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LIFESTYLE

Mendoza is responsible for recruiting new vendors, most of whom are
friends from school. Known as the kid who sells fruit at school, Men-
doza and a group of other teens swap stories of working with their dads.
“One kid told me, ‘I want to work with you,’ and I was like, ‘Yeah,’” said
Mendoza. “He told me he wanted to help his family out, so I told him,
‘Yeah, I’ll help you out.’”
Responsible for training his friends, Mendoza explained the benefits and
pay, highlighting they receive two hot meals and all the chips they can
eat. Shadowing Mendoza for two weekends, his friends typically pick up
the business quickly but rarely can keep up with his chopping speed, a
point returning customers share with him when they see him.
Despite their popularity, not all residents are fans of the vendors. City
officials and authorities at some of their designated locations can make
the job trying and difficult to manage. Dr. Alvaro Huerta, author of the book, Reframing the Latino Immigration Debate:
Towards a Humanistic Paradigm
“We wouldn’t go to this spot in Rialto anymore because there was this
cop,” said Mendoza. “He was a really racist cop, and he would come up “I think the American Dream is a myth,” said Huerta. “It is this idea that
to us and tell us: ‘You can’t sell here no more. I told you.’” if you work long enough that you can achieve security and prosperity.
Mendoza said citations can result in fines of up to $500, and he has But that is pretty much a lie. People like my mother, who was a migrant
known friends who have had their cart taken away by the city. Those and a domestic worker did everything she could to achieve it, but she
vendors have been scared away out of fear of losing their cart resulting in could never do it. But the hard work and the determination was there.”
them being unable to support their families. Huerta believes for the most part, people who immigrate to America
A proud, first generation American citizen, Dr. Alvaro Huerta, a rarely can achieve the idea of the American dream. Instead, they facili-
professor of urban and regional planning at California State Polytechnic tate the American dream for the middle-class, who Huerta believes to be
University in Pomona, is devoted to the promotion of immigrant rights predominately Caucasian. Customers wait in line for the quick chopping skills of Mendoza
through education. According to Huerta, one’s ability to succeed is highly dependent on the
Raised in East Los Angeles, Huerta understands the life of fruit vendors, socio-economic system into which they are born. Some of the bright-
noting most tend to be immigrants who are just trying to get by and make est children he grew up in his neighborhood were never given a chance
an honest living. Huerta believes the socio-economic system of the coun- to succeed. This was largely based on the lack of opportunities that are
try is not setup for immigrants to succeed, despite how hard they work or given to minorities.
their determination to achieve the American Dream.

Mendoza’s truck loaded up with fruit and ice for a day on the street.