| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
Phoenix is the largest state capital of any state in the United States,
including our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Only Juneau, Alaska and
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are larger in area than Phoenix, Arizona. The
name was recommended by Darrell Dupper, memorializing the birth of a
new civilization from the ruins left by the Hohokams.
Phoenix was first incorporated in 1881 with a population of 2,500. In 1950,
the United States population census registered Phoenix as having 106,818
inhabitants. At present, Greater Phoenix has nearly 6,000,000 people—an
increase of nearly 570% in population since 1950.
Wikipedia—the free encyclopedia on the Internet—lists Phoenix as having
six neighborhoods: Downtown, West Phoenix, North/Northwest Phoenix,
Southwest Phoenix, Ahwatukee and the East Valley . In 1950, Downtown
encompassed most of the populated portion of the city.
Dr. Joe Abril has captured an era and neighborhood long gone from the
Valley of the Sun. He writes about a “barrio” and its residents, who are
either gone by choice or have been displaced by the “advancements” of
Phoenix ' municipal civilization. Much of the “old barrio” was taken by
eminent domain to build the first freeway in Phoenix . The streets were
paved and sidewalks were built.
Dr. Abril tells us of a time when “barrios” were like extended families. He
had a rather large immediate family, as most had in those days. There was
agriculture everywhere and that was one of the main economic resources
in this Valley. Most people in the barrio earned their living through
agriculture; whether clearing, planting, harvesting, or selling the products
grown in the area. This transformed the immediate families into extended
families that lived in their barrio. Their color, religion, or family origin didn't
matter…everyone lived, loved and grew together in the barrio. In those
days, welfare programs or other programs of entitlement assistance were
nonexistent. Each barrio had its own “curandera” and each barrio was
weaved with different necessary roles of a community into a piece that fit
perfectly together, each depending on the other for their mutual welfare.
You are about to enter a world gone-by…a world that was the beginning
of structuring a great and important Southwestern United States
metropolis. The farms and “watering holes” are gone. The make shift
baseball diamonds, and other athletic fields, erased from the area forever.
There are Los Angeles styled freeways throughout the areas where the
barrios once existed. The people and families have been displaced to other
areas of the city. They are gone but not forgotten. The author introduces
us to many of the colorful characters that were once the backbones of the
barrio. It is very clear that these characters greatly influenced Dr. Abril and
the life that he chose. Most of these unique individuals have gone to their
final resting places, but long will they live in the memories of the minds and
the vivid imaginations of their surviving descendants, who have heard
these stories by word of mouth. Now generations to come, whether they
are from families of the barrio or not, will be able to learn about these
individuals that contributed to the day to day culture that we have
enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
There have been at least six generations of Abrils in the Phoenix area,
beginning in the late nineteenth century. Probably ninety percent of these
people still reside within the Valley of the Sun. You will enjoy meeting the
characters. You will enjoy imagining what a barrio of the 1950's in Phoenix
was like. It is an important piece of literature. It attests to a world that
has passed its time, but carries on in the memories of those who
experienced it personally or through hearing their “family” members
recount the stories of living in a Phoenix barrio in the 1950’s. Learn,
appreciate and enjoy. I did.
including our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Only Juneau, Alaska and
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are larger in area than Phoenix, Arizona. The
name was recommended by Darrell Dupper, memorializing the birth of a
new civilization from the ruins left by the Hohokams.
Phoenix was first incorporated in 1881 with a population of 2,500. In 1950,
the United States population census registered Phoenix as having 106,818
inhabitants. At present, Greater Phoenix has nearly 6,000,000 people—an
increase of nearly 570% in population since 1950.
Wikipedia—the free encyclopedia on the Internet—lists Phoenix as having
six neighborhoods: Downtown, West Phoenix, North/Northwest Phoenix,
Southwest Phoenix, Ahwatukee and the East Valley . In 1950, Downtown
encompassed most of the populated portion of the city.
Dr. Joe Abril has captured an era and neighborhood long gone from the
Valley of the Sun. He writes about a “barrio” and its residents, who are
either gone by choice or have been displaced by the “advancements” of
Phoenix ' municipal civilization. Much of the “old barrio” was taken by
eminent domain to build the first freeway in Phoenix . The streets were
paved and sidewalks were built.
Dr. Abril tells us of a time when “barrios” were like extended families. He
had a rather large immediate family, as most had in those days. There was
agriculture everywhere and that was one of the main economic resources
in this Valley. Most people in the barrio earned their living through
agriculture; whether clearing, planting, harvesting, or selling the products
grown in the area. This transformed the immediate families into extended
families that lived in their barrio. Their color, religion, or family origin didn't
matter…everyone lived, loved and grew together in the barrio. In those
days, welfare programs or other programs of entitlement assistance were
nonexistent. Each barrio had its own “curandera” and each barrio was
weaved with different necessary roles of a community into a piece that fit
perfectly together, each depending on the other for their mutual welfare.
You are about to enter a world gone-by…a world that was the beginning
of structuring a great and important Southwestern United States
metropolis. The farms and “watering holes” are gone. The make shift
baseball diamonds, and other athletic fields, erased from the area forever.
There are Los Angeles styled freeways throughout the areas where the
barrios once existed. The people and families have been displaced to other
areas of the city. They are gone but not forgotten. The author introduces
us to many of the colorful characters that were once the backbones of the
barrio. It is very clear that these characters greatly influenced Dr. Abril and
the life that he chose. Most of these unique individuals have gone to their
final resting places, but long will they live in the memories of the minds and
the vivid imaginations of their surviving descendants, who have heard
these stories by word of mouth. Now generations to come, whether they
are from families of the barrio or not, will be able to learn about these
individuals that contributed to the day to day culture that we have
enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
There have been at least six generations of Abrils in the Phoenix area,
beginning in the late nineteenth century. Probably ninety percent of these
people still reside within the Valley of the Sun. You will enjoy meeting the
characters. You will enjoy imagining what a barrio of the 1950's in Phoenix
was like. It is an important piece of literature. It attests to a world that
has passed its time, but carries on in the memories of those who
experienced it personally or through hearing their “family” members
recount the stories of living in a Phoenix barrio in the 1950’s. Learn,
appreciate and enjoy. I did.
| HISI Publishes an Oral History Book on the Early Days of Mexican-American Phoenix |
Written by Phoenix Native Dr. Joe Abril
| By Manuel Valenzuela |
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006-2007 All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
Author: Joe Abril, Ph.D
Foreword: Stella Pope-Duarte
Títle: Echoes of Life in Phoenix,
Living,
Loving, and Growing in the Barrio
Size: 22.5 cm
Pages: 164 - 22 images
ISBN - 10: 0-9771167-8-6
ISBN - 13: 978-0-9771167-8-2
Price: $16.99 (+ 2.50 shipping and
handling; add 0.75 for each
additional
book)
For more information, please visit
www.hisi.org/echoes_of_life_in
phoenix_joe_abril.html
Foreword: Stella Pope-Duarte
Títle: Echoes of Life in Phoenix,
Living,
Loving, and Growing in the Barrio
Size: 22.5 cm
Pages: 164 - 22 images
ISBN - 10: 0-9771167-8-6
ISBN - 13: 978-0-9771167-8-2
Price: $16.99 (+ 2.50 shipping and
handling; add 0.75 for each
additional
book)
For more information, please visit
www.hisi.org/echoes_of_life_in
phoenix_joe_abril.html