HISI Publishes an Oral History Book on the Early Days
of Mexican-American Phoenix
of Mexican-American Phoenix
The book Echoes of Life in Phoenix Living, Loving and Growing in the Barrio, written by Dr. Joe Abril ells us
of a time when “barrios” were like extended families.
of a time when “barrios” were like extended families.
By Manuel Valenzuela
Phoenix is the largest state capital of any state in the United States, including our nation's capital,
Washington D.C. Only Juneau, Alaska and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are larger in area than Phoenix,
Arizona. The name was recommended by Darrell Dupper, memorializing the birth of a new civilization from
the ruins left by the Hohokams.
Phoenix was first incorporated in 1881 with a population of 2,500. In 1950, the United States population
census registered Phoenix as having 106,818 inhabitants. At present, Greater Phoenix has nearly
6,000,000 people—an increase of nearly 570% in population since 1950.
Wikipedia—the free encyclopedia on the Internet—lists Phoenix as having six neighborhoods: Downtown,
West Phoenix, North/Northwest Phoenix, Southwest Phoenix, Ahwatukee and the East Valley . In 1950,
Downtown encompassed most of the populated portion of the city.
Dr. Joe Abril has captured an era and neighborhood long gone from the Valley of the Sun. He writes
about a “barrio” and its residents, who are either gone by choice or have been displaced by the
“advancements” of Phoenix ' municipal civilization. Much of the “old barrio” was taken by eminent domain
to build the first freeway in Phoenix . The streets were paved and sidewalks were built.
Dr. Abril tells us of a time when “barrios” were like extended families. He had a rather large immediate
family, as most had in those days. There was agriculture everywhere and that was one of the main
economic resources in this Valley. Most people in the barrio earned their living through agriculture;
whether clearing, planting, harvesting, or selling the products grown in the area. This transformed the
immediate families into extended families that lived in their barrio. Their color, religion, or family origin
didn't matter…everyone lived, loved and grew together in the barrio. In those days, welfare programs or
other programs of entitlement assistance were nonexistent. Each barrio had its own “curandera” and
each barrio was weaved with different necessary roles of a community into a piece that fit perfectly
together, each depending on the other for their mutual welfare.
You are about to enter a world gone-by…a world that was the beginning of structuring a great and
important Southwestern United States metropolis. The farms and “watering holes” are gone. The make
shift baseball diamonds, and other athletic fields, erased from the area forever. There are Los Angeles
styled freeways throughout the areas where the barrios once existed. The people and families have
been displaced to other areas of the city. They are gone but not forgotten. The author introduces us to
many of the colorful characters that were once the backbones of the barrio. It is very clear that these
characters greatly influenced Dr. Abril and the life that he chose. Most of these unique individuals have
gone to their final resting places, but long will they live in the memories of the minds and the vivid
imaginations of their surviving descendants, who have heard these stories by word of mouth. Now
generations to come, whether they are from families of the barrio or not, will be able to learn about
these individuals that contributed to the day to day culture that we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
There have been at least six generations of Abrils in the Phoenix area, beginning in the late nineteenth
century. Probably ninety percent of these people still reside within the Valley of the Sun. You will enjoy
meeting the characters. You will enjoy imagining what a barrio of the 1950's in Phoenix was like. It is an
important piece of literature. It attests to a world that has passed its time, but carries on in the
memories of those who experienced it personally or through hearing their “family” members recount the
stories of living in a Phoenix barrio in the 1950’s. Learn, appreciate and enjoy. I did.
Washington D.C. Only Juneau, Alaska and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, are larger in area than Phoenix,
Arizona. The name was recommended by Darrell Dupper, memorializing the birth of a new civilization from
the ruins left by the Hohokams.
Phoenix was first incorporated in 1881 with a population of 2,500. In 1950, the United States population
census registered Phoenix as having 106,818 inhabitants. At present, Greater Phoenix has nearly
6,000,000 people—an increase of nearly 570% in population since 1950.
Wikipedia—the free encyclopedia on the Internet—lists Phoenix as having six neighborhoods: Downtown,
West Phoenix, North/Northwest Phoenix, Southwest Phoenix, Ahwatukee and the East Valley . In 1950,
Downtown encompassed most of the populated portion of the city.
Dr. Joe Abril has captured an era and neighborhood long gone from the Valley of the Sun. He writes
about a “barrio” and its residents, who are either gone by choice or have been displaced by the
“advancements” of Phoenix ' municipal civilization. Much of the “old barrio” was taken by eminent domain
to build the first freeway in Phoenix . The streets were paved and sidewalks were built.
Dr. Abril tells us of a time when “barrios” were like extended families. He had a rather large immediate
family, as most had in those days. There was agriculture everywhere and that was one of the main
economic resources in this Valley. Most people in the barrio earned their living through agriculture;
whether clearing, planting, harvesting, or selling the products grown in the area. This transformed the
immediate families into extended families that lived in their barrio. Their color, religion, or family origin
didn't matter…everyone lived, loved and grew together in the barrio. In those days, welfare programs or
other programs of entitlement assistance were nonexistent. Each barrio had its own “curandera” and
each barrio was weaved with different necessary roles of a community into a piece that fit perfectly
together, each depending on the other for their mutual welfare.
You are about to enter a world gone-by…a world that was the beginning of structuring a great and
important Southwestern United States metropolis. The farms and “watering holes” are gone. The make
shift baseball diamonds, and other athletic fields, erased from the area forever. There are Los Angeles
styled freeways throughout the areas where the barrios once existed. The people and families have
been displaced to other areas of the city. They are gone but not forgotten. The author introduces us to
many of the colorful characters that were once the backbones of the barrio. It is very clear that these
characters greatly influenced Dr. Abril and the life that he chose. Most of these unique individuals have
gone to their final resting places, but long will they live in the memories of the minds and the vivid
imaginations of their surviving descendants, who have heard these stories by word of mouth. Now
generations to come, whether they are from families of the barrio or not, will be able to learn about
these individuals that contributed to the day to day culture that we have enjoyed and continue to enjoy.
There have been at least six generations of Abrils in the Phoenix area, beginning in the late nineteenth
century. Probably ninety percent of these people still reside within the Valley of the Sun. You will enjoy
meeting the characters. You will enjoy imagining what a barrio of the 1950's in Phoenix was like. It is an
important piece of literature. It attests to a world that has passed its time, but carries on in the
memories of those who experienced it personally or through hearing their “family” members recount the
stories of living in a Phoenix barrio in the 1950’s. Learn, appreciate and enjoy. I did.
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Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
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