Labor
Day off the farm
Despite
their vital role in our lives, locally employed migrant farmworkers — the
people who pick the fruits and vegetables we eat every day — seem to be the
great unknown. Many of them spend the summer working on area farms, isolated
from the people who benefit from their labor. And then they leave, without much
acknowledgement from the communities they serve.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย So, in an effort to put a few faces
on our produce, a group of about 100 farmworkers and supporters marched in the
Rochester Labor Day parade. It was their largest turnout to date.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The parade was a rare opportunity
for the Anglo community to learn something about farmworkers. “People need to
know there are thousands of farmworkers in this area,” said Aspacio Alcantara
of the Independent Center for Farmworkers (known by its Spanish acronym, CITA).
“All of the fruits and vegetables people eat are picked by the hands of
farmworkers.” For Juan Carlos, who has been a farmworker for five years,
educating people about farmwork is vital. “People watching this parade need to
understand that we’re important in all kinds of farmwork,” he says. “I’m here
to raise awareness of this contribution.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The lack of any consistent
interaction between farmworkers and the community remains a major topic of
discussion. “There needs to be more interaction with the community,” said Rural
Opportunities representative Velma Smith. “Because camps are so isolated,
farmworkers are really unknown and people tend to fear the unknown. This march
is part of letting people know who farmworkers are.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Labor Day celebrates American
workers, particularly unions. Bill Abom of Rural and Migrant Ministries found
it “kind of odd” that farmworkers were marching. “We’re here with other
unions,” he said, “yet by law farmworkers can’t unionize.” Salvador Solis of
CITA added, “We’re here because we want the right to have a union.”
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The march was not just about the
difficulties farmworkers face. “This march also celebrates the lives of
farmworkers,” says Marilu Aguilar, of RMM. Following the march, there was a
picnic in Ellison Park with Mexican music and plenty of Mexican food. The
workers there seemed to enjoy their short break and fiesta. Tomorrow they’ll
get up early to continue picking the food the rest of us will eat.
—
Joseph Sorrentino
Hip-hop
whodunit
A
mid-August hip-hop festival scheduled to take place at the Record Archive on East Avenue was cancelled. But
the event didn’t go out with a whimper. In the days following the cancellation,
City Newspaper began receiving
letters from local hip-hop fans alleging that the show was stopped because
Rochester city officials were concerned about the potential for the event to
end in violence. Another widespread allegation had city officials concerned
about a hip-hop festival tarnishing Rochester’s image during the PGA.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Ink tracked down the rumors and learned that the hip-hop shutdown was legit. Record
Archive managers, by their own admission, failed to obtain the necessary
permits for holding the event. The Archive plans to re-schedule the show,
probably for the spring. And it promises to have its paperwork in order this
time.
Leading
the dance
The
Rochester City Ballet has chosen
Jamey Leverett, longtime company member, as their new artistic director.
Leverett will replace Timothy Draper, who founded the company 16 years ago and
left a hole in the Rochester arts scene with his sudden death last February.
ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Leverett beat out a 27-candidate,
international pool to get the job. She is a former principal dancer with the
company and danced the lead, choreographed for her, in RCB’s signature ballet, Firebird. Leverett has been acting as
artistic director since Draper’s death.
Correcting
ourselves
Due
to a production error, last week’s Primary Election coverage included a photo
of Penfield with an article on Hamlin. Also, our “Primary Facts” section stated
that you must be a city resident to vote in a primary. This is not true. You
must be a resident of the city or town for which the primary is being held.
This article appears in Sep 3-9, 2003.
