Most mexicans faced discrimination because the americans thought they were dirty and not as useful. “The Mexicans can only swim in it on the afternoon before they clean it.” (page 221) The okies got a pool and they will only let the Mexicans swim in it before they clean it. They did this because they were considered dirty. On page 219 Miguel says, “They said they would work for half the money and the railroad hired them all.” This quote is when Miguel finally gets his dream job working on the railroad machine shop. When the okies came in and said they would work for half the money, the shop hired them all. Even though they did not know how to work a train. Then Miguel had to dig ditches all day. This is a challenge that really made Esperanza