Sherry Chandler

Mexico in the Heartland

The Mexican Mural Project is an oral history project undertaken by the staff of New Madrid for their Mexico in the Heartland issue. The staff interviewed Mexicans living and working in and around Calloway County, Kentucky and the local citizens who serve them in some way. These local citizens include teachers, ministers, public defenders, and volunteers for the Baptist “tobacco church” project, a service ministry. This cross-section of interviews provides a wide perspective on the cross-cultural impact between Mexican workers and Western Kentucky society.

I was particularly struck by these questions from Father Ken Mikulcik, pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Mayfield, Kentucky:

The immigration debate is a kind of soul searching by the U.S. We have to ask ourselves, what does it mean to be a citizen, or what does it mean to be an American? We have to ask that question because there are people knocking at our door saying they want to be citizens, and if we are saying no to that, then we have to ask ourselves what it means that we are American. What makes us what/who we are, where do we draw the line, and why do we draw the line there? If we need workers so badly, why do we want them only to be guests? Why don’t we really want them here? Are they not good enough to be citizens? Why not have a more open immigration policy, if there is a need for workers?

Possibly related posts:

Mexico in the Heartland

October Grass

“My New Kentucky Home”

The Heartland Review

The Other Voices International Project

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