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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.
Copyright © 2010 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
Grassroots Journalism
www.barriozona.com
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The book Echoes of Life in Phoenix Living, Loving and Growing in the Barrio, written by Dr. Joe Abril ells
us of a time when “barrios” were like extended families.
By Manuel Valenzuela
BARRIOZONA
HISI Publishes an Oral History Book on the Early Days of
Mexican-American Phoenix