Las Madres - by Dennis Raphael Garcia

About the Book

"Las Madres is the story of three generations of women living in the heartland. It recounts the difficult challenges each of them faced in their lifetimes in pursuit of the same goal-the advancement of the well-being of their families from poverty to security and success. Las Madres dispels any notion that immigrants and their families who come to the United States are given a life of ease. Very few people living on the high plains of Kansas in 1900 had it easy, especially Mexican railroad workers and their families. Their story reminds readers that there is no one true path to achieve an end. Las Madres will inspire readers, especially Latina women, to continue the pursuit of their dreams"--

Book Synopsis

Las Madres is an incredible story of generational resilience and transformation with family and community at its heart. Dennis Raphael Garcia deftly writes the tale of three generations of women in his family, recounting the difficult challenges each of them faced in their lifetimes as they pursued the same goal--the advancement of the well-being of their families from poverty to success.

Las Madres focuses on Candelaria Garcia, who was born in Mexico; her daughter Rafaela; and Rafaela's daughter Irene, the author's mother. Each of these Latina women followed a separate path on their journey to security and freedom from want. Though they traveled with apprehension and uncertainty into unknown places and arenas, they were courageous, patient, and steadfast in their pursuit.

Las Madres dispels any notion that immigrants and their families who come to the United States are given a life of ease. Very few people living on the high plains of Kansas in 1900 had it easy, especially Mexican railroad workers and their families. Their journeys remind readers that there is no one true path to achieve an end. Las Madres will inspire readers, especially Latina women, to continue the pursuit of their dreams.

Review Quotes

"Las Madres is an intensely personal, generational saga that bridges history, time, and country. Highlighting qualities of resilience and love, this memoir/social history tells of three generations of women through the mid-twentieth century who despite poverty, racism and exclusion, build an extended family enriched by culture and faith, hard work, and education. More than an empowering narrative of immigrants becoming citizens, Las Madres is a chronicle of hope, perseverance, and character told through stories of everyday lives that truly define la familia with a unique and much needed focus on southwest Kansas."--Kathleen Holt, coordinator of the High Plains Public Radio Readers Book Club

"A classic epic of Mexican American life on the Great Plains! With care and compassion, Dennis R. Garcia recounts the personal journeys of his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who brought life and love to the 'Mexican Villages' of Dodge City and Garden City, Kansas in the early twentieth century. Based on stories lovingly shared through generations, Garcia crafts a compelling portrait across centuries and nations as he renders the first-hand accounts of these madres and comadres into a captivating narrative of migration, citizenship, marriage, and community. He offers the first depiction--from a mother's point of view--of the earliest Mexican American railroad settlements in the Midwest. More importantly, he foregrounds the ingenuity and agency these mothers negotiated in search of better lives for themselves, their children, and their descendants."--Laura K. Muñoz, author of Desert Dreams: Mexican Arizona and the Politics of Educational Equality

"Through detailed research and real-life recollections, Dennis Garcia's compelling story traces the lives of three determined women and their families against the historical background of their times and generations, from the Mexican Revolution to the continuing struggle for equality on the plains of Southwest Kansas. This is authentic Kansas and American history, told through the perspectives of those who lived it."--Steve Quakenbush, executive director of the Finney County Historical Society and Museum, Garden City, Kansas

"Dennis Garcia's family testimony is an intimate, inspiring, and well-researched account of the hopes and fears of three generations of Latinas in the heartland. This book is a must-read for anybody interested in understanding the experiences of Mexican Americans in the United States and learning more about the history of Kansas."--José Enrique Navarro, coeditor of Mexican Americans of Wichita's North End

"Las Madres is a dynamic family story told from the point of view of three generations of women. With a sweeping narrative moving from Mexico to Dodge City, Kansas, from revolution to world wars, Las Madres provides a one-of-a-kind view into the life of Mexican immigrants and their children away from the border."--Valerie Mendoza, contributor to Wide-Open Town: Kansas City in the Pendergast Era