Inland Mexican Heritage Living on the Dime Video Tapes

Ernest "Jimmy" Medina Interview

Ernest "Jimmy" Medina discusses his life growing up in the Inland Empire. Additionally, he discussed his father's involvement in the bracero program and the citrus industry.

Alfredo Figueroa Intaglio Tour Part 1

Alfredo Figueroa takes a group of students to visit the Blythe Intaglios and discusses various points of Machica Azteca theology as related to the Intaglios.

Alfredo Figueroa Intaglio Tour Part 2

The second part of Alfredo Figueroa's group tour of the Blythe Intaglios. He discusses various points of Machica Azteca theology as related to the Intaglios.

Alfredo Figueroa, Escuela De La Raza Unida School Tour

Alfredo Figueroa and his daughter Patricia give a tour of the Escuela De La Raza Unida (1972) in Blythe and explain the origins of the school. The School was created after Patricia was forcefully removed from her Middle School after protesting about Chicano rights, as a result, they formed this school to provide alternative education options.

Blythe Story Share School 01

A group discussion at the Escuela De La Raza Unida that Alfredo Figueroa leads. This is the second interview from the "Living on the Dime" documentary with Robert Naranjo about his life in Blythe as he has lived in Blythe since 1926. He discusses his participation in the Los Amigos Club to help students get into college, and his family's ranch farming cotton, and alfalfa. Also includes an interview with Pete Reyes who worked as a ranch hand. Reyes discusses police harassment.

Blythe P.V. Valley Story Share Part 3 tape 4

Interviewee Gilbert Carmouche discusses his life as a boxer and singer traveling throughout the U.S. during the late twentieth century.

Marion Ashley Moreno Valley Riverside County District 5 Supervisor 1

Marion Ashley discusses the development and changes occurring in Moreno Valley from his perspective as a Supervisor. He indicates that despite Moreno Valley being rural its been experiencing rapid change through urbanization that is affecting certain groups of people drastically. Increasingly, th city is experiencing a struggle between people who are in favor of change and people who aren’t. Which is easily seen throughout the many communities in Moreno Valley. Ashely highlights the importance of community engagement in the city to figure out and understand the needs of the community and how can the city fulfill those needs through reasonable accommodations that can prosper alongside the growth of the city.

Marion Ashley Moreno Valley Riverside County District 5 Supervisor 2

Supervisor Marion Ashely talks about his family history and how his mother's side was farmers in the Blythe area and then the Imperial Valley and how his father's side struggled in the "Dust Bowl" during the Great Depression. He explains how the Inland Empire was once a very rich area for the agriculture industry and his connections to agriculture through his job as a field worker. He briefly explains the 100-year plan that the city is enacting that will improve the city to improve the quality of life for its residents. He talks about his life and how he was able to become part of Riverside County’s politics. One of the present issues he brought up was how they were planning on bringing water from the Colorado River to the area and how March Air Force Base is playing a key role in further developing the economics of the city.

Hub Segur, University of Redlands Reel 1

Hub Segur talks about his interests and the work he did as a volunteer organizer with the UFW (United Farm Workers). He talks about the Grape Boycotts occurring in Los Angeles down to the San Fernando Valley. Segur talks about the importance of farmworkers fighting for their rights, as well as how important and meaningful those strikes and marches were in the 50s and 60s. He talks about his experience working alongside Cesar Chavez. He brings up many issues that were sprung up by pesticide use in California and he discusses the harmful effects that pesticides had on people and the environment in California. Segur highlights the many issues that surrounded the 91 highway and how the city of Redlands became divided. He mentions that the city began to struggle with the increased traffic brought by the highway. He talks about how Redlands was an affordable place to buy homes which drew people into the city. He talks about the disappearance of agricultural land in southern California and how it's being replaced with industrial facilities, casinos, commercial buildings, and housing. He mentioned how large farm corporations are leaving southern California to seek out cheaper land in neighboring states such as Arizona. Segur talks about the development of MetroLink and its plans in Redlands.

Huell Howser

Huell Howser discusses what it means to be a Californian and what he feels makes California so special. Additionally, he discusses the beauty of the high desert and the fears of local community members that the beauty will soon be overtaken by population growth.

Johnny Sotelo, Riverside CA

Service station owner and former city council member, Johnny Sotelo, discusses his life growing up and his political career in Riverside, California.

Danny Flores, University of Redlands, Pt. 2

In the second part of the conversation in "Danny Flores, University of Redlands, Pt. 1", Danny Flores and Antonio Vasquez continue their conversation, discussing local politics, warehouses, car shows, and the development of the west side of Rialto.

Danny Flores, University of Redlands, Pt. 1

Danny Flores has a conversation with Antonio Vasquez about his life growing up in Rialto, California. They discuss the 215 freeway's impact on Rialto, the Kaiser Steel Mill, and organizing during the Chicano Movement.

Ray Abril Colton, CA

Ray Abril Jr. has a conversation with Antonio Vasquez about his life in Colton, Calif., including his experiences on the school board and how the city has changed over his lifetime.

Adam Ornelas Highgrove CA

Adam Ornelas discusses his memories of growing up in Highgrove, Calif., especially telling stories relating to the barbershop that his father owned growing up. He recalls that there were many small businesses and a strong sense of community as he was growing up, but that began to disappear following the Korean War. Other stories which particularly stood out were his story about a man being decapitated in the cement mines (the largest employer at the time) and his story about police mandating that men cut their long hair when they enter the town, citing that it indicated participation in gangs.

Palo Verde Valley: Blythe, Colorado River

Alfredo Figueroa discusses the effects of the 1-10 freeway on the Colorado River. He takes the crew to various stops in Blythe including the "C" Canal, the ERU Early Learning Center, the foundation of an adobe building, and the Ehrenberg cemetery.

Margaret and Gilbert Leivas with Alfredo Figueroa in Blythe (1 of 2)

Group interview with Margaret Lopez Leivas, her son Gilbert and Alfredo Figeroa. They discuss the early history of growing up in the region and particularly the changes and events on the Colorado River Indian Tribe Reservation between the 1930s and 1960s. Discusses various forms of discrimination, as well as effects of WWII, in particular Japanese incarceration during WWII.

Margaret and Gilbert Leivas with Alfredo Figueroa in Blythe (2 of 2)

This interview focuses mainly on the experiences of Gilbert Leivas and his and the reservation police officer's involvement with policing Cesar Chavez-led farm activism in the area.

Alfred Figueroa

Alfredo Figueroa discusses his findings that support Eagle Mountain as a sacred Machica Azteca site as well as various efforts for environmental justice and land protection and regional and local levels.

Duroville Interviews

Antonio Vasquez, Sophie Harris, and others have a conversation with a teenage girl attending high school in Duroville, California. She discusses her experience as a student.

Mecca Park Migrant Camp Jim Guerra (activist) Armando Bravo (union rep) En Espanol

Jim Guerra gives a tour of a migrant camp and discusses the problems which migrant workers face, especially the fact that single men frequently lack access to housing. United Farm Workers activist Armando Bravo also discusses labor and housing issues.

Blythe Multi Cultural Festival

Footage from the third annual Blythe Multi-Cultural Festival at Palo Verde College. Begins with Dorlie Grundy, executive secretary to the VP of Student Services, introducing the event. Footage includes interviews of those tabling at the event including Carol Williams from the Daughters of Zion Women's Alliance and other unnamed participants. The second half shows various performances from the festival including Bellydancing, a showing of Living on the Dime, a Nahual Drum performance, and a musical performance by Mohave Native Students from the Colorado River Indian Reservation.

Blythe Story Share Reel 63

Pete Reyes, Maria Caldera, and Gilbert Carmouche share their stories about living in Blythe and particularly the Mexican history in the region. They are interviewed by Antonio Vasquez while Alfredo Figueroa prompts conversation. Reyes, Caldera, and Carmouche discuss the Bracero Program, Americanization Schools, Repatriation of the Brotherhood Club, Unions as well as family histories. Maria for instance recalls her early life in Blythe living in tents and her memories of what she calls the "Great Tamale Raid."

Macias Family Interview Beaumont and Leslie Rios (2 of 3)

The second part of the Macias Family interview. The family discusses the Marcias brothers' and Mr. Marcias' work on the railroads in the 1940s. The family also addresses wishes for aid and renovations in the Sapo barrio, pollution, and hopes to preserve the neighborhood.

Ray Flores and Jim (Ernest) Velasquez (1 of 3)

The first of three interview tapes with Ray Flores and Jim Velasquez. Jim Velasquez discusses the origins of the Native American indigenous community in San Timoteo and his indigenous ancestry.

A People’s History of the Inland Empire Digital Archive

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