MichiganSociologicalReview, No. 4, Fall, 1990. Anglo Domination of Mexican Migrants in Michigan: The Dynamics of Culture and Law Brent Metz State University of New York - Albany When discussing the problems of migrant farmworkers in Michigan, many Anglos are quick to point out that migrant conditions have vastly improved inrecent years. Before the social reforms ofthe1960's and 1970's, migrants literally camped on farmers' properties or slept intheir vehicles. They were transported like cattle by crewleaders inold school busses andthe backs oftrucks. Farmers hadtotal control over whocouldenter and leave the camps. Andthere wasno 'legal aid'.1 Many Anglos downplay the fact that farmwork continues to be oneofthe most grueling, dangerous, insecurity, and poorly paid occupations in theUnited States, instead arguing that social and legal aid provide undue preferential treatment to migrants. Despite laws enacted to protect migrant labor in Michigan, many areineffective due to lackof advertisement, lackof legal aid offices and staff, and thelackof legal complaints made bymigrants. Even if migrants know where to get legal help, they are hesitant to legally challenge members ofthe dominat society because they are too poor to fight a longlegalbattle, and too often intimidated when interacting with Anglo institutions.2 The study of Mexican migrant and Anglo relations in Michigan offers a unique opportunity toview clearly how culture, economics, andlaw presently contribute to thesubordination of certain sectors of the population.3 When reviewing the laws enacted onbehalf of migrant farmworkers4 it appears that migrants have ample legal protection against theabusesof themore powerful Anglo population, buta gap exists between the lawas written andthe lawas applied.Understanding the cultural perspectives and economic positions of Mexican migrants and the Anglos with whom they interact is critical in understanding how presumed legalprotection is reconfigured through extra-legal Anglo practices. Withmainstream American society's condescending and distrustful attitudes towards "lazy", "dirty", "stu- pid", "thievish", Spanish-speaking Mexicans, combined with the migrants' poverty andeconomic vulnerability, many migrants feel isolated anddefenseless against the injustices committed against them.5 Because of their hesitance in interacting with formal, public, Anglo-dominated institutions, Mexican migrants often fail toutilize 33 This content downloaded from 69.167.65.194 on Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:17:40 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions