“Es difícil crecer cuando tu propia gente establece límites,” these are the words of an oppressed woman. María Felicitas Marin was born in a small ranch in Teocaltiche, Jalisco. “En el rancho todas las mujeres se llamaban María y los hombres se llamaban José o Jesús.” She lived in a small ranch surrounded by fields and farm animals.
My mom lived in poverty saying, “Solo comiamos tortillas y frijoles y el ingrediente más importante es el chile.” At age nine she had to work in the fields picking corn, beans, squash, lettuce, and the list goes on. The climate was always hot like if you take your water bottle in seconds it’s boiling. But no matter how hot or how difficult it was she had to work like a bull for her family’s survival. In a ranch where fields never end, there was no strong education system around. There is nothing beyond working in the fields.
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| My mother at age fifteen. |
“Quería ser alguien que una trabajadora más,” the words of a woman who wanted something in their life. Living in poverty and not having a complete education was her challenge in her life. The education is a weapon; we can speak for ourselves and not be afraid of others. Her education stopped at age thirteen in sixth grade. She didn't want her education to just stop there.
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| My mom doing her tradition Quinceñera becoming a woman but still had to work in the fields. |
In a plaza where many people gather to shop, learn, and to praise, there was a place where teachers from different places gather to teach young students named “Centro de Salud.” My mom had to walk a mile with sandals for the purpose of expanding her knowledge. She was fifteen years old at the time and she took a class of health and human anatomy. Her goal was to get out of the close-minded ranch to the pueblo.
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| This is the plaza where the "Centro de Salud" was located at. |
“Era la mejor estudiante, quería ser algo con mi education,” the words of a young lady who had a dream. The teacher of my mom, Dr. Maria Carrillo acknowledge her potential and wanted to expand her knowledge to the town. “Era mi oportunidad de salirme de aquí para seguir mi sueño.” But there was a problem she was underage. She needed her parents approval to got.
“Estaba feliz que este dia puede ser el mejor” the words of an excited young lady. She thought her mom would say yes and thought her mother would do anything for her to reach her goal. This is the time of my mom created her own destiny. A mother will do anything even if it kills her for their kids for the better, right? My mom was excited for a new opportunity that came across her path and it was time to take it.
“Le dije a mi mamá y solo me dijo que no. Solo un no sin explicacion por que no puede. Estaba furiosa. Mi propia madre me puso una pared en mi camino.” the words of a young lady who had their dream broken. She didn't want any relationship with her mother till that day. The relationship between them was built upon hate and anger. Her mom stated, “ La familia se queda aqui.” I asked her why she didn't contradict her. She grew up in an ideology where women couldn't be independent and men speak for them. She was stuck in the cycle of poverty and following the routine of a low-income worker. |
| This picture was tooken eight months after she came to the United States. The baby she is holding is my older brother who is now 25 years old. |
