During the Great Depression, discrimination against Mexican farm workers in the Southwest and California was rampant. Many growers in these regions saw Mexicans as a cheap and exploitable labor force and took advantage of their vulnerable position to pay them low wages and subject them to poor working conditions.
One way growers discriminated against Mexicans was through the use of the "repatriation" program. This program was initiated by the federal government in the 1930s to deport Mexicans and other immigrants who were believed to be taking jobs away from American citizens. Many growers in California and the Southwest took advantage of this program to rid themselves of Mexican workers who had been demanding better wages and working conditions.
Growers also discriminated against Mexican workers by paying them lower wages than their white counterparts. They often hired Mexicans as seasonal workers and paid them by the piece or by the day, which resulted in lower overall wages than workers who were paid hourly. Additionally, growers sometimes refused to provide basic amenities such as toilets or drinking water for their Mexican workers, leading to poor living conditions and health problems.
Another way that growers discriminated against Mexicans was by denying them the right to unionize. In the 1930s, many farm workers in California and the Southwest were organizing into unions to demand better wages and working conditions. However, growers often used violence and intimidation to prevent Mexicans from joining unions, and in some cases, even fired them if they attempted to organize.
In summary, during the Great Depression, growers in the Southwest and California discriminated against Mexican farm workers in various ways, including through the use of the "repatriation" program, paying them lower wages than white workers, denying them basic amenities, and preventing them from unionizing.