For decades, Mexican migrant farm workers have come to toil in the fields of southern Miami-Dade County. Many settled in the area, creating a community as distinctive in its own way as Little Havana and Little Haiti in Miami. More than 17,000 Mexicans now dwell within the Homestead city limits, and thousands more live in unincorporated areas outside the city.
The hot and humid core of Bargain Town, located 22 miles south of Miami in Princeton, is a former tomato packing plant that later was used to manufacture windows. Now it houses merchants’ stalls. It encompasses a flea market, a pet shop, a plant shop, a produce barn, and a food court.
“This place is a bargainer’s paradise,” said Claudia Ramos, a local shopper. “It’s huge but definitely cramped with all sorts of tiny shops and stuff.”
Upon entering the shopper will be greeted by friendly smiles and Spanish phrases. Although many of the merchants do not speak the language, they speak enough to explain their products and negotiate prices.
The flea market can offer shopper a wide array of different consumer goods. From fresh Mexican and Central American food to adult and children’s clothing, cooking implements, appliances, CDs and DVDs, musical instruments, tools.
“Many of the vendors sell merchandise from Mexico and Latin America. I have strived to build a good relationship with them. This is their home and mine,” said Rene F. Infante, who grew up watching his father develop and run Bargain Town.
Bargain Town arose from the ruins left by Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992.
After Hurricane Andrew destroyed ReneInfante’s father flea market, he inquired about using the window plant, which had been abandoned.
“The Infante family has operated markets for generations. My great-grandfather, Don Carlos Nuñez, had a market in Holguin, Cuba,” says Rene F. Infante.
Many locals continue to make their way to Bargain Town in search of new deals, food, and fun.
Monday, May 2, 2011
From Flea Market to a Family Affair
Shoppers arrive with varying agendas but families like the Zepedo family
opt for Sunday afternoon of “family fun day” with pony rides, eating chimichangas, and chatting with other parents about their homeland.
"For a while now, they started having these mini carnivals for the kids and families. Its great because my girls really enjoy it and its cost efficient,” said Carla. "It really gives us an opportunity to take our kids out and meet other families."
The flea market, is a former tomato packing plant that later was used to manufacture windows, today it houses vendors of both new and old merchandise, open air fruit market, many eateries with typical Hispanic dishes in particular Mexican and a mini carnival area.
Bargain Town’s developer and owner, Rene F. Infante, said the flea market contains a family ambiance. Through out the years he has witnessed people form close ties. Families have fun together while also investing on staple deals for groceries and toiletry items.
“It's not really a money-maker; it's more to get people out," she said. "A lot of people here can't get to Ottawa for all those events," Infante said.
More than 150 people join in on the weekend’s merriment at the flea market. Many families race to Bargain Town in the morning to complete their shopping early. Ponies, a few carnival rides, and occasionally a clown await the families. For a few dollars kids can enjoy a an afternoon of activities.
“Its difficult adapting to a new culture, language and country. Here we can forget the troubles that we face during the week and be Mexican,” Luis Zepedo said.
For many immigrant families it is almost financially impossible to benefit from fairs, venues targeted for children because their salaries just don’t allow it. Different mothers explained that having the option to rejoice with their husbands and kids is what keeps them coming back.
On Saturdays and Sundays, the merchants set up their stalls about 7 AM in the produce barn, a large building open on all four sides with dozens of stalls. Shoppers arrive about the same time as the sellers, and continue to come until the market gates close around 6 PM.
Most of the activities take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. For those looking to purchase fresh produce, farmers bring their goods Wednesday through Sunday, and the pet and plant shops are open daily.
Bargain Town’s main building is difficult to miss, located on 24420 S. Dixie Highway, the packing house building can be seen from many blocks away.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
The Most Dangerous Man in America
Last night a surge of patriotism and pride surged through my veins as I watched a documentary on Daniel Ellsberg, a former United States military analyst who triggered a political controversy. He also hosted a forum via Skype with students from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The documentary, The Most Dangerous Man in Americas, explained Ellsberg's release a top secret government study known as the Pentagon Papers in 1971. He secretly made several sets of copies with the assistance of his former colleague Anthony Russo. The papers showed the government had lied to Congress and the public about the war in Vietnam. Ellsberg gave his first set of copies to the New York Times. The Times published the first of nine excerpts on the 7,000 page study.
Shortly after, the Nixon administration prevented publication of the Times and the excerpts through a court order. The confidential document was leaked to the Washington Post, which after a few days was also ordered to stop publication. Since the presidency of Lincoln during the Civil War, this was first time the federal government restrained publication of a major newspaper . Ellsberg The right of the press to publish the papers was upheld in New York Times Co. v. United States.
The forum provided students with historical anecdotes and facts of which they were not aware of before. The film was far from boring...using old footage, pictures, interviews and audio the producers were able to bring the story to life. For many of us who were not alive during that time, it is important that a film provide a well rounded story. After the documentary was over, if any students were puzzled about something that occurred during that time they were given the opportunity to ask Ellsberg himself to clarify or provide further information.
It was a learning experience for me. I knew about the Pentagon Papers but not in detail. I realized how crucial freedom of speech and the press can be. Luckily, after the New York Times Co. v. United States, newspapers and other media retained the ability to publish without government censorship. Countries around the world can not enjoy the freedoms like the ones that were bestowed upon us by our forefathers. I was born in Venezuela and my parents are Cuban. Having the ability to speak out against government is a right that I do not take for granted. Journalists in Cuba face severe government oppression if they publish a piece that contradicts the Castros regime. In Venezuela, the media has been yet to be hit with an intense censorship belt from Chavez's government but it is occurring slowly through out different television channels and newspapers.
Daniel Ellsberg was a hero in his time and a role model for many journalists. Today, Wikileaks protects men and women like Ellsberg who have a claim to make but fear for their safety.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Right or Wrong? Just something random I came across.
The Internet is a world of its own containing an array of unmeasurable possibilities. If anyone ever wants to search for a specific item, information on a person, apply for a job, entertain themselves, book vacations, catch up on a show, watch the news and practically anything at all the world wide web is the definitely the place to do it. On that same note, there are also an infinite amount of uncredible material, fraudulent schemes, distasteful videos and lousy websites. A few days ago I ran into a hilarious video on YouTube.com, a news package by a reporter for WAFF 48 from Alabama. I watched the video practically 5 times consecutively and every single time it was just as funny as the first. Then I watched it 5 more times and suddenly I began to find it quite offensive, lacking tact and even making the victims look like fools.
The report was about a young black woman who was attacked by a rapist in her bedroom while she was asleep one night. During the package, she says a few words about her experience and then the interview is turned over to her brother, Antoine Dodson, who pushed the attacker off of her. Although Dodson and his sister were victims and the situation was unfortunate, anyone watching the video will focus less on the actual purpose of the news package and more on the comical aspect. The way this piece was put together it is safe to say it ridicules the family. The sound bites the reporter decided to use seemed more like she wanted to bring attention to her work and report and not to the Dodson family. One wonders if perhaps she could have continued to ask different questions until she got better quotes. There are other videos on YouTube that show more footage of the interview; however, not as attention grabbing and way more serious. I was guilty too of watching this video just too laugh but I also think it depicts the family in a negative light. Why did her producer decide to run this story? Who knows...
Several weeks later, the same reporter goes back interviews Antoine Dodson about how it felt to become an over night Facebook sensation. The story about his sister having and intruder in her bedroom is briefly touched upon. One ting is for sure, Antoine Dodson lucked out and was able to move out of the projects after all the hits he got on youtube.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgRKz25fR7U&feature=fvst
The report was about a young black woman who was attacked by a rapist in her bedroom while she was asleep one night. During the package, she says a few words about her experience and then the interview is turned over to her brother, Antoine Dodson, who pushed the attacker off of her. Although Dodson and his sister were victims and the situation was unfortunate, anyone watching the video will focus less on the actual purpose of the news package and more on the comical aspect. The way this piece was put together it is safe to say it ridicules the family. The sound bites the reporter decided to use seemed more like she wanted to bring attention to her work and report and not to the Dodson family. One wonders if perhaps she could have continued to ask different questions until she got better quotes. There are other videos on YouTube that show more footage of the interview; however, not as attention grabbing and way more serious. I was guilty too of watching this video just too laugh but I also think it depicts the family in a negative light. Why did her producer decide to run this story? Who knows...
Several weeks later, the same reporter goes back interviews Antoine Dodson about how it felt to become an over night Facebook sensation. The story about his sister having and intruder in her bedroom is briefly touched upon. One ting is for sure, Antoine Dodson lucked out and was able to move out of the projects after all the hits he got on youtube.com.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgRKz25fR7U&feature=fvst
Monday, March 7, 2011
"You have to make your own luck!"
The distinct smell of a Latin meal emerged from the food truck parked in a lot inside Bargain Town, the sun was shining and different families were making their way toward the entrance of the flea market. I geared myself with confidence and a reporter’s tools: a camera, notepad, pen, and tape recorder then walked toward the back of the fruit market where the bakery was. Gaby, the same girl I spoke to last time recognized me and we began to talk. She was working with Lupe Santana, a 25 year old Mexican girl. They assured me today was a good day to take a stroll around Bargain town and meet other vendors. Lupe volunteered to give me a tour and introduce me to the different owners of the tiny shops.
As I waited for her to finish with some customers I sat on the picnic tables by the truck. I still noticed the piercing stares of some of the other people sitting at the tables; obviously, I was still an unidentified walking object. The burritos the others around me were eating looked delicious, and the smell was appetizing. In an attempt to break the ice, I asked the couple next to me what they were eating. Chimichangas, replied Enrique and Marisol Cruz. They were a Nicaraguan family with 4 children ages, 13, 11, 8, and 6 Marisol explained they arrived from Nicaragua just one year ago. It’s been tough for them, she said, and money has been scarce. Like the Cruz’s, many families of illegal status in Homestead, visit Bargain Town as the cheap alternative to spend a fun filled family day.
Marisol invited me to walk over to meet Enriquito, Barbara, Alejandra and Jose Gabriel, her children. They were riding a small carnival ride rollercoaster also in Bargain Town. Marisol continued to explain her situation at home. Back in Nicaragua, Enrique worked as a bricklayer barely making the sufficient amount of money to provide for his wife and four kids. Marisol was a stay at home mom and sold homemade baked goods to bring extra money to the home. Tired of living in a neighborhood where crime lurked at every street corner, the Cruz’s decided to leave it all behind and move to the United States.
Through a coyote, a guide who is paid to smuggle immigrants from country to country, Enrique, Marisol, and their children traveled on foot and bus across Central America until reaching Mexico. Marisol described the countless sleepless nights were they didn’t bathe or eat because it was the safest time to travel the longest distance. Sometimes the fear was so intense I would burst into tears imagining what would happen if we were caught, other times the kids cried because they were cold and didn’t want to walk under the rain. Enrique recalls arriving on bus to a remote dessert location where they then traveled through underground tunnels. For this family, crossing the Mexican border into the United States was the most difficult of them all. “Looking for a better future was important to us, but Enriquito, Barbara, Alejandra and Jose Gabriel are our priority,” said Marisol, “in order to continue the trip we all had to get across a rushing river, when I first saw it my heart sank.”
Enrique and Marisol explained for the kids it was more of an adventure to get across the river. After entering the United Sates, they lived in El Paso, Texas for two years until they saved enough to move to Homestead, Florida. It’s been a year since they left Texas and haven’t looked back since.
I spent the rest of my time there getting to know the family a little better. Luckily everything worked out, it was rush hour for Lupe all afternoon and she wasn’t able to tend to me. Over all it was a really interesting day, like Arnold Markowitz said “You have to make your own luck.”
As I waited for her to finish with some customers I sat on the picnic tables by the truck. I still noticed the piercing stares of some of the other people sitting at the tables; obviously, I was still an unidentified walking object. The burritos the others around me were eating looked delicious, and the smell was appetizing. In an attempt to break the ice, I asked the couple next to me what they were eating. Chimichangas, replied Enrique and Marisol Cruz. They were a Nicaraguan family with 4 children ages, 13, 11, 8, and 6 Marisol explained they arrived from Nicaragua just one year ago. It’s been tough for them, she said, and money has been scarce. Like the Cruz’s, many families of illegal status in Homestead, visit Bargain Town as the cheap alternative to spend a fun filled family day.
Marisol invited me to walk over to meet Enriquito, Barbara, Alejandra and Jose Gabriel, her children. They were riding a small carnival ride rollercoaster also in Bargain Town. Marisol continued to explain her situation at home. Back in Nicaragua, Enrique worked as a bricklayer barely making the sufficient amount of money to provide for his wife and four kids. Marisol was a stay at home mom and sold homemade baked goods to bring extra money to the home. Tired of living in a neighborhood where crime lurked at every street corner, the Cruz’s decided to leave it all behind and move to the United States.
Through a coyote, a guide who is paid to smuggle immigrants from country to country, Enrique, Marisol, and their children traveled on foot and bus across Central America until reaching Mexico. Marisol described the countless sleepless nights were they didn’t bathe or eat because it was the safest time to travel the longest distance. Sometimes the fear was so intense I would burst into tears imagining what would happen if we were caught, other times the kids cried because they were cold and didn’t want to walk under the rain. Enrique recalls arriving on bus to a remote dessert location where they then traveled through underground tunnels. For this family, crossing the Mexican border into the United States was the most difficult of them all. “Looking for a better future was important to us, but Enriquito, Barbara, Alejandra and Jose Gabriel are our priority,” said Marisol, “in order to continue the trip we all had to get across a rushing river, when I first saw it my heart sank.”
Enrique and Marisol explained for the kids it was more of an adventure to get across the river. After entering the United Sates, they lived in El Paso, Texas for two years until they saved enough to move to Homestead, Florida. It’s been a year since they left Texas and haven’t looked back since.
I spent the rest of my time there getting to know the family a little better. Luckily everything worked out, it was rush hour for Lupe all afternoon and she wasn’t able to tend to me. Over all it was a really interesting day, like Arnold Markowitz said “You have to make your own luck.”
Saturday, February 26, 2011
What lies ahead
Graduation is a very anticipated milestone for many of my peers, for me not so much. This isn't anything new to me, in high school while everyone was celebrating because we were finally off to college I was dreading the thought of what a drastic change that was going to be. Obviously, that is happening again. The thought of resumes, cover letters, networking, emailing, putting together a portfolio, and marketing myself automatically makes a knot in my stomach and my hands clammy. Corporate America is a very scary world and soon I too will become a part of it. In a sense, what I fear is the unknown. Today in class my anxiety was
lessened at least for the time I was there.
Every now and then our class sidetracks and we end up discussing things that aren't very relevant to ethnic reporting but they are relevant to our journalism careers. Our professor gave the class resume tips and explained what a good cover letter entails. It's tough because we have to make both those things stand out from the rest of the crowd. Employers have endless stacks of papers on their desks and we have to make it so we can grab their attention and get them to turn the page and read our resumes. Just thinking about that gives me a headache but its something I HAVE TO CONFRONT if I want a job. We all experience it, its part of growing up and getting a life.
I was a little confused when Professor Reisner was explaining something about how to register on a website that can help us manage what comes up when someone runs our name through a search engine. I didn't understand how to do that but it is on my to do list before I leave FIU. This was a very insightful class because no one really tells us how to go about making ourselves look appealing on paper or how to have career etiquette. Although we have the Career Services office available to us, they are very general. It's very refreshing to have someone from withing our field tell us what to expect and how to compile the necessary materials to make us marketable to employers.
lessened at least for the time I was there.
Every now and then our class sidetracks and we end up discussing things that aren't very relevant to ethnic reporting but they are relevant to our journalism careers. Our professor gave the class resume tips and explained what a good cover letter entails. It's tough because we have to make both those things stand out from the rest of the crowd. Employers have endless stacks of papers on their desks and we have to make it so we can grab their attention and get them to turn the page and read our resumes. Just thinking about that gives me a headache but its something I HAVE TO CONFRONT if I want a job. We all experience it, its part of growing up and getting a life.
I was a little confused when Professor Reisner was explaining something about how to register on a website that can help us manage what comes up when someone runs our name through a search engine. I didn't understand how to do that but it is on my to do list before I leave FIU. This was a very insightful class because no one really tells us how to go about making ourselves look appealing on paper or how to have career etiquette. Although we have the Career Services office available to us, they are very general. It's very refreshing to have someone from withing our field tell us what to expect and how to compile the necessary materials to make us marketable to employers.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
MOST RASCIST COMMERICAL EVER
The most racist commercial ever
Getting rid of racism in the world is a near impossible feat. It took the United States over 100 years to end slavery, segregation and give women the right to vote. Imagine trying to accomplish the same for different races in every country…I don’t see that happening any time soon. Even today, in modern day society there are still many ignorant stereotypical ideologies displayed across multiple media platforms. The commercial we watched in class today is a perfect example of it. A herbal tooth paste company in Thailand advertised their new toothpaste and attempted to convey the message of ending discrimination and failed miserably in doing so.
The commercial begins by showing an Asian little girl crying and pointing up at her yellow balloon that has flown up in an electrical tower. A black man walks into the scene and wants to help the little girl retrieve her balloon. He wraps his arms and legs around the pole, climbs to the top, grabs the balloon, and brings it to the child. Just as he approaches the Asian girl to give her the balloon her mother grabs her and scolds at the black man. The black man then looks down in sorrow and walks home with the balloon. When he arrives to his house, he lies down in bed and suddenly with the use of digital effects he is morphed into the herbal toothpaste on the toothbrush. The herbal toothpaste is also a very dark color. After watching the herbal toothpaste commercial, I am assuming the company’s intended message was “don’t discriminate based on the color of something. Just as the herbal toothpaste is good for you even though it is a dark brown or black color, people who are black shouldn’t automatically be type casted as bad.
I understand this ad is playing against racist stereotypes and paralleling it with general misconceptions but I found this video a little upsetting especially on the black man. To me it’s the same as selling a cotton ad and having a black man picking it in the video. I mean did any one notice that the man is climbing up a pole just as monkeys climb up trees…and what’s worse is that the balloon is yellow! HELLO?! I definitely think they could have done a better job of putting out a commercial with a meaningful message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua2EE6Uil40
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