Final answer:
The film 'Salt of the Nation' highlights the theme of resistance against capitalist enterprise and its exploitative impact on Mexican-American communities, from land dispossession to labor exploitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Resistance and Exploitation in Capitalist Enterprise
The unrelenting message of resistance against a capitalist enterprise as depicted in the film "Salt of the Nation" is rooted in the historical context of land and labor exploitation among Mexican-Americans. This narrative resonates with the real-life struggles where land originally owned by Mexican-Americans was seized and the people were then exploited as low-wage earners. This theme is illustrated by various historical events, such as the Zapatista rebellion in response to NAFTA's impact on local agriculture, Ernesto Galarza's exposé on migrant farmworkers' conditions, and the discriminating legislation like California's Greaser Act that targeted Mexican-Americans.
Structural changes following NAFTA revealed how peasant farmers could no longer compete with the influx of cheaper agricultural products from large corporations. This not only devalued their products but also undermined their traditional way of living. The response to such capitalist mechanisms ranged from academic activism, as seen with Galarza and Paredes, to more direct resistance, as demonstrated by Las Gorras Blancas, who protested the transformation of a communal-based economy into one where private land ownership dominated.
The eventual political actions, such as those taken up by nuevo Mexicano leaders and the Populist Party, attempted to unite various ethnic groups beyond class interests, targeting injustices like wage discrimination and the fight for land and water rights. Despite these efforts, the systemic issues stemming from capitalist expansion and racial discrimination continued to marginalize Mexican-Americans, compelling them to resist further and shape a community consciousness inspired by the notion that their struggle was not just for individual gain but for the broader communal good.