Reaching Out

In September 1962, Francisco Jiménez (known as “Frank” or “Panchito”) drives with his mother, father, and four younger siblings in their rickety DeSoto from their home in Santa Maria, California to the campus of Santa Clara University. Growing up in a poor Mexican-American family and working in the California fields, going to college had seemed an unlikely prospect for Frank. He was born in Mexico, but his family emigrated illegally to California in the late 1940s to escape poverty. In 1957, they were deported back to Mexico but returned to the United States legally. Frank has felt guilty ever since about the family’s illegal entry and habitually conceals the truth of where he was born.

Growing up, Frank was sustained by close family ties, especially with his older brother Roberto. Even now, it is painful for Frank to say goodbye to Roberto, with his wife Darlene and baby girl Jackie, as he leaves for college. Frank’s other siblings are José (“Trampita”), Avelina (“Rorra”), Torito, and Rubén. Trampita has been working in Frank’s old janitorial job in order to support the family and allow Frank to go to college.

Frank’s father is grouchy this morning, which has frequently been the case ever since he hurt his back and had to stop working in the fields: “He was upset because I was leaving home.