The New Majority: houston's minority news reader

THIS WOMAN IS THE MOST FEARED PERSON IN AMERICA:
Like the first illegal immigrants from Europe who came to America without proper documentation but succeeded because of hard work, Flor Miramontes is doing the same and that has some Americans upset.

A word from the editor:

As we celebrate the 400 year anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown settlement as well as our Nation's 231st birthday, we came across this story by Martha Barrera, Community Outreach Coordinator for Houston Community College.

Ms. Barrera's interview with Flor Miramontes is an American tale which has a place right next to those brave Old Majority White men and women who settled in Jamestown and who crossed the Atlantic on a ship called the Mayflower.

But for some reason New Majority illegal immigrants south of the American border are not seen in the same light by some who are descendants of those who first broke the laws of Native Americans as it relates to trespassing on territory already occupied by someone else.

Why was it okay for 17th century poor people from England to pursue their dreams in a foreign land? And why are some upset at 21st century impoverished Latinos doing the same thing?

The answer is an easy one.

It is not because of a fear of the criminal element which all groups possess (though some act as though that's the reason). Rather, it is a fear that the overwhelming majority of illegal New Majority Latinos are doing what America's first illegal "aliens" from Europe did.

Illegal brown skinned fathers and mothers may be yard cutters and housekeepers today, but their children will one day go to a public university. And their children will attend Harvard and Yale.

All of this equates to political power when combined with other New Majority groups and Old Majority poor Whites. And that's why those who raise the flag of intolerance are so afraid. But as the phrase "I've gone too far to turn back now," suggest, this Pandora's Box has been opened for all the right reasons. And Flor Miramontes has them shaking in their boots.

By Martha Barrera

"I came on a field trip from my school to the United States, but I knew I was not going back to Guatemala," confessed Flor Miramontes about her arrival to the United States.

Her story began when she was a child in Guatemala dreaming of a better life for herself. She had heard of the many ways people crossed the border into the "land of dreams" but she was too young to make the long journey, so she waited.

She turned 14 and felt it was time to leave the extreme poverty and search for a better life.

It was in that school field trip when she says her life began. She took the journey by bus through Mexico and finally to Houston. With nothing but $60 in her pocket, Flor was scared, but she knew she had to pursue her lifelong dream.

"When everyone was visiting Houston, I discretely walked away from the group and began my odyssey. I tried to find work, but being illegal closed a lot of doors for me," she admitted with a slight smile on her face.

After sleeping on the streets and finding food at homeless shelters, Flor met a handsome but much older Hispanic man named Mario at a restaurant. He was in this country with legal residency and when he laid eyes on Flor he was instantly attracted to the thin curly haired teenager. Flor believed this man was put in her path to save her so they immediately got married and started a family. At 14 and in a new country, she felt content for the time being, but in her heart she knew she was here to do a lot more with her life.

Mario became an alcoholic almost right after they got married.

"I was taught to deal with it and keep my family together, so I didn't say anything to him. I didn't want him to get upset with me," she remembered.

Two years later, she says his alcoholism led to spousal abuse.

"I was too afraid to leave, and again I tried to make my marriage work," she said.

Two years and two beautiful little girls later Mario packed his belongings and left. Flor didn't know what to do with her life. She was scared, and fell into a depression. It was then that she started wondering what she could do with her life.

She remembered helping her husband with the air-conditioning installation jobs and thought she could find a career doing that.

When she was about to enroll in school a few months later, Mario returned home and made promises that Flor believed strongly he would keep. She welcomed him back and again put her own life aside.

A year later those promises had not been kept and his drinking got even worse. It was then that Flor decided to kick him out of the house and into his lover's apartment. Without thinking twice, the next day, she enrolled in Houston Community College Southwest for their bilingual Air Conditioning classes.

She worked during the day doing cleaning at construction sites, and at night rushed to school for a four hour course. Exhausted and feeling lonely, Flor remembers her tiring mornings and the small amount of quality time spent with her daughters. She struggled, but continued until she finished the course.

Suddenly, she felt like she could take on the air conditioning world. With the little money she saved up, she started her own business. She bought and outfitted two vans and named them Flor I and Flor II. She rents out Flor II, and uses Flor I to do her own jobs.

For the past 9 years her business called "A/C Girl," has installed and repaired air conditioners for homes and small businesses.

"My daughters (Leslie 12 and Sally 9) gave me the name A/C girl and now the men I come across at job sites know me as the A/C girl, and look at me with admiration," she said with a big smile.

Even though her ex-husband has tried to come back into her life, Flor has remained strong and knows she's better off without the headaches.

"I knew that God had something special for me. I didn't want to be depressed anymore. I wanted to move on and finally be happy," she sighed.

Besides her business, the 30 year old owns a farm and three vehicles. She's proud and quick to tell people she works in a male-dominated business.

"My proudest moment now is when construction workers or managers ask me for my boss, and I can respond, "I am my boss," she said in a story which would make those who settled in Jamestown aglow with pride. But apparently that can't be said of some of their descendents.

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