Firme Friday - Recap For Your Weekend
Welcome to the Daily Chela Newsletter. The #1 newsletter for Mexican American voices, news, and culture in the country.
Stories For Your Weekend
Below is a quick roundup of Daily Chela stories from the past week, in case you missed them. Have a firme Friday!
Immigration: The Numbers
History: Saint Patrick’s Battalion
Essay: End The Death Penalty
More: Stories, Podcasts, Links
Why Immigration Strengthens America
Immigrants have long been the backbone of America’s economy. From Silicon Valley tech giants founded by immigrants to small businesses revitalizing local communities, newcomers contribute significantly to job creation and economic growth.
According to the National Immigration Forum, immigrants make up 17% of the U.S. workforce and are twice as likely to start businesses compared to native-born citizens.
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Remembering The San Patricio Battalion
The desertion of the Irish soldiers is often explained in simple terms: they were Catholics. During the invasion, Mexican churches welcomed American Catholic soldiers, allowing them to attend Mass and receive the sacraments. Many priests urged them to join the Mexican cause.
For many Irish deserters, faith was indeed a powerful reason. They saw American troops desecrate churches; they felt the sting of anti-Catholic prejudice within their own ranks. In the 1840s, some even believed the war against Mexico was a Protestant crusade to eradicate Catholicism.
Time To Kill The Death Penalty
America loves death. On one hand, we celebrate ourselves as a nation devoted to second chances and the promise of redemption. On the other, our justice system asserts the power to snuff out lives, often swiftly, under the banner of “punishment.”
It’s a contradiction that raises questions: Does the capacity for change truly matter, if the state insists that some lives have crossed an irredeemable line? Does a society that believes in the sanctity of life gain anything by mirroring the very violence it condemns?
For Subscribers: Cholos Are As American As Apple Pie
You can’t talk about street gangs without talking about Mexican American street gangs, whose American origins run deep. Unlike white and black gangs, Mexican American street gangs transcend economic class, geography, and even centuries.
In fact, some of the oldest Mexican American cliques date back to the late 1890s (Dog Town Rifa, for example), roughly 70 years before the Crips or Bloods, and almost 30 years before the first Outlaw Motorcycle gang.
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More Stories 📌
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