industry after the 1940 United States Census and the Great Depression was over. Once there, Westfir served numerous places rich with timber, forestry and railroads, therefore Westfir was in dire need of labor workers. Although the laopenings were harsh, the town did promise its laborers initial stability to help revive the economy therefore Westfir appeared to have an optimistic future.

A google maps photo of where Alfonso Chaves lived. Going as far back as 2007, in 3310 SE Yamhill St, Portland Oregon.

Relocating to another community proved to be difficult for him and his family. He had to move from Alturas to Westfir and accepting a new standard of living along with worsening health of the economy. Additionally, the social and racial structures brought forward further complications for the Mexican Americans. Even after dealing with the discrimination and aggressiveness that came from some of the employment, they were still met with the challenge of creating a stable life for their families.

Obstacles of Discrimination and Policing

While we do not have systematic research on this exact place, generally in the US during this time, the existence of Mexicans and Mexican Americans was undermined by negative preconceptions. Police agencies dealt with these groups through aggressive policing and discrimination, which strengthened systemic racism. Mexican American violence and police harassment was rampant and showed the deep seeded socio-racial stratification that many families endured.
Issues of social justice may have been very active for Alfonso and his peer community members. The negligence observed in law enforcement at the period perpetuated and reproduced the racial structures of the society, making life impossible for Mexican Americans to find help from racist violence. Bad treatment by the local political centers bred cynicism about reporting crime and helped fuel the perception that there was little to no concern for people’s safety or well-being.

Alfonso Chavez criminal record photo of his 2nd degree assault case that happened in 1940. Found on ancestry.com

Alfonso Chavez had a draft card in 1940 when he was 24 years of age for World War II.

A Legacy of Resilience

Alfonso Chavez is one example of people having resilience, adaptability, and determination in his and her life in tough situations. Throughout his journey, he has learned to face many problems, adjust to changes, and motivate people. Alfonso’s story is a spectacle of self-help and relentless support from family, friends, and mentors which played an immense role in propping his personal development. By reliving his story, Alfonso has achieved overcoming self-imposed troubles while assuring some encouragement to anyone who aims to tackle their situations with fortitude.

His legacy helps to never forget how resilience is not all about enduring war but rather the capacity for learning, growing, and appearing strong. Through his example, others can find the motivation to persevere and the strength to follow their own paths, regardless of the obstacles they may face.