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Debunking Latino worker stereotypes
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TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: As Latino immigrants have shown up in rural towns looking for work, especially farm jobs, they have not always been well received. A lot of Americans say they don't like the effect immigrants have on community resources. But a recent study shows much of that concern is misplaced, as Marketplace's Jeff Tyler reports.
Jeff Tyler: Researchers studied the economic impact of Hispanic migrants on small rural towns. Martha Crowley is assistant professor at North Carolina State University and co-wrote the report:
Martha Crowley: What we concluded is that these fears that people had that suddenly conditions would get much worse in their communities did not materialize.
Looking at data from 1990 and 2000, Crowley found that poverty and unemployment both fell in rural Hispanic boomtowns. As for crime:
Crowley: We actually saw larger declines in crime, and especially violent crimes, in counties with rapid gains in Latino populations.
The study did not cover the current recession. Some small towns report that Latino crime rates rose as the economy soured. But for the most part, Latinos have supported local economies, providing the backbone for farm work. They do jobs that most of the 3,000 people living in Warsaw, North Carolina, just don't want.
Win Batten is the mayor of Warsaw:
Win Batten: Having them be willing to work in the poultry and swine industry was very helpful to us in growing that industry over the early years.
He says Hispanics have also been good for local retailers, sort of like captive consumers.
Batten: They would shop at the local stores many times because they didn't have transportation many times to go elsewhere.
Some of them had to go elsewhere because local stores didn't want their business.
Latinos shop at El Mariachi Gordo, a small grocery in Warsaw. Owner Fernando Sanchez says some of the local white folks are prejudiced to the point of refusing to serve Hispanic customers. Sanchez recounts taking his car to a local gas station when he had a flat tire.
Fernando Sanchez: The man said he didn't have time, he was busy. And yet he was sitting at a table playing cards.
The same mechanic denied him service two other times. Sanchez finally decided that even cold hard cash can't change some stereotypes.
I'm Jeff Tyler for Marketplace.
Manny, You are saying that the commentors are not being objective when you don't even know the name of the study or who performed it. Very objective analysis on your part, but it seems like your bias is showing. Erik, The economy and America has changed since he roaring 20's and before. America is an older economy and unable to house so many immigrants. Instead of Mexico flourishing and providing jobs, workers are traveling north to become illegal. NAFTA failed and Gore lied.
Hispanic immigrants are the hardest working group in society. Their moral values are similar to "original americans" including faith and family.
Furthermore, they are active, honest members of society. We should embrace them. Thanks to NPR for showing the true side of hispanic immigrants.
The stereotype of latino workers story, is a story about one place in North Carolina, the study was not implying that all of the communities in the US have the same positive results. I find that most comments are hostile and simply put are based on bigotry rather than objectivity.
This kind of story does not really surprise me lately with the news on NPR. NPR for several years has just been running opinion pieces that are pro immigrantion. No opposing view is presented that is needed to have a true debate. It may be true that Warsaw, NC is a perfect picture example of where the influx of latino workers has worked, but is that the only picture? By not offering alternative examples, this story went from news to an opinion piece and belongs in an editoral. I expect this kind of journalism from FOX news or MSNBC.
What a bunch of crooked reporting. Pretty much the story consists of "This paper says everything is good", "crime didn't shoot up", and "this one guy was a racist", so it shows you that all the small towns the have been enveloped by a Latino population are 100% okay!
I have a good one for you. Georgetown, DE, where the local politician was a slum lord.
